11/03, 8:15pm
New plug-in transfers FCP media to AE
Boris has released a new Adobe After Effects plug-in, Boris XML Transfer. The utility transfers Apple's Final Cut Pro program sequences to After Effects, preserving all aspects of Final Cut projects such as effects, audio, media clips, transitions, geometric transformations, and multi-clip edits. Trimmed clips retain full editing capabilities in Adobe After Effects, presented as stepped-up or stepped-down layers.
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10/22, 8:20pm
Maintenance release for video editing suite
Apple has released a Pro Applications Update for Final Cut Studio, along with a new Server Diagnostics utility. The Final Cut Studio download is primarily a maintenance update, with improvements to overall stability and compatibility. The revision includes Final Cut Pro 7.0.1, Motion 4.0.1, Soundtrack Pro 3.0.1, Color 1.5.1 and Compressor 3.5.1.
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10/20, 5:50pm
New tools for creating motion and still graphics
Noise Industries has introduced several new plug-ins that have been added to the FxFactory suite for Final Cut Pro, Motion, Final Cut Express and Adobe After Effects. nVeil is a tool developed by Storek Studio for creating motion and still graphics. Users can build animations by filtering source imagery through vector graphics art based on the SVG format.
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10/02, 6:40pm
M-Audio 10.6 drivers in the works, New FCP effect
In brief: M-Audio has announced that it is in the process of bringing Snow Leopard support to the M-Audio product line, the Pro Tools line, and extended product families. No official Snow Leopard drivers are available yet, but several public betas are being offered. In other news, CrumplePop has released a new Final Cut Pro effect. SplitScreen is a tool for creating split-screen shots directly from the timeline.
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09/22, 5:00pm
New update fixes bugs and adds stability
Digital Heaven has launched an update to its Final Cut Pro graphics automation software, releasing AutoMotion 1.6. The software works in conjunction with Final Cut's Motion automating both the production and management of multiple graphics: it merges Motion templates with user text data and handles revisions with live previews support for changing multiple graphics from one action.
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09/10, 5:40pm
Matrox MXO2 LE
Matrox this evening launched a new portable breakout box aimed specifically at Mac users editing at a pro level with Final Cut Studio. The MXO2 LE takes SDI, component, RCA and 10-bit HDMI video input from cameras or other sources and puts them in formats immediately usable by Color, Final Cut Pro and other apps in the suite, such as Apple's in-house ProRes 4:2:2 HQ format. It can also work with non-Apple software like After Effects and uses an XLR power input, making it friendly to a MacBook Pro at a video shoot where XLR may be more common than AC outlets.
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08/26, 8:30pm
Lock and Load FCP plug-in
CoreMelt has released its newest Final Cut Pro plug-in, Lock and Load. The software is used to stabilize a project's unsteady video -- supposedly six times faster than the video stabilizer built-in to FCP, Smoothcam. The plug-in utilizes an adaptive zoom feature that compensates for different levels of movement, zooming the videos framing to remove the shaking edges. The application allows users to specify which portion of the clip should be analyzed and ignores foreground motion when stabilizing the video.
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08/12, 9:05pm
ShrinkRay Final Cut effect
CrumplePop has released its newest video effect for Final Cut Pro, ShrinkRay. The effect uses titling and shifting techniques to alter the focal area in a video to make large scenes look very small. Users can reposition, expand, or contract the videos focal area to gain the desired effect. The plug-in also lets users control the amount of focus surrounding the focal point.
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08/05, 7:40pm
exceLogger, miniME ship
Intelligent Assistance has released two new software projects, exceLogger and miniME, the latter of which is used to read QuickTime metadata, imported from non-tape sources, into Final Cut Pro. The application also provides tools to view hidden metadata in XML files or export Excel spreadsheets. Metadata can be remapped to visible fields in Final Cut Pro, while multiple sources can be merged into one field.
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07/30, 11:15pm
KONA 6.5 update ships
AJA Video System has released KONA 6.5, updating the software for its KONA line of video capture and playback cards, including the KONA LSe, LHe, LHi and KONA 3. The new version adds compatibility with the recently released Final Cut Studio and Final Cut Pro 7. ProRes 422 LT, Proxy and ProRes 4444 are now compatible with the software as well. Other features added in version 6.5 include closed caption support for FCP 7, MacCaption, VTR Xchange and AJA TV, VANC data capture and playback support for ProRes formats and expanded KONA LHi support.
