David Pogue on iMovie '08: "What the [bleep]!"

We've been using iMovie since it's beginning. anyone remember Digital 8?
changes are necessary to bring new Consumers into the tent and that's why Apple exists and why capitalism sucks (unless you like having stuff).Offering Imovie 6 seems fair since copying software is so easy and if you'd studied the program before you bought it you'd have known you wouldn't like. I hope that plug-in providers are able to fit their products in.I'll miss the really nifty ones

I think that iMovie '08 sounds like a great idea. Having tutored many people in iMovie '06, some people get lost, particularly those that want to make just basic movies and don't want to spend hours editing. I also think it's great that Apple has released iMovie '06 for download, as this means you have the best of both worlds. You have iMovie '08 for movie organizing, and 'quick make' movies, and iMovie '06 for more 'in depth' editing.

Scotty

I understand why people love iMovie '06, but I have to add this in defense of iMovie '08: This morning I sat down with my wife, who is 1) a teacher who wants to make videos for work 2) a technophobe and 3) the owner of a new MacBook, and in less than 20 minutes I had taught her how to import bits of raw footage (from her great new Xacti vidcam)and produce a video with titles and narration. And she sat back and beamed with satisfaction - something I have NEVER seen her do when using a computer.

I'm guessing iMovie '08 was designed for people like her, and judging from my wife's reaction, I think it was a good move on Apple's part. People who want more will just have to buy a"prosumer" app like Final Cut Express of wait for the (inevitable plugins) to come for iMovie '08.

Pogue is wrong about extracting audio. You can extract it, the ability is apparently hidden in the help documentation somewhere. I've never found the help reference, but an Apple tech helped me figure it out. You basically have to drag a clip into the project while holding down command-shift. I've written a writeup on how to do it in my little iMovie '08 blog.

http://imovie08.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-to-extract-audio-from-clip.html

Disclaimer: I do put ads up on my blog.

It's terrific the new version, some brilliant new features, its well optimised but it is buggy. I think its a step in the right direction in many areas, but back in some too

I like the new version of iMovie '08 and think having the '06 version as well is like the best of both worlds.
I say, good for Apple for trying. Too much of the time apps get marginal boosts through new features instead of what we've got here with a root-use analysis and re-build to see how much better the app could really be.

iMovie '08 is a piece of sh*t. They should have just made it a separate component of iLife '08, called it "iClips", and kept iMovie as it is. Seriously, WTF !?!?!

If you really want to see a bad of video editing program, just look at the free windows 'Movie Maker' software. If you have a PC you will want to run out and buy anything else that resembles real video editing program unless you want to make very basic movies. The new iMovie is light years ahead of Window 'Movie Maker'.

@Scot Stevenson

I completely agree with you on what you wrote.
Personally I have the following problem:
- I own a dSLR camera and like taking a lot of pics. So, after iLife 06 I bought Aperture, because it allowed to do more of the stuff I wanted with pictures, and I liked the overall feel.
- I own a digital camcorder as well, I am not as passionate as with photography, but I nevertheless want my home movies to look pretty (prettier than what you get on windows...)

So iLife 06 was perfect because I could rely on iMovie HD for my moviemaking.

Now...
I upgraded to iLife 08. The new iMovie is too basic for what I need (instead of adding two sound tracks, they took away one! And the list would go on and on..).
So basically I still use an old software and have no use of iLife?

iPhoto has become better, to a certain extent, but some of the new features (integration with iWeb) are available in iPhoto and not in Aperture...

My point is:
- iPhoto has become much closer to Aperture with the new release
- iMovie has increased the distance much more to Final Cut Express than what it was

There is no good reason Apple should have released a software like the new iMovie, other than forcing us to purchase Final Cut Express (who has features I don't need at all).

Yes I feel cheated as an "advanced amateur" who always thought Apple would be best to express creativity.
PLEASE PEOPLE: don't tell me iMovie 06 was harder to use than iMovie 08. I own both... And I know it is not true.. (disable timeline view and you have basically the same window as in iMovie 06)

I have been using iMovie 06 for a long time now to make the typical family look-aren't-the-kids-cute for the grandparents. The program was absolutely prefect for this and good value for money. iMovie 08 is useless to me, tho I am sure that you kids like it for your three-minute YouTube fun. There is no way I can justify the price of FCE on a family budget. Apple has killed the sweet spot, and I feel cheated.

I don't use GarageBand, iPhoto and iDVD are good enough as they are and I can take or leave iWeb. iMovie is the main reason I buy iLife updates, and if this is the way iMovie is going to be, this was the last time I put down $79 for a new update. In retrospect, I should not have bought iLife 08 -- last time I played the early bird.