02/08, 4:00am
Third free update fulfills program's promise
Final Cut Pro X, a radical re-thinking of professional video editing that initially sparked more a revolt than the revolution Apple intended, has gone on to win PC Magazine's "Editor's Choice" award after a review of the program and the features restored and improved by its third free update. The latest version, released at the very end of January, restored multi-cam editing, broadcast monitoring and richer XML support to the suite, enabling Final Cut Pro 7 projects and third-party plug-ins. In doing so, it has begun to silence its critics.
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02/03, 2:00am
Standalone is also part of FxFactory 3
Video plug-in maker Idustrial Revolution is now offering its XEffects Tech Transitions plug-in, which works exclusively with Final Cut Pro X, as a $49 standalone product (it is also available through Noise Industries' FxFactory 3). The package adds 28 transitions in total, all with adjustable settings for slipping, lengthening or shortening. The transitions focus on photo-style, freeze/flash and panel or grid transitions modelled after those seen in action videos.
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01/26, 6:00pm
PluralEyes marries separate sound to vision
Two different pro-video editing software companies have released new plug-in versions for Final Cut Pro X and other editors that bring new abilities to their respective platforms. Singular Software has updated its PluralEyes clip-syncing program for FCP X, while FxFactory plug-in developer Nattress has added Levels and Curves, a filter pack that lets users color-grade in the film log, to FCP X and earlier versions, along with Motion and Adobe After Effects.
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01/25, 9:30pm
Can cross-convert 720p to 1080PsF
Pro video hardware maker AJA Video Systems is now shipping a professional I/O box called the Io XT with dual Thunderbolt ports, 10-bit up-, down- and cross-conversion in hardware, uncompressed capture, monitoring and mastering, eight-channel SDI audio I/O, analog component and composite output, HDMI input and output (including 3D) and 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 HD and SD formats among other features. The dual T ports allow for daisy-chaining with other TB peripherals.
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01/19, 6:30pm
Features 170-degree lens, built-in viewfinder
Snow sports accessory maker Zeal Optics has expanded its sports google line with the debut of the iON Google, a visor that also includes a 1080p HD camera that can capture video and sound, or 8MP still images. The camera features a 170-degree wide angle, fixed "infinity" focus and automatic light-level adjustment, storing its media on a micro-SD card. It also has an in-goggle viewfinder.
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01/18, 10:30pm
Only has Firefox 8 and higher support for now
Snapstream, a company that offers a hardware-based TV broadcast monitoring server and integrated software, has released a Mac version of its web player, letting Mac users search, view and save clips on various subjects. The Mac version, a first for the company, is limited compared to its Windows counterpart but is expected to gain support for additional browsers, video formats and playback options over time. Mac compatibility greatly helps those who rely on Mac workflows for video editing.
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01/18, 8:00pm
Also works with Motion and Adobe's After Effects
Yanobox, a development house that produces plugs-in for FxFactory, has debuted a new "next-generation" color grading and correction module called Moods that works with Final Cut Pro X, Motion (versions 3, 4 and 5) and Adobe's After Effects (CS3 through CS5.5). The plug-in, which can be purchased separately, features a "heads-up display" that overlays on the video, allowing for full-screen color work with HD or SD footage.
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01/18, 3:05am
Seven all-new plug-ins also debuting
Pro video effects tool makers Noise Industries have announced that FxFactory 3, the latest version of the plug-in suite designed to work with Apple's Final Cut, Motion, Final Cut Express and Adobe's After Effects, will be a free upgrade for existing users. In addition, the Pro version adds a new "playback ready" transition along with improved existing effects, and users of EasyLooks and SugarFX light pack will receive free upgrades to maintain compatibility.
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01/11, 5:30pm
HD/SD interface can handle uncompressed video
MOTU, while best known for its audio hardware and software for pro audio, also makes video hardware -- and extended its product line at CES by introducing the HDX-SDI with Thunderbolt, a one rack-space sized pro video interface that enables Thunderbolt-equipped Macs or Windows PCs to capture even uncompressed HD video and features plenty of input and output for video and audio channels. The product is MOTU's first with Thunderbolt technology.
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12/21, 8:55pm
Mobile devices charge while playing HD content
Onkyo has announced that it is set to introduce several new A/V receivers that are claimed to be the industry's first to support InstaPrevue and mobile high-definition link (MHL) technologies. The MHL standard, which is already utilized for a variety of tablets and smartphones, enables devices to transmit 1080p video with 7.1-channel digital audio across a dual-purpose Micro-USB port.
