The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) http://www.tuaw.com The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gif The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) http://www.tuaw.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[After Effects 7 users: QuickTime 7.4 update a nono]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/23/after-effects-7-users-quicktime-7-4-update-a-nono/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/23/after-effects-7-users-quicktime-7-4-update-a-nono/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/23/after-effects-7-users-quicktime-7-4-update-a-nono/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Software, Video

After Effects 7 users, take note: there have been some interesting and unfortunate developments with the recent release of the QuickTime 7.4 update. Apparently, it disables After Effects 7 and will not permit users to complete rendering videos. There have been some arguments about what is causing this error, with some claiming it is related to DRM issues (let's hope not), while others claim it is nothing more than a preferences bug.

Nevertheless, you can not revert back to a previous version of QuickTime once you have updated. In short: After Effects 7 users, beware! Avoid the QT7.4 update at all costs, unless you want to deal with a major headache.

TUAW After Effects 7 users: QuickTime 7.4 update a nono originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeafter effectsafter-effectsAfterEffectsbugdrmquicktimesoftwareupdateWed, 23 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MacBook Air: greenest Apple yet]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/19/macbook-air-greenest-apple-yet/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/19/macbook-air-greenest-apple-yet/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/01/19/macbook-air-greenest-apple-yet/#commentsFiled under: Apple, MacBook Air

Apple has received a lot of flack, especially from Greenpeace, for their supposedly less-than-stellar commitment to "green" design and manufacturing processes. However, the MacBook Air might be a sign of changes to come, as it is officially the most environmentally-friendly Apple product on the shelves. The latest, thinnest Apple notebook boasts the following:

Of course, the MacBook Air isn't quite perfect (it's far from the greenest computer out there), and there are more improvements that can be made. However, this is indeed a step in the right direction for Apple, and hopefully this indicates a new trend. I think it's about time that Apple gets on the sustainability train and starts implementing more earth-friendly materials into their products. Let's hope for more good things in the future.

TUAW MacBook Air: greenest Apple yet originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designgreengreenpeacesustainabilitySat, 19 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adobe Premiere Pro, Soundbooth updated for Leopard]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/12/08/adobe-premiere-pro-soundbooth-updated-for-leopard/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/12/08/adobe-premiere-pro-soundbooth-updated-for-leopard/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/12/08/adobe-premiere-pro-soundbooth-updated-for-leopard/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Software, Video

Here's a quickie update notice: Adobe recently updated both Premiere Pro and Soundbooth for complete Leopard compatibility.

Premiere Pro 3.1.1, a 54MB update, also includes "important bug fixes" (but what they are, is anyone's guess), and is available from Adobe's website, in addition to the 4.1MB Soundbooth fix.

Happy video/sound editing in Leopard!

TUAW Adobe Premiere Pro, Soundbooth updated for Leopard originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 08 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobemultimediapremiere proPremiereProsoftware updateSoftwareUpdatesoundboothvideoSat, 08 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sneak-a-peek inside Final Cut Express 4]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/11/28/sneak-a-peek-inside-final-cut-express-4/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/11/28/sneak-a-peek-inside-final-cut-express-4/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/11/28/sneak-a-peek-inside-final-cut-express-4/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Software, Video

A lot has changed in the video production realm over the past year, and thankfully, Apple's recent Final Cut Express 4 addresses these new advancements in camcorder capture and post-production technology. It's been a full year and a half since Final Cut Express 3.5, and there's a number of notable updates and enhancements that make the latest version 4 worth a look.

Thankfully, Jeff Carlson at Macworld gives us a nice look at some of the new additions in Final Cut Express 4, which was released less than two weeks ago. The software now includes AVCHD support, mixed video format timeline functionality, 50 new FxPlug plug-ins, the new ability to import iMovie '08 projects, and more. Give his advance look a read to learn more about this important inclusions. Sounds like this one will be worth the update. Expect a full review from the Macworld folks soon.

TUAW Sneak-a-peek inside Final Cut Express 4 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final cutfinal cut expressFinalCutFinalCutExpressmultimedianlesoftwarevideoWed, 28 Nov 2007 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple earns a silver in environmental evaluation]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/20/apple-earns-a-silver-in-environmental-evaluation/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/20/apple-earns-a-silver-in-environmental-evaluation/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/20/apple-earns-a-silver-in-environmental-evaluation/#commentsFiled under: Apple

Recently, Apple has been the target of much environmental criticism, especially from Greenpeace, and a recent EPEAT survey reinforces some of that negativity regarding the company's lack of environmental attention. EPEAT is a government operation created to approve computers before they can be purchased by other governmental institutions, and the organization gives product ratings based on a multitude of environmental criteria.