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07/09, 7:55pm
Sapphire plug-in rentals
GenArts has announced a monthly rental option for its flagship plugin effects, Sapphire. The plugins can be rented for $170 per month; far less than the $1699 purchase cost of the plug-in for After Effects or Final Cut Pro. This option is designed to allow artists who work on a project basis to avoid purchasing the costly full license of the Adobe After Effects plug-in or an Apple Final Cut Pro FxPlug. GenArts allows rental users to apply up to two months of rental fees as credit towards purchasing a permanent license of Sapphire.
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06/22, 8:10pm
Continuum Complete 6 AVX
Boris FX has released the full version of Boris Continuum Complete 6 AVX. The plug-in adds nearly 200 filters to video and film editing programs such as Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Adobe After Effects. The software is based on the Avid video editing and finishing architecture, and as such supports Avid Media Composer, NewsCutter and Symphony. The upgrade provides 15 new filters including Extruded Text, Cartoon Look, Lightning, and Swish Pan.
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06/17, 7:10pm
ParticleMetrix ships
Noise Industries and Idustrial Revolution have launched a new particle generation plug-in, ParticleMetrix, for visual effects applications. The plug-in works with Apple's Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express and Motion, along with Adobe's After Effects CS3 and CS4. ParticleMetrix is based on FxFactory and converts objects and text into particle effects, such as snow, fire, ice, bubbles, sparkles and more. The plug-in provides a library of pre-designed effects, with controls for rotation, size, gravity and other custom settings.
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06/02, 8:30pm
3D Objects unit released
Boris FX has released a new Boris Continuum unit, 3D Objects. The package is compatible with Adobe After Effects, Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Final Cut Express, and consists of 5 filters that generate 3D animations for video and film. The unit includes Extruded Text that uses AE masks for defining custom bevels, extrusion, and text on path, as well as a Type-On-Text feature that animates 3D text. 3D Objects also features Extruded EPS for importing Adobe Illustrator layered vector logos and graphics, retaining the original file's 3D material presets.
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05/14, 9:20pm
Freemeo plugin released
CrumplePop has released Freemeo, an HD title effects plug-in for Final Cut Pro. Freemeo enables users to create high definition text elements and lower thirds in the same style as Vimeo videos. The plug-in works directly within Final Cut Pro, helping to keep users editing process centralized in one application.
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05/14, 12:15pm
Loader, CaptureIt!
rooSwitch 1.5 ($19) allows users to manage multiple profiles for almost any applications data by simpling dragging the application to the main window. It can be used to manage multiple versions of an applications preferences, settings and data files, and features the ability to switch between them. Version 1.5 includes a new option for locking a profile which will prevent any changes to the active profile from being saved when switching to a different profile. The update also includes a document preference to immediately switch to new profiles as they are created, and the ability to select multiple profiles at once for deletion. [Download - 1.1MB]
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05/11, 10:15pm
Sonicfire Pro 5 plug-in
SmartSound has released a Sonicfire Pro 5 plug-in for Apple’s Final Cut Pro editing software. Features of the plug-in provide mood mapping and timing control; it also enables users to create music soundtracks from Sonicfire Pro 5. The Sonicfire Pro 5 plugin automatically reads the Final Cut Pro markers and in/out points from a video sequencer and delivers custom-fit music tracks within any of their markers. Once a track is in Final Cut Pro, the “Open in Editor” command enables roundtrip editing of the track.
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05/04, 8:10pm
FCP London SuperMeet
In brief: Native Instruments has announced a new deal that will be offered until the end of June. Any purchase of the controller-equipped version of Kore 2 will entitle the customer to a free download of the KORE Electronic Experience. The package offers six different soundpacks including Best of ABSYNTH, Deep Transformations and Synthetic Drums Reloaded. Meanwhile, The Final Cut Pro User Group has announced a new SuperMeet to be held in London, England following the success of the recent 8th Annual NAB FCPUG SuperMeet. The events provide attendees the opportunity to both learn about the latest technologies utilized in postproduction and broadcasting, and to meet with other enthusiasts and professionals.
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04/29, 2:10pm
CrumplePop Photo, Stimulus
ReelBean 4.1 ($) can be used to convert movies to Apple TV, video iPod MPEG4, H.264, AVI and other formats. The software also has media playing features that allow users to view media files from within the application. The update includes a minor fix to the Movie track Properties window and a new dialog window that displays when the Toggle Scenes feature is not available. [Download - 6.1MB]
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04/15, 8:50pm
Boinx FxTiles effects
Boinx Software and Noise Industries have released FxTiles, a collection of 3D filters and transitions based on FxFactory for Final Cut Pro, Motion, Final Cut Express and Adobe After Effects. The plug-ins are designed for video and post-production users. A Flip filter divides the source image into tiles and then flips them into 3D space, while a Shatter filter animates the tiles and a Spread filter offsets each tile.