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12/13, 9:15pm
Applies HDR tone mapping to footage
Video plug-in maker Crumplepop in collaboration with Editkick have released a new plug-in called ToneGrade for Apple's Final Cut Pro X that makes it easy to color-grade and apply HDR-like tone-mapping effects to video footage, enhancing the texture of brightly-lit scenes and increasing detail and realism in faces and objects. For a limited time, the company is making the plug-in available for $39, a discount from its normal $75 price.
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12/13, 2:55pm
Update also improves performance & device support
Skype has released a new update for its Skype for Android app. The new release, Skype 2.6 for Android, lets users with mobile data plans send photos, videos and files over 3G and Wi-Fi networks (free, Android Market). The update also provides improvements for tablets running Tegra 2 processors.
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12/07, 11:20pm
Annotation, cursor effects, blurs and more
Aimed at those who create screencasts, YouTube videos and other instructional material that involves screen capture, animation, annotation and editing, TechSmith's Camtasia has been updated to version 2.0, which brings a more intuitive editing interface to the program, along with higher quality output that is 40-60 percent faster to produce. The new version also introduces a blur effect to hide sensitive information.
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11/17, 1:30am
Resolves issues with fonts, playback, more
Apple late Wednesday updated its flagship pro video-editing software Final Cut Pro X to version 10.0.2, fixing three issues related to fonts, playback and stability. The update fixes a troublesome issue where fonts in a title will revert back to the default font after restarting the program, and is in addition to the significant updates made in v10.0.1 in mid-September that added XML import and export, Lion full-screen view and more.
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11/07, 4:40pm
Case tested to 65-foot submersion
Swann has introduced the the Freestyle HD, the company's first wearable video camera that shoots in HD resolution. The camera allows users to capture eight-megapixel still photos or 1080p video at 30fps, with options for stereo audio, digital zoom and single or continuous shooting in still mode. Content can be previewed on an integrated 1.5-inch LCD on the backside.
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10/28, 10:15pm
Sources say celebrities, others approached
(Update: partly confirmed) Google is close to announcing approximately 100 new online "channels" for its YouTube service that will incorporate contributions from some media companies -- allegedly including some Hollywood production houses -- along with content from well-known online video producers for a total of about 25 hours per day of original programming, The Wall Street Journal claims. Unconfirmed reports have Google paying a "generous" portion of ad revenue to creators in exchange for content.
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10/24, 7:40pm
Latter for mid-2010 15-inch model only
Apple issued two support updates today, the first another bugfix update for the Apple TV, the second a model-specific update for the mid-2010 15-inch MacBook Pro to fix issues relating to intermittent freezing of video. The 4.4.2 release of the Apple TV firmware is meant to consolidate fixes first offered in a troubled 4.4.1 update that was subsequently pulled and then re-instated due to a flaw in the update itself. Apple advises users to reset the Apple TV before applying the new update.
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10/19, 12:10am
Adds support for ProRes, AVC-Intra, more
Telestream has updated its professional video-encoding program for Mac and Windows Episode to version 6.2, which now includes a new API to allow for greater integration with third-party tools. The free version of 6.2 adds the high-end ProRes 4:4:4:4 and AVC-Intra 50 and 100 format support, along with Microsoft Smooth Streaming and Apple HLS streaming format. Episode is also now Lion-compatible.
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10/07, 10:30pm
Standalone, Photo or Film/Video licenses
Version three of the Tiffen Company's Dfx Digital Filter Suite is now available, bringing more than 10 new filters, updated host support, interface tweaks and other improvements to the popular photo and video filter suite. The software simulates over 2,000 Tiffen glass filters, optical processes, film grains and specialized lenses and natural light and photographic effects. The new version adds enhanced multi-processor acceleration for significant speed gains.
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09/30, 11:00pm
Sends embedded videos to AppleTV, iPad
Marc Hoyois, who created the popular ClickToFlash and ClickToPlugin extensions for Safari to selectively block Flash and other plug-ins from appearing on webpages, using HTML5 to deliver the content if possible, has taken a user suggestion and released an update to ClickToFlash (v2.5.2) as well as an all-new extension called Media Center 1.0. The new tool allows embedded videos to be sent to an Apple TV or other device using Apple's AirPlay technology.
