As with the most recent version of Liquib, this Kaleider includes Video Capture and MIDI Control capabilities that might be useful for Veejays and other dynamic artists.  Appearance Options allow the old, dark Kaleider interface to be lightened for people with sensitive eyes or dim monitors.  The Mandala feature has been expanded, including the ability to use Stencils.  Here are further details on the new features:

• Vista Compliance =>  Although Kaleider and my other programs mostly worked okay on Vista, they could not really be considered truly 'compliant' with Vista UAC (User Account Control) and 'Least-Privileged User' principles.  With this version, Administrator capability is no longer required (except to run the installer program), so people shouldn't be pestered by obnoxious Vista security prompts.  Configurable options and parameters are stored at the User level in the Registry, and data files (images, audios, scripts, etc.) are stored in Application Data areas (rather than in the Program Files directory). 

• Video Capture and Playback =>  It's now possible to capture Kaleider scenes to Video and play back recorded files.  This is similar to what was recently done for Liquib, but with several improvements.  Besides AVI format Videos, Windows Media Video (WMV) files can be created.  Also, multiple Video Options files can be saved and loaded.  This makes it convenient to switch between sets of parameters, including AVI / WMV formats, capture sizes, frame rates, compression codecs, etc.
  

• Appearance Options =>  A new Appearance Options screen provides a choice of Interface Styles -- either the goofy old Kaleider Original Style, with colored text on a dark background, or the Standard Windows Style, which is much lighter and more conventional looking.  A Background Color can be selected, other than just black.  (Incidentally, this Whizical.com site also now includes a link in the heading to toggle between dark and light interfaces.)
  

• Enhanced Mandalas =>  The Appearance Options screen also includes parameters to control the rendering of Mandalas.  Besides a traditional circular Mandala, the outline shape can now be set to Oval, Diamond, Hexagon, Stencil or Stencil Negative.  A Stencil (or mask) image can be chosen to silhouette the Mandala Color against Kaleider effects, based on the light and dark areas of the picture.  A few sample Stencils are included, but any image can be used, even a color photo.  Mode and Strength parameters determine how the outline shape or Stencil are combined with Kaleider patterns.

  These Mandala properties can be recorded in Scripts, and later modified via the Script Control and and Editing screen.  A new Control Action type is used to store these events.  So it's possible to create Scripts with rendered patterns appearing within changing shapes, Stencils and background colors.
  

• Pattern Combo Stencils =>  Stencils can also now be used when creating Pattern Combo images.  The Options Menu in the Combine Patterns screen provides Choose Stencil, Blend Stencil and Negative Stencil funtions.  Also, more flexible Scaling options have been added for both Un-Tiled Images (like plain photos or 3D Room scenes) and Stencils.  They can be either Scaled to Fit or Scaled to Fill.
  

• Infinite Source Images =>  A new Virtually Tile Source Image option has been added to the Tiling Menu.  When this is activated, a rendered effect can be shifted with the mouse forever in any direction.  There is no need to worry about shifting past the boundaries of the source image into the background color.  Of course, no source image is really infinite -- it's essentially tiled 'logically' to seem endless.  The tiling 'virtually' mirrors the source image at its edges so it should appear seamless.

• MIDI Control and Playing =>  A connected MIDI device can now be used to initiate and control Kaleider actions.  This feature is primarily intended for people like veejays and dynamic artists.  A MIDI Control Options screen is used to associate certain MIDI signals (Notes, Knobs, Sliders, etc.) with Kaleider commands.  For example, a particular Note might load and play a Script. Other Notes might set a Stencil image, play an Audio file, and so on. Multiple MIDI Mapping files can be created and customized for individual performances. A sample MIDI Mapping file is included. An option is also available to play music from an attached MIDI device.