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02/11, 10:55am
JVC GY-HM700 HD Camera
JVC today rolled out a pro-grade HD camcorder designed explicitly for videographers using Apple's Final Cut Pro editing suite. The GY-HM700 is the only 1080p camera to capture directly in the MOV format used by QuickTime and so lets producers send raw footage directly to Final Cut without the software having to first transcode or otherwise alter the material before it enters the pipeline. Editors can even trim video while it's stored on the camera, JVC notes.
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01/12, 11:50am
Magic Bullet Quick Looks
Red Giant has released Magic Bullet Quick Looks, a new set of color-correction plug-ins for video editors. The software represents a scaled-down version of Magic Bullet Looks, which provides a full range of tools for tweaking visual styles. Quick Looks eliminates most custom options in favor of over 100 presets, based on the cinematography of famous films and TV shows.
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12/31, 6:45pm
Multiuser Pro, TypeIt4Me
Filemailer 2.0 ($15) is a utility that helps users share files between computers. The content can be dragged to the desired recipients name and the software will then automatically compress the file, enter its information in the subject line, insert the pre-composed message into the body, and send the file. The 2.0 update now features support for TLS authentication, and includes a new option to organize contacts into groups for sending to multiple recipients. [Download - 4.2MB]
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11/21, 2:30am
Apple updates FCP 6.05
Apple on Thursday released new updates to professional video and audio suites, including Final Cut Pro 6.05, Compressor 3.0.5, Color 1.0.3 and Shake 4.1.1. Apple says the Pro Applications Update 2008-04, a revision to Final Cut Studio 2.0. addresses general performance issues and improves overall stability. Final Cut Pro 6.0.5 addresses specific issues such as improved rendering of still images and footage in high-resolution formats and adding the ability to capture the additional metadata for footage recorded with the Panasonic AG-HMC150 professional AVCHD camcorder and the extended metadata that is available with P2 cards; the update also improves reliability when importing files from the Panasonic HDC-SD9 camcorder.
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11/20, 11:00am
Premiere Pro 4.0.1 patch
Adobe has posted a v4.0.1 update for the CS4 version of Premiere Pro, its high-end video-editing suite. The patch introduces the ability to import projects from Apple's editing suite, Final Cut Pro, without any necessary conversions or re-rendering; most effects and transitions should be preserved. Users can also import and export in the Advandced Authoring Format (AAF), and export to an OMF file.
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11/10, 12:25pm
Red Giant Warp released
Red Giant Software has released Red Giant Warp, a new sets of effects generation plug-ins for video editing suites. Contained in Warp are three different tools, beginning with Corner Pin, which takes material from outside clips and pins it with a different perspective inside a working video. The plug-in additionally sports extra offset controls and integration with Mocha for After Effects.
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10/15, 3:55pm
UserMatic now shipping
EditGroove says it is now shipping its UserMatic plug-in for Final Cut Pro. The tool looks to solve Final Cut Pro preferences hassles, by letting users store and recall an unlimited number of Final Cut Pro preference sets, as well as delete unneeded preferences and make backups. UserMatic also has built-in networking capabilities, giving people direct access to the same library from multiple workstations.
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10/13, 11:50am
Pro Export FCP 4.0 update
Automatic Duck says it has released v4.0 of Pro Export FCP, its plug-in for Final Cut Pro. The software is used to export Final Cut Pro projects to other editing platforms, such as Quantel's Q eQ or iQ systems. The v4.0 update introduces expanded support for Avid software, through the option of MXF export; this lets FCP users avoid redigitizing. Similarly, users should now be able to carry over Avid-supported effects such as PIP, 3DWarp and Superimpose.
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09/03, 10:25am
Video Gogh 3 released
RE:Vision Effects has published Video Gogh 3, the latest version of its video post-effects software. The software attempts to simulate the look of various kinds of paintings and illustrations, such as oil, chalk and watercolor. The third edition adds a variety of features, most notably the option for animated and custom brush sets, with user-selectable brush images and render styles.
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06/27, 6:35am
Apple updates Pro Apps
Apple has released Final Cut Pro Server 1.1 (50.1MB) and Pro Applications Update 2008-02 (138MB). Both are available directly through Mac OS X's 'Software Update' feature, and also from the Apple website. Primarily a maintenance release, Final Cut Pro Server 1.1 packs in an impressive amount of bug fixes. Aiming to improve 'general reliability', it fixes specific issues when using multi-byte fonts, updating 'checked out' assets, and Project XML. A requirement for users to run QuickTime 7.5 has also been noted in the release notes. The Pro Applications Update is again primarily a maintenance release to 'improve reliability'. It includes point updates to Final Cut Pro, updating the application to 6.0.4, and Compressor 3.0.3. Other changes include enhanced support for Final Cut Pro Server, changes to XDCAM HD422 sequence presets, and a fix to HDV capture from QuickTime 7.5; the release notes document no other significant changes.