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09/30, 7:00pm
30x faster, easier social sharing, now on sale
Global Delight has updated their iPhone camera app Camera Plus Pro to version 4.0, adding additional live filters to both photos and videos, reinstated its Smooth Video Zoom feature, improved the ability of the app to share photos and videos to social services and photo-storage sites such as Facebook and Picasa, and improved the overall speed of the app with a new capture engine that is 30 times faster than the previous release.
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09/29, 11:30pm
Utilizing accelerometer and gyroscope
Future iOS device users may enjoy greater video stabilization while they are shooting, according to a patent application uncovered by AppleInsider. The technique described by Apple in the patent is different than software-based video stabilizing technology found in products such as iMovie in that it also employs the gyroscope and accelerometer already built into most iOS devices to augment the software analysis, comparing the "noisy" data of an video to a pre-set threshold.
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09/22, 10:10pm
30-minute preview, Q&A already available
Prohibition, the latest documentary from Public Television filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, will debut on the PBS app for iOS devices nine days before being shown on television, CNet reports. The first of three parts of the five-and-a-half-hour film will appear tomorrow (Friday), while it won't debut on television until Sunday, October 2nd. A 30-minute preview of the movie, along with a question-and-answer session with the filmmakers, is already available on the PBS app and website.
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09/20, 1:30am
New Guided Edits and movie themes, more
Just in time for the products' 10th anniversary, Adobe has issued both standalone packages and a bundle offering for Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 and Adobe Premiere Elements 10 for both Mac and Windows systems. The new programs offer new features, new format support, content-aware tools and a new online service that offers 20GB of storage for photos and videos along with additional themes, tips and templates for $50 per year.
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09/19, 9:00pm
Co-owners may renege if bids not large enough
Multiple issues may conspire to derail the auction of popular online streaming video site Hulu even before it gets underway in earnest -- including moves by NBC Universal, deliberate vagueness about exactly what bidders will be getting, a large gap between what the initial round of bids produced and what the co-owners expected, and a reticence from Hulu's board to fully commit to a sale. The perceived value of the deal appears to be dropping rapidly, sources say, due to the complications.
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09/12, 8:00pm
Standalone and plug-in versions on all platforms
THX Ltd, the professional audio, theatre and home-video certification company founded by filmmaker George Lucas, announced that it has updated its file and television post-production color management software THX cineSpace, improving color accuracy and consistency and adding 64-bit support for all three major operating systems (Windows, Mac and Linux) as well as adding 64-bit support to plug-in versions that work with Adobe Photoshop, Apple's Shake, Nuke and other software.
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09/08, 3:15am
Cinema Displays, iPad 2s used for video mosaics
As part of a special window display created for Fashion's Night Out, the New York-based department store Saks and Stylelist.com created an video display at the company's flagship 5th Avenue store, The Loop reports. The store partnered with Gin Lane Media to create a center window display using 64 iPad 2s to display a mosaic video pattern, along with two side windows which employed nine stacked 27-inch Cinema Displays in each window to show different mosaic video.
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09/07, 9:00pm
Student prepares dinner using thin case edge
A series of videos on YouTube chronicle the tests of one Japanese student as he attempts to use the thinnest edge of the MacBook Air as a knife and cleaver in the course of preparing a meal. The young man is seen chopping mushrooms, carrots, pork, apples and other items using the thin edge of the Air, which he compares (when closed) to a Chinese cleaver.
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09/02, 2:30am
Syncs with Soho Notes, features Cover Flow
Chronos has brought out a note manager for iPad called NoteLife HD that can work as a stand-alone media-rich note manager or sync with the company's Soho Notes for the Mac. Featuring a "worn leather" journal appearance, the program offers support for plain and rich text, images, PDF, audio/video files, web archive files, bookmark notes and more. The program has a built-in voice recorder, geotagging features, folder management, tagging, custom previews, camera support and encryption among other features.
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09/01, 9:15pm
Bows to pressure from pro video customers
Apple has brought back Final Cut Studio, bowing to pressure from members of the pro video community who complained that the sudden discontinuation of the previous version made the transition to Final Cut X more difficult. MacRumors confirmed that the suite is again available at its previous price point ($999, $899 educational), but would only be made available through telephone sales, and not at either Apple retail stores or the online store.
