Final Cut 3.0 in testing

Apple has been recruiting the help of professional video editors, asking them to test out major updates to the Final Cut line of software, say sources. The biggest of these is Final Cut Studio 3.0, incorporating Motion and Final Cut Pro among other production utilities. The suite is allegedly codenamed "Sideways," and currently in the middle of beta testing, as well as compatibility checks with Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

Sideways is said to measure somewhat less than 3GB, and use 30A1xx as its build series. Past predictions hinted that Studio 3.0 could be released as soon as early spring, but it is now thought that the software will arrive only after Snow Leopard's summer release. It is unknown if the operating system's extended development has been the cause of any delay for Studio.

Also in testing is an update to Final Cut Server, so far codenamed "Dingo." The release is believed to make relatively few changes outside of Snow Leopard support, which may nevertheless make it an essential companion to Sideways. Development milestones are in fact said to suggest that the upgrade will not be branded Server 2.0, but rather just a point release for existing software.

by MacNN Staff