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06/23, 12:15pm
Red Giant's Radium Glow
Red Giant Software has announced Radium Glow, a new 3D glow simulator that goes beyond simple blurring effects. Instead of just adding simple blur, the software gives pinpoint control over the glow effect and has edge effects, masking and output functions. The three included plug-ins add neon-style effects and can be combined with Red Giant's Trapcode Particular (the company's separate 3-D particle plug-in) and other plug-ins to give sparkle and shimmer effects. Radium Glow is available now for $100 and works with on Mac OS X 10.4.4 or later, on After Effects, Premier Pro, Final Cut Pro, Motion and Avid AVX.
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06/13, 5:25am
Universal Media File ships
EditShare this week introduced a software solution that creates a single media file type which can be used in both Avid and Apple Final Cut Pro video editing applications. Used in conjunction with Editshare's Flow Ingest software, the Universal Media File technology allows the seamless acquisition of media in one format, and simultaneous output to multiple other formats. In shared workflow situations, the Universal Media File promises to add a new dimension to work environments by eliminating the need for file conversion, file duplication or the congestion of valuable ingest channels.
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05/22, 5:30pm
Twixtor 4.5 for FCP
Beginning this week Vision Effects is now shipping Twixtor 4.5 for Apple Final Cut Pro (FCP) in an FxPlug version, which is Final Cut Pro's native effects plugin architecture. Twixtor enables users to speed up or slow down image sequences with quality results. In order to achieve its image quality, Twixtor synthesizes unique new frames by warping and interpolating frames of the original sequence; employing Vision Effects' Academy Award winning technology that calculates motion for each individual pixel.
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05/01, 8:15am
1m FCP licenses sold
Apple on Thursday said that it has no plans discontinue its popular Final Cut software for video editing and post-production, after rumors began circulating at NAB that the company had plans to sell the software. Moving to quash rumors, the company told TVB Europe that the Apple had sold its millionth Final Cut Pro license and that its new Final Cut Server software is the company's latest addition to the product family: "I can categorically state, on the record, that is not the case," said Richard Townhill, Apple's director of marketing for professional video applications. The report also cites research by SCRI noting that Apple took 49 percent of the US professional editing market in 2007, while Avid took just 22 percent.
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04/10, 11:05pm
Final Cut Pro 6.03 ships
Ahead of next week's NAB conference, Apple on Thursday released its updates to its professional video editing applications with Pro Applications Update 2008-01. The company said that the update, which includes the Apple HDV Codec v1.4 for 4:2:2 support in Final Cut Pro, improves reliability for Apple's professional applications; it is recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server, Logic Studio, and Shake and includes an update to Final Cut Studio 2.0, including Final Cut Pro 6.0.3, Compressor 3.0.3--both of which address specific customer issues, installation issues, compatibility updates, general performance issues and improves overall stability. It is a 63.7MB download.
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04/10, 10:50am
Red Giant: 5 new products
Red Giant Software has announced it will show five new products at the upcoming NAB convention in Las Vegas, including Trapcode Horizon, Instant HD Pro, Radium Glow, Magic Bullet Steady, and Primatte Keyer Pro 4. Trapcode Horizon is a new plug-in designed specifically for After Effects users doing 3D work. Due in the second quarter of 2008, the plugin is designed to help video editors match the camera with any virtual background, enabling the generation of motion in 3D in a true 3D space. It is priced at $100.
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03/25, 8:25pm
PluginManager 1.7.3 update
Apple today unveiled PluginManager 1.7.3, an update to the plugin management service for Final Cut Pro, Motion, Aperture, Logic Studio, as well as several SDK kits. The update addresses certain problems within Final Cut Studio relating to backwards compatibility. PluginManager.framework, FxPlug.framework, ProFX.framework, and FxPlugWrapper.plugin have all been replaced with current versions to address the issue. The update is also available through Software Update, under the Apple Menu.
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03/19, 1:55pm
Damage Effects
Digieffects has begun shipping Damage, a new set of plugins for video and film post production professionals. Damage is a collection of four effects designed for post production professionals who want to create an extensive variety of digital and/or analog defects, errors and artifacts in their footage. It supports Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro, Autodesk Combustion and Boris RED.