Apple has earned five silver medals for several of its MacBook Pro systems, meaning that the company has passed 23 mandatory standards, and 14 of a possible 28 optional standards. The highest rank, gold, is rewarded to computers that have passed all 23 mandatory standards, plus 21 of 28 optional ones. For comparison, Toshiba has earned five golds, 15 silvers, and four bronzes, Dell has earned two golds and 12 silvers for its laptops, and Lenovo has 48 silvers and a single bronze under its belt. Hopefully Apple will step up and make a greater effort to address some of its environmental shortcomings in the near future and go for the gold.

[via MacNN]

TUAW Apple earns a silver in environmental evaluation originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>environmentepeatgreepeaceMon, 20 Aug 2007 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Democracy Player now Miro]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/19/democracy-player-now-miro/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/19/democracy-player-now-miro/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/19/democracy-player-now-miro/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Video, Software Update

Back in March, the Participatory Culture Foundation announced that Democracy Player would be renamed as Miro, and the change is now official with a new release of the internet video player software, version 0.9.8 . The application's image has been totally revamped, including an overhaul of the official website and logo (of course), but the new technical preview version of Miro includes a dose of new additions and fixes, too:

Keyboard shortcuts available on all platforms
New 'report a bug' menu item added
Veoh.com as a search engine added
Additonal bug fixes and UI improvements

Miro 0.9.8 requires Mac OS X 10.3+ and QuickTime 7. Check out a demo of the software in action here.

TUAW Democracy Player now Miro originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>democracy playerDemocracyPlayerinternet videoInternetVideomirovideoThu, 19 Jul 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Two 'casual' games coming soon via Aspyr Media]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/17/two-casual-games-coming-soon-via-aspyr-media/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/17/two-casual-games-coming-soon-via-aspyr-media/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/17/two-casual-games-coming-soon-via-aspyr-media/#commentsFiled under: Gaming

Aspyr Media recently announced the upcoming release of two so-called "casual" games for Mac OS X 10.3.9 (and up): Virtual Villagers and Travelogue 360: Paris, both created by Big Fish Games. These two titles are set to ship in August for $30 each.

Virtual Villagers is a real-time strategy game in which players must guide villagers in rebuilding their land after a volcanic eruption. Travelogue 360: Paris is a simplistic puzzle game in which players must find hidden objects in multiple locales of Paris, France, and the game includes two different gameplay modes. Although these might not shake up the Mac game scene, it's nice to see some new titles coming soon via Aspyr.

TUAW Two 'casual' games coming soon via Aspyr Media originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aspyr mediaAspyrMediagamegamingtravelogue 360:parisTravelogue360:parisvirtual villagersVirtualVillagersTue, 17 Jul 2007 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPod Film Festival entries online]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/04/03/ipod-film-festival-entries-online/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/04/03/ipod-film-festival-entries-online/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/04/03/ipod-film-festival-entries-online/#commentsFiled under: iPod Family, Video, Odds and ends

This year, The Flux is hosting its second annual iPod Film Festival, the only festival dedicated to short films formatted specifically for Apple's portable media device. The top 25 finalists have been made available for viewing and download on The Flux's website or through iTunes, with entries in the Student, Indie and Kitchen Sink film categories. Don't be surprised to see at least one Mac-themed entry in there. Anyway, here's a good reason to fire up that iPod for some good ol' short film watching. Hmm... perhaps next year the fest will go meta, and only feature films about the iPod itself, formatted for the iPod?