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08/31, 9:50pm
Adapts to built-in Ethernet port on some models
A number of HDTV and Blu-Ray devices now sport Ethernet ports for connecting to a home network, but do not have built-in wireless capability. The new Netgear WNCE3001 Universal Dual-Band Wireless Internet Adapter is an add-on -- for smart TVs and Blu-Ray players which have an Ethernet port -- that allows them to join wireless home networks, using the "cleaner" 5GHz Wi-Fi band for faster delivery and the avoidance of video "jitter," though it can use the 2.4GHz frequency as well.
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08/26, 8:55pm
All three can use USB for A/V connection
Epson has expanded its VS series of small business-level budget projectors, with the VS210, the VS310 and the VS315W, the only one of the three offering HD resolution and a widescreen ration. All three identical-looking models weigh in at 5.1 pounds each, making them lightweight and travel-friendly, and deliver 2,600 lumens of light output. In addition, all three can use USB connections from Mac or Windows computers to carry audio and video rather than DVI or HDMI.
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08/23, 12:15am
Extends number of possible monitors
The UDA2000 is a new USB 2 to HDMI display adapter from Cirago International that allows both Mac and Windows users to easily connect to HDMI monitors, projectors or HDTVs without having to add internal video cards, external breakout expanders or separate audio and video connections in order to increase the number of monitors they can work with. PCs can add up to six 1080p-compatible monitors, while Mac users can add up to four, each using a USB port and adapter.
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08/16, 7:00pm
Original developer cries foul
Kagi, the former payment processor for the video-converter software VisualHub, has opted to market a $5 "Lion upgrader" kit called vHub Updater that offers a polished installer for the original developer's own free patches to the program -- without permission or payment, says the original developer, Tyler Loch. The program, abandoned in 2008, won a devoted fan following that continues thanks to Loch's patches to make it work under Lion.
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08/15, 4:10pm
Apple's iPhone leads other single brands
Mogreet, a mobile platform marketing agency that measures video-based MMS advertising, released its second-quarter 2011 analytics report analyzing consumer behavior in viewing and reacting to video advertising. The survey showed that Verizon lead the pack in mobile messaging views by carrier, while Apple's iPhone was the dominant choice for viewing MMS ads by handset type.
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08/10, 6:15pm
Freehand callouts, video annotations, more
Video software maker Telestream today released a major update to its screen-capture and screencasting software ScreenFlow -- updating to version 3.0, which adds new Lion features such as automatic saving, along with greater efficiency and control features including timeline enhancements, and a new ability to highlight or obscure screen details. The new version also features a new iPad preset for export, and the ability to publish screencasts directly to Vimeo.
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08/09, 10:10pm
Likely ties in with Skype collaborative effort
Just two weeks after a hidden iPad-native version of its app was uncovered in code for the recently-updated Facebook iPhone app, researchers have uncovered a buried and unfinished video-calling component in the company's new Facebook Messenger chatting application, according to a report from 9to5Mac. The hidden code works on both Android and iOS versions of the app and will likely tie in with the company's Skype tie-ins to give the app future video calling ability between Facebook users.
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08/05, 7:00pm
Adds short video 'context' to shared pics
Instant social-sharing of photos snapped (primarily) on the iPhone or iPod Touch through apps like Instagram has caught on with both artists and amateurs as a way to quickly pass on discoveries and documentation of their lives. A new service and app, GLMPS (pronounced "glimpse," free) offers a twist on the idea by pre-recording the five seconds before a photo is taken, making the photo the last "frame" of a short video -- giving more context to the picture.
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08/03, 9:25pm
Waterproof up to 10 feet, 720p video
Vivitar has introduced its DVR 690HD waterproof pocket camcorder for underwater recording, safe up to 10 feet deep -- with a 4x digital zoom, included microphone and speaker that shoots 720p 30fps video onto a standard SD or SDHC card. Captured video (which is in Motion JPEG format) can be directly output to a TV using an included AV cable or transferred on to a computer.
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08/02, 7:10pm
Now handles GoPro, Panasonic 3D files natively
Stereoscopic 3D utility Stereo3D Toolbox LE from Dashwood Cinema Solutions has reached version 3.0, bringing with it new nesting tools for building side-by-side compound cliips, additional types of 3D output, the ability to work directly with GoPro 3D and Panasonic AG-3DA1 H.264 files in Final Cut Pro X without transcoding or muxing, and the Global Output Mode feature from the professional version, Stereo3D Toolbox.