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03/12, 1:40pm
DH_Subtitle 2.0
Digital Heaven has announced the release of DH_Subtitle 2.0, an upgrade to the popular subtitle generator plug-in for Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro. The tool allows users to create professional style subtitles with boxes behind the text. The new version adds text tracking and leading controls plus a new outline style option. It automatically creates the box according to the text entered and also ensures the last line of text is always in the same vertical position, no matter how many lines of text a subtitle may contain. With version 2.0 there is a new outline style which puts a line around the text to increase legibility. Also new in this version are controls for text tracking and leading.
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03/06, 10:45am
dvGarage product updates
dvGarage recently unveiled updates to Conduit Suite and dvMatte Pro, its respective Conduit nodal composition tool and chromakeying software. Conduit suite brings with it Conduit Live, a new standalone nodal capture tool which offers users real-tie video compositing and analysis of any live digital footage. The Studio bundle also includes Conduit for Motion, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Photoshop, and After Effects. Conduit Suite is selling for $199, available from dvGarage's website.
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02/28, 5:40pm
Apple's movie influence
The Coen brothers -- the creators of 'No Country for Old Men' which won five Oscars at this year's Academy Awards -- have discussed how Apple hardware and software were influential during the editing process of the film's creation. "They [Apple] made it really easy for us — we cut now much the same way we cut on film [using Final Cut Pro]. It's hugely faster," said Ethan Coen. 'No Country for Old Men' won 'Best Picture' this year and is the first movie edited with an entirely digital workflow on a Mac to win the Oscar, according to Macworld.
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02/25, 3:05pm
Cineon/DPX Pro for FC 3.0
Glue Tools today announced that it will release Cineon/DPX Pro for Final Cut 3.0 at NAB 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The latest release of Cineon/DPX for Final Cut Pro includes Cineon and DPX Sequence Presets along with a full Cineon or DPX Codec, completely eliminating the need to render sequences in Final Cut Pro's timeline. "No More Red Render Bar!" the company states. "Your imagery can be directly loaded into Final Cut Pro or Compressor, without needing to be compressed into an intermediate codec or movie format." The company is already accepting pre-orders for Cineon/DPX for Final Cut 3.0 at $400 per license. The update requires Final Cut Studio 2 and QuickTime 7.3.1. Upgrades for customers who purchasd Cineon/DPX Pro for Final Cut 2.5 after February 1st will receive a free upgraede to 3.0 when the software is made available at NAB.
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01/31, 10:15pm
Magic Bullet Frames, 24p
Red Giant Software today unveiled Magic Bullet Frames, its latest plugin for Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Premiere Pro. The plugin is designed to allow users to shoot video on low-cost film, and then scale the footage to 24p, giving it a professional finish. Magic Bullet Frames uses motion-adaptive and field-blended modes to process frames, and can apply custom letterboxes to footage to give it a cinematic feel. Red Giant Software is currently selling Magic Bullet Frames for $200.
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01/26, 2:30pm
Red, Quicktime 7.4 issues
Digital video specialist Red is alerting its users to an incompatibility with QuickTime 7.4 when using Red Alert, as well as issues with Final Cut Pro and Red One footage. Users will experience decreased system stability, so Red advises users to avoid upgrading to QuickTime 7.4 until either itself or Apple has issued a fix. Neither Red nor Apple has commented on what is causing the issue, and it is unknown if any of Red's other products are affected by the bug.
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01/09, 8:40pm
Briefly: FCPUG; shareware
In brief: A Final Cut group organizes a Macworld "SuperMeet," a shareware bundle splits proceeds with charity, a free book teaches game programming, and a software package teaches Quark Job Jackets. The Final Cut Pro Users Group has finalized the agenda for its seventh-annual Macworld SuperMeet. The event is scheduled from 7 to 10PM on January 16th, and will be held in the Robertson Auditorium of the Mission Bay Conference Center, UCSF, in San Francisco. Richard Townhill of Apple will discuss Final Cut Pro and the new Mac Pros, while colleague Steve Bayes will talk about evaluating codecs. Other guests will include representatives from Adobe, Sony and Blackmagic. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.
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12/26, 11:25am
Briefly: Google widgets
In brief: Google updates its Mac widgets, MacNN reviews iRemember 2.2, macProVideo teaches upgrades and color correction, and Custom Solutions slips subliminal messages into Macs. Mac users who regularly rely on Google's Gmail, Blogger or Search History widgets were recently asked to upgrade the software; the company now explains that it was informed of vulnerabilities by Thomas Roessler, of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards group. In particular, the Gmail widget would previously write tags in a subject header without checking, allowing malicious users to execute JavaScript that could assume control of a computer. Newer versions of the Gmail and Blogger widgets can be found here, while the Search History widget is located separately.
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