[via MacNN]

TUAW iPod Film Festival entries online originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Apr 2007 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ipodipod film festivalIpodFilmFestivalmultimediathe fluxTheFluxvideoTue, 03 Apr 2007 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple removes Final Cut Pro crossgrade option]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/29/apple-removes-final-cut-pro-crossgrade-option/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/29/apple-removes-final-cut-pro-crossgrade-option/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/29/apple-removes-final-cut-pro-crossgrade-option/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Rumors, Software, Video

Recently, Apple removed the Universal crossgrade option for the Final Cut Pro Studio suite of applications from its website. Previously, the crossgrade allowed customers to update their copies of software such as Final Cut Pro to Intel-native versions. And most interestingly, this unannounced move has come just before the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) conference in Las Vegas, which is set to begin on April 14. It has been rumored that Apple will make an announcement regarding a new version of Final Cut Pro at NAB, and this bit of news potentially supports that claim. Anyway, worth keeping in mind, and hopefully everyone took advantage of the crossgrade in time!

[via MacNN]

TUAW Apple removes Final Cut Pro crossgrade option originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crossgradefinal cut pro extremefinal cut pro studioFinalCutProExtremeFinalCutProStudionabrumorsoftwareThu, 29 Mar 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One-stop-shop for Apple TV tech geekery: Apple TV Hacker]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/23/one-stop-shop-for-apple-tv-tech-geekery-apple-tv-hacker/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/23/one-stop-shop-for-apple-tv-tech-geekery-apple-tv-hacker/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/23/one-stop-shop-for-apple-tv-tech-geekery-apple-tv-hacker/#commentsFiled under: Video, Apple TV

High-def video consultant Mike Curtis (of HD for Indies fame) has launched a new blog dedicated to the Apple TV, dubbed Apple TV Hacker, where he hopes to share his "latest reports and doodles and discoveries about what can be done with, and more importantly, TO an AppleTV."

So, if you have any interest in tooling with your brandy new Apple TV beyond playing with the standard features, this site is shaping up to be a valuable resource for in-depth Apple TV tech geekiness. Expect much more content when he receives his own device and puts it through his own "heavy paces".

TUAW One-stop-shop for Apple TV tech geekery: Apple TV Hacker originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple tvapple tv hackerAppleTvAppleTvHackerhackingmike curtisMikeCurtisFri, 23 Mar 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple TV hacked to play XviD format videos]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/23/apple-tv-hacked-to-play-xvid-format-videos/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/23/apple-tv-hacked-to-play-xvid-format-videos/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/23/apple-tv-hacked-to-play-xvid-format-videos/#commentsFiled under: Video, Apple TV

Word has come in that the Apple TV has been cleverly hacked (yes, already) to play XviD format videos, according to users from the Something Awful forums.

To achieve this, the hardware hacker dissected the Apple TV, removing the hard drive and then mounting it on a Mac, where the drive pops up as a native HFS volume. (Notably, this proves that the device indeed runs a custom version of Mac OS X.) The user was then able to install Dropbear, an SSH server application, in combination with the video container Perian, and finally, a custom script was written to allow the Apple TV to properly read an XviD format video.

Normally, of course, the device only recognizes MPEG4 and H.264 format videos out of the box. No other formats have been tested as of yet, and this hack unfortunately prevents video synchronization since the it uses reference QuickTime files for the videos to properly play. Perhaps this is just the beginning, though.

TUAW Apple TV hacked to play XviD format videos originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple tvAppleTvhackquicktimevideoxvidFri, 23 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Avid2FCP: making the switch to Apple's Final Cut Pro]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/15/avid2fcp-making-the-switch-to-apples-final-cut-pro/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/15/avid2fcp-making-the-switch-to-apples-final-cut-pro/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/15/avid2fcp-making-the-switch-to-apples-final-cut-pro/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Software, Video

Avid has been the standard, and long-established, non-linear editing software of choice in the film industry until Apple's Final Cut Pro began to challenge its dominance, and now many Avid editors are making "the switch" to FCP as it has picked up the pace. With that, the "Avid versus Final Cut Pro" debate has always reared its head wherever editors gather, on websites, forums, etc., but now, Avid2FCP, an official resource has launched that hopes to ease the user transition from Avid to Apple's own video editing application.

Avid2FCP is run by a group of experienced editors who hope to shared their "Switcher Stories", and other beneficial resources and guides for editors from Avid backgrounds that now work with Final Cut Pro. Despite the name of the site, it is not intended to be a jab at Avid, but instead make easier the shift to FCP, in a friendly and responsible fashion. There is some interesting content up now, and I expect that this site has the potential to grow into a very valuable resource for all video editors.