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07/29, 12:40am
New audio support enables video chat clients
Telestream's webcasting solution Wirecast is now at version 4.1, adding support for a number of new technologies that expand the programs ability to handle remote, multi-channel and wireless broadcasts for Mac or Windows. In addition, the update brings Mac OS X Lion support, expanded audio support that enables adding video-chat programs into the mix, and integration with webcasting equipment makers including LiveU, Teredek, Matrox, Axis and Viewcast.
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07/15, 1:25am
Sonnet describes new gear at show, Sept. 8-13
Sonnet Technologies is announcing plans to preview a set of upcoming Thunderbolt-based storage products at IBC2011. The broadcast media tradeshow is in Amsterdam, September 8-13. On display, located at Sonnet's stand 7.G03, will be the Fusion D800TBR5 8-drive RAID 5 storage unit. Also at the show will be the Echo Express PCIe 2.0 Expansion Chassis, which allows users to plug in high-performance PCI Express 2.0 adapter cards to any Mac with a Thunderbolt port.
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07/12, 9:35pm
Up to 10x faster synchronization of audio, video
Prosumers and professionals who shoot using separate audio and video capturing devices for either professional or amateur shoots with either single or multiple cameras usually need to spend significant time in the editing phase marrying the two tracks back together in perfect sync. Singular Software's PluralEyes and DualEyes products, now at version 2.0, can do the job automatically -- now at three to 10 times the speed of the previous version.
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07/12, 9:05pm
Service coming to US later in summer
Nintendo has announced that it will launch its Nintendo Video service on Wednesday for the 3DS handheld, though the initial launch is limited to customers in Japan. The company's official video portal will provide access to 2D and 3D content, with new videos to be added periodically. Users will be able to access the range of videos for free.
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07/11, 6:50pm
Tech aims to reduce shaky video
Google is reportedly preparing to improve its Google Talk services with image stabilization technology for video calling. The system is claimed to help compensate for scene motion from moving subjects or backgrounds. Incoming and outgoing video both benefit from the technology, which is also said to help maximize compression during encoding.
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07/08, 12:40am
App grabs video clips, displays metadata, timecode
Imagine has announced HD-VU 1.0 for Macintosh, an all-in-one video player that previews clips without first requiring transcoding. The app organizes clips by source folders and generates thumbnails automatically for a visual reference to each file. It behaves like a watch-folder, populating clips as they appear on offload. The app works with pro-video formats from Canon DSLRs and XF series cameras, Panasonic P2 and AVCCAM, JVC's HCSD, SxS and SxS Pro, RED cameras, Sony's XDCam EX and AVCHD and Arri's Alexa cameras.
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06/17, 8:15pm
Improves performance on existing transitions
Digital slideshow and presentation program FotoMagico has been updated to v3.8, which adds several new transitions, enhances options for the standard Fade and Flip transitions, and tunes up the app's overall performance and audio playback. The program, which also works with video clips, animates still images and mixes images with video with audio, and now supports a 720p format option.
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06/08, 9:00am
Instant upload to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter
Looxcie has released a new wearable video camera, the Looxcie 2. The new version is almost 50 percent smaller than the original model. It also weighs 20 percent less, just 22 grams (0.75 ounces). The Looxcie 2 can capture up to five hours of continuously looped video in 320p mode or one hour in 480p. Battery life is approximately four hours in 320p and two hours in 480p.
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06/07, 6:00pm
Downloadable copy not yet available through iTunes
[Update: A downloadable version of the keynote is now available via iTunes] Apple has posted a streaming video of the keynote presentation delivered yesterday morning at the Worldwide Developer's Conference in San Francisco. The keynote, which features CEO Steve Jobs as well as other members of the Apple executive team, runs just under two hours and features noticeably improved streaming video quality, perhaps a reflection of Apple's upgraded server centers.
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06/03, 7:30pm
New program name 'Chatter' inadvertently revealed
Early leaked builds of Windows 8 appear to have confirmed a feature accidentally revealed during the Windows 8 preview earlier this week, a video and messaging service called "Chatter" that could conceivably unify Windows Live Messenger and elements from the company's recent purchase of Skype.
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