This week we dive into the latest updates for Final Cut Pro X, plus Motion and Compressor. Also, Apple has hired a new VP for retail. Also, when is a good time to buy a new MacBook Air and iMac? Plus the big Facebook IPO.
0:55 - Ground Hog Day
6:48 - Final Cut Pro X Updates
20:48 - New Apple Retail VP
27:25 - Apple Corporate vs Retail Employees
31:43 - Facebook IPO
45:50 - Mike wants a new iMac, but has to wait. Maybe a MacBook Air
1:00:22 - App of the Week
One of the biggest names in editing has released a new video editing app for the iPad. Avid Studio aims to take the company's advanced tools down to the touchscreen in the form of a $4.99 app. The app is slated to increase to $7.99 next month.
Somewhat curious is that the app appears to compliment desktop/laptop workflow, but there is no version of Avid Studio for Mac. This app may be most appealing to Windows users with iPads, however, it seems to also function well as a stand-alone alternative to iMovie.
Big-screen moviemaking comes to the touchscreen with Avid® Studio for iPad. We’ve distilled the world’s leading film-editing technology into an easy-to-use app that enables you to edit video, audio, and photos at the speed of your creativity.
Swiftly arrange your clips in the Storyboard, make precision edits using the Timeline, and add high-quality transitions, effects, and a soundtrack. Then share your movie directly to YouTube, Facebook, and more—or export your project to Avid Studio for the PC and continue editing with even more advanced tools.
Aspyr Media released Id Software's Rage Campaign Edition for the Mac. The title features the single-player campaign of Id's latest major release. Rage was originally release in October for PS3, Xbox, and Windows. This is the first release for the Mac, however, the Mac version lacks the multi-player modes. The Campaign Edition features bonus in-game equipment that was originally a part of the Anarchy Edition. The game is powered by the id's OpenGl Tech 5 engine and new "Megatexture technology."
RAGE is a groundbreaking first-person shooter set in the not-too-distant future after an asteroid impacts Earth, leaving a ravaged world behind. You emerge into this vast wasteland to discover humanity working to rebuild itself against such forces as bandit gangs, mutants, and the Authority – an oppressive government regime that has a special interest in you in particular.
The game has some relatively hefty hardware requirements. Macs with integrated graphics need not apply. Rage requires a GeForece 8800, 9600, GT 120, or 330M fron NVIDIA; Radeon HD 3870, HD 4670, HD 4850, HD 5670, HD 5750, HD 5770, HD 5870, HD 6750M, HD 6630M, HD 6970M; or Intel HD Graphics 3000. It's recommended gamers have a 2.6 GHz or faster Intel CPU and 4 GB of memory, plus 512 MB video memory.
Rage: Campaign Edition is currently selling for $39.99
In the flying/cave genre of games, Whale Trail features great graphics and a cool original soundtrack. For $0.99 it's a lot of fun. For the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
7toX is a nifty utility for Final Cut Pro X that imports project files from Final Cut Pro 7. The app is a stand-alone solution that works through FCP's XML system.
The CandyShell has seen several iterations of the popular iPhone case. The original has a dual material rubber interior and hard plastic exterior shell. This version substitutes out the glossy plastic shell for a matte finish. The result is a different look, but also offers more scratch resistant appearance. The case overall feels like it may be a bit lighter too.
Also new since we last saw the CandyShell is the updated extra large camera cutout.
The CandyShell Satin is available for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S in Black/Gray, White/Red, and Purple/Blue. It has a list price of $34.95.
The Stash is a satchel style bag for iPads and other devices up to 10 inches. The bag features numerous zipper pockets for accessories and items to take with you for the day. It has a high density foam compartment to protector your device and also is lined with a micro fiber material. The bag has two hand straps that tuck away if not needed and also a detachable shoulder strap.
The Stash is available in black and red has a retail price of about $55.
Tuesday Apple released Final Cut Pro X, a significant upgrade to the non-linear video editor. With the update, Apple seem to continue its march to win over its FCP install base. In addition, there are some nifty new features.
The new multi-cam system allows users to sync up to 64 different video and photo shots using audio track or creation time. Still supported is timecode, however, the new systems should be a pretty slick alternative. The system allows editors to automatically sync up all media by date/time, so for example if you want to include photos with your video, it appears FCP will automatically insert photos that were shot while the video was running. If all your video devices record audio, Final Cut will match them all up based on their audio tracks. Final Cut Pro has basic sync feature to match up external audio with video, but this appears to be more robust and supports multiple camera.
Also new are some improved chroma key control. Apple says new features allow greater control of complicated chroma, or known as green/blue screens, without needing to export to Motion. Again, Final Cut Pro has has basic chroma key features, this seems to improve on them.
Lastly, Apple announced a new beta feature where editors can monitor their video and audio via Thunderbolt devices and PCIe cards. This is handy in broadcast where producers/directors need to monitor camera images with real-time waveform and vectorscope displays, or just a master calibrated display beyond the Mac's computer display.
Final Cut Pro X 10.0.3 is available now via the Mac App Store.
Apple has pushed out a couple updates for its companion apps to Final Cut Pro X. Compressor 4.0.2 offers improved stability and performance. Also the update supports the export of uncompressed 8-bit and 10-bit 4:2:2 and improved performance when transcoding uncompressed 10-bit 4:2:2 to ProRes.
• Markers set as chapter markers by default
• Addition of Uncompressed 8-bit and 10-bit 4:2:2 to export settings list
• Improved speed of transcoding from Uncompressed 10-bit 4:2:2 to ProRes
For Motion 5.0.2, the software too saw improvements in speed plus some text editing tweaks. The update incorporated keyboard shortcuts for repositioning animation curves and a tweaked keyframe editor.
• Ability to automatically add animation keyframes when recording is disabled
• Keyboard shortcut for re-positioning animation curves or paths
• Ability to adjust the pan and scale of an image in a drop zone
• Enhanced look of the Keyframe editor for easier keyframe viewing and editing
Both updates are available for download via the Mac App Store.
Apple has announced that the CEO European retailer Dixons Retail will be the next VP of Retail. At Dixons, he was the CEO since 2007.
Dixons operates a group of stores that specializes in consumer electronics such as computers, audio-video, phones, and other gadgets. Browett is taking over for Ron Johnson who left Apple to run JC Penney.
Browett will start his new job in April.
“Our retail stores are all about customer service, and John shares that commitment like no one else we’ve met,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We are thrilled to have him join our team and bring his incredible retail experience to Apple.”
One of the biggest names in editing has released a new video editing app for the iPad. Avid Studio aims to take the company's advanced tools down to the touchscreen in the form of a $4.99 app. The app is slated to increase to $7.99 next month.
Aspyr Media released Id Software's Rage Campaign Edition for the Mac. The title features the single-player campaign of Id's latest major release. Rage was originally release in October for PS3, Xbox, and Windows. This is the first release for the Mac, however, the Mac version lacks the multi-player modes. The Campaign Edition features bonus in-game equipment that was originally a part of the Anarchy Edition. The game is powered by the id's OpenGl Tech 5 engine and new "Megatexture technology."
Tuesday Apple released Final Cut Pro X, a significant upgrade to the non-linear video editor. With the update, Apple seem to continue its march to win over its FCP install base. In addition, there are some nifty new features.
Apple has pushed out a couple updates for its companion apps to Final Cut Pro X. Compressor 4.0.2 offers improved stability and performance. Also the update supports the export of uncompressed 8-bit and 10-bit 4:2:2 and improved performance when transcoding uncompressed 10-bit 4:2:2 to ProRes.