TUAW Avid2FCP: making the switch to Apple's Final Cut Pro originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avidavid2fcpeditingfinal cut proFinalCutPromultimediasoftwarevideoThu, 15 Mar 2007 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple leads in website traffic in computer hardware category]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/15/apple-leads-in-website-traffic-in-computer-hardware-category/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/15/apple-leads-in-website-traffic-in-computer-hardware-category/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/15/apple-leads-in-website-traffic-in-computer-hardware-category/#commentsFiled under: Internet, Apple

According to a study by internet traffic analyst comScore, Apple currently leads in website traffic in the computer hardware category, attracting more than 36.7 million unique visitors this year as of February. Compared to last year, Apple garnered 24.2 million visitors in the same amount of time, which translates into a 50+% traffic increase over the past year.

As far as other traffic stats, there were 66.4 million visits this February, with visitors averaging 1.8 visits. Notably, iTunes witnessed traffic growth of 71% since last year, with 26.5 million unique visitors this February. Whew.

TUAW Apple leads in website traffic in computer hardware category originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple.comcomscoreituneswebsite trafficWebsiteTrafficThu, 15 Mar 2007 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CookWare: organize your favorite recipes]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/14/cookware-organize-your-favorite-recipes/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/14/cookware-organize-your-favorite-recipes/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/14/cookware-organize-your-favorite-recipes/#commentsFiled under: Software, Odds and ends

Do you have too many random bookmarks to your favorite recipes, or print them out and shove the papers in a random cookbook somewhere? Ok, so maybe that's just me, but CookWare Deluxe is an inspiring bit of niche software that promises to organize all your favorite recipes (up to 64 quadrillion, in fact), in addition to a wealth of other handy food-related features.

All you have to do is drag your favorite recipes into the application, and CookWare will reformat text and change quantity abbreviations according to your preferences, making everything nice and consistent when hunting through recipes later. You can even plan meals with the built-in calendar feature, and write and organize your shopping lists, and these lists and your recipes can be exported as HTML files so you can carry them around and to the store on your iPod. Ok, I think we're getting a little food-organization-crazy now.

But seriously, the list of CookWare's features are impressively robust, and the brand new version 3.0 introduces a wealth of new features and options, and other minor enhancements. Unfortunately, I have not been able to download the program to try out myself (something appears to be wrong with the download link as I write this), but I'm looking forward to a test run. A single user license for CookWare Deluxe 3.0 rings in at $35.95.

TUAW CookWare: organize your favorite recipes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applicationcookwarecookware deluxeCookwareDeluxefreewarefunsoftwareWed, 14 Mar 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Democracy Player changes name to 'Miro']]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/12/democracy-player-changes-name-to-miro/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/12/democracy-player-changes-name-to-miro/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/12/democracy-player-changes-name-to-miro/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Software, Video, Internet, Open Source

What's in a name? Lots of things, including the difference between confusing and creating potential users of your application, apparently. That's why the Participatory Culture Foundation is renaming Democracy Player, its open source internet television surfing program, despite sticking with the original name for over a year.

"Our early Mac beta versions of Democracy Player were called 'DTV'- we didn't think that we could be 'Democracy' until we had something substantial to offer... In all our debates about whether you could call something 'Democracy' and how people would react to the name, we hadn't realized that so many people would simply assume that the software was for politicians and videos about politics."

With that, the new name will be Miro, and a there's a lesson to be learned here in the meantime: if you've got a potentially creative, but ultimately too symbolic and image-burdened name for your software, think twice about it. You can't always expect casual users to look beyond the name of an application to see its real use. Anyway, check out the official word from the folks themselves to get the full lowdown.

TUAW Democracy Player changes name to 'Miro' originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>democracyinternet tvInternetTvmiroopen sourceOpenSourcesoftwarevideovideo sharingVideoSharingMon, 12 Mar 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple is America's most profitable retailer]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/08/apple-is-americas-most-profitable-retailer/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/08/apple-is-americas-most-profitable-retailer/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/08/apple-is-americas-most-profitable-retailer/#commentsFiled under: Apple Corporate, Cult of Mac, Apple

In May of 2001, the first Apple Store descended upon Tysons Corner Center of McLean, Virginia. Six years later, there are now 174 Apple Stores spread across the globe, with the Fifth Avenue location in New York City attracting 50,000 customers per week. Sales average $4,032 per square foot (while shops like Tiffany & Co. stand at a measly $2,666), and in 2004, Apple reached $1 billion in annual sales faster than any US retailer, while sales hit $1 billion per quarter last year.

