June 24 - 8:55am EDT   Apple has released a minor update to its flagship video editing suite, Final Cut Pro. The v6.0.6 patch addresses problems with real-time playback on early 2009 models of the Mac Pro and Xserve. Specifically, the hardware and software should now be better at handling complex sequences and/or formats which consume a lot of bandwidth. The update is a 19.15MB download, and requires Mac OS X 10.5.5. [full story]

June 12 - 12:20pm EDT   DMG Master 2.1 ($20) is a utility that allows users to create standard Disk Image Archives from their own files. Users can select any file or group of files and covert them into an archive that can be recognized by any Mac. New to this release is the option to encrypt archives using either AES-128 or AES-256 encryption. The interface has also received small improvements and several new preference options have been added. [Download - 0.78MB] [full story]

June 9 - 6:55pm EDT   Boris FX has released a beta version of its video and film effects software, Boris Continuum Complete 6 AVX. The plug-in is used to add a host of approximately 200 filters to a variety of video editing programs, such as Final Cut Pro and Adobe After Effects, while still preserving After Effects keyframes. Notable additions to the beta include 15 new filters, along with the ability to restore and enhance images or generate 3D text animations. [full story]

May 29 - 4:10pm EDT   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. [full story]

May 27 - 5:05pm EDT   Boris FX has released the first completed version of Boris Continuum Complete 6, an FxPlug add-on for Motion, Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express. The software introduces over 200 filters to Apple's software, with live previews of dozens of preset transitions, glows, and color and film-style effects. The initial release of the plug-in features over a dozen new FxPlug shaders, presented in a redesigned effects browser window. [full story]

May 5 - 7:50pm EDT   SUGARfx has released two new plug-ins, SUGARfx H.U.D., and SUGARfx Radial Wave. Each plug-in extends the visual-effects capabilities of Adobe After Effects CS3/CS4, Apple Final Cut Studio and Final Cut Express. The H.U.D. plug-in layers the original footage to appear as though the viewer is looking through different pieces of technology, such as an old camera or binoculars. [full story]

May 5 - 5:55pm EDT   GeeThree has begun shipping its PhotoMotion, Producer and Fusion Factory plug-ins for Final Cut. PhotoMotion provides pan, zoom and slide show effects, with a dedicated user interface and a variety of adjustable settings. Users can import high resolution images without previously editing the files for size or aspect ratio. The plug-in allows duration changes or transition additions without needing to re-key. [full story]

May 1 - 3:20pm EDT   KB Covers has introduced its KB Keyboards, a new line of application keyboards based on Apple’s aluminum designs. The series displays shortcut keys for Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pro Tools and Media Composer. A special Midnight Keyboard utilizes black keys, and is meant to resemble the new MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboards. With the exception of the Midnight model, each keyboard combines icons and colors to help users find shortcuts. [full story]

April 17 - 11:20am EDT   Noise Industries has announced updates for three FxFactory-based plug-ins, intended for use in After Effects CS3 and CS4 along with Final Cut Studio and Express. EasyLooks 2.5 simplifies color grading, with options including diffusion and brightness adjustments. The update implements a faster rendering pipeline, as well as a vignette effect, new overlay controls and a three-way color corrector. [full story]

April 16 - 11:55am EDT   Boris FX has released a public beta of Boris Continuum Complete 6 FxPlug, a plug-in for Motion, Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express. The code introduces over 200 filters to the Apple software, divided into categories such as color, glows, transitions and simulated film effects. Filters can be previewed in real-time, separately or in combination. [full story]

April 14 - 11:10am EDT   Vision Effects has released Twixtor Express as an FxPlug for Final Cut Express. The plug-in enables users to speed up or slow down image sequences while maintaining quality. In order to do so, Twixtor synthesizes unique new frames by wrapping and interpolating frames of the original sequence, using technology that calculates the motion for each individual pixel. [full story]

March 13 - 11:50am EDT   Apple is indeed on the verge of releasing a new version of Final Cut Studio, new sources are said to corroborate. Although some sources have suggested than an updated Final Cut Studio suite could be announced on March 24th, people "familiar with the company's plans" are said to indicate that Apple is timing a release around the National Association of Broadcasters expo, scheduled for late April. Apple and some other major companies are not attending NAB, but the event is known for bringing major video-related product unveilings. [full story]

March 9 - 12:00pm EDT   Apple continues to have special plans for March 24th, a German website claims. Although rumors had pointed to an update of Mac desktops on that date, Apple surprised analysts and the public by releasing the systems on March 3rd instead. Some form of announcement is believed to remain scheduled for the 24th however, specifically relating to the company's professional video software. [full story]

September 5 - 12:45pm EDT   Noise Industries, in collaboration with Yanobox, has announced a new visual effects plug-in, Motype FxPack. Users working with After Effects CS3, Final Cut Express, or Final Cut Studio can implement Motype to create text or title animations. A Motion Mixer function allows the motion of the characters to be defined by geometric transformations or other properties, and random characters and symbols can be added as needed. [full story]

August 19 - 2:45pm EDT   Divergent Media has announced ClipWrap for the Mac, an m2t batch converter for creating QuickTime HDV files. With most Hi-Def cameras recording in m2t transport streams, and few video applications capable of handling m2t, ClipWrap attempts to bridge the gap, converting the streams to QuickTime movies. The software is a rewrapping tool, moving video and audio streams to a QuickTime container. In theory this avoids generational loss through re-encoding, and saves hours of encode time. [full story]