In short: Apple has become one of the most successful retailers in America. It's not sheer chance or luck that has driven the success of Apple's retail venture, however: Apple has reinvented the design and operation of the retail store from the ground up, as is noted in this excellent and enlightening Fortune Magazine article. Check it out for a fascinating look behind the scenes of the development of the Apple Store, and how Steve Jobs and co. have landed a spot in Fortune's top 10 Most Admired Companies.

TUAW Apple is America's most profitable retailer originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple storeAppleStorecorporatefortuneretailsteve jobsSteveJobsThu, 08 Mar 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Two versions of Photoshop CS3 coming your way]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/08/two-versions-of-photoshop-cs3-coming-your-way/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/08/two-versions-of-photoshop-cs3-coming-your-way/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/08/two-versions-of-photoshop-cs3-coming-your-way/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Software

When the complete Adobe Creative Suite 3 package is revealed on March 27, Adobe will announce not one, but two distinct versions of Photoshop, including a standard Photoshop CS3 and the new Photoshop CS3 Extended. Photoshop CS3 Extended includes the same tools as Photoshop CS3, but it also contains a brand new set of features for the integration of 3D and motion graphics, and image measurement and analysis functions. This marks the first occasion in which more than one version of Photoshop will be made available, with the new version targeted at individuals in the fields of video, architecture, engineering, medicine, and science.

With the new PS CS3 Extended, video editors and artists can perform 3D model visualization and texture editing functions, as well as the ability to paint and clone over multiple video frames. Final animations can be exported as QuickTime, MPEG-4, and Flash video, among others formats. Additionally, users in the scientific, medical, and architectural fields will be able to extract quantitative and qualitative data from images with special measurement and analysis tools, with support for specialized image formats.

Kevin Connor, senior director of product management for Adobe digital imaging says: "At one point in time, we considered separate versions, but we found a lot of overlap in the features that these people needed.... Rather than create a new application, Extended is a superset of features that can specifically benefit people in those markets." An official list of features for Photoshop CS3 Extended, in addition to pricing information will be unveiled on March 27, and the complete CS3 suite will launch later in the spring.

TUAW Two versions of Photoshop CS3 coming your way originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobecreative suite 3CreativeSuite3cs3designphotoshopsoftwareThu, 08 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TrueDisc promises damage-resistant 'master copy' burning]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/06/truedisc-promises-damage-resistant-master-copy-burning/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/06/truedisc-promises-damage-resistant-master-copy-burning/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/06/truedisc-promises-damage-resistant-master-copy-burning/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Software

TrueDisc is a new CD/DVD burning application that features "master copy" burning capabilities, for the creation of discs that are highly resistant to damage. TrueDisc (yes, the company shares the same name as its software) claims that up to 90% of a disc's data can be damaged before its software is unable to access and read it. To create a master copy, TrueDisc breaks up files into cells, adding special so-called "redundant cells" to protect the original content. That means the less data you burn to a disc, the more redundant cells that can be created, but TrueDisc promises maximum space efficiency, and the software uses a non-proprietary file format for the greatest ease of use for recovering data. The software supports burning of non-rewritable media only, such as CD-R, DVD-R, and DVD+R/DVD+R DL, and it is available for $52 for a limited time, with a regular price tag of $89.

[via MacNN]

TUAW TrueDisc promises damage-resistant 'master copy' burning originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Mar 2007 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applicationburningcddvdmediamultimediasoftwaretruediscTue, 06 Mar 2007 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get 35% off Flip4Mac]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/06/get-35-off-flip4mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/06/get-35-off-flip4mac/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/03/06/get-35-off-flip4mac/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Software, Video, Deals

Ok, so for whatever reason you just need to have the ability to encode darling little WMVs on your Mac, Flip4Mac is probably the way you'll want to go, and macZOT! makes the encoding software more appealing with a nice 35% off discount. The full-fledged Flip4Mac WMV Studio package typically runs $49, but with this offer (good for today only) the price gets knocked down to just under $32. As a side note, you don't need to spend any money to play Windows Media files: simply grab the free plugin. The software requires OS X 10.3.9, and QuickTime 6.5 or later. (Don't shoot the messenger!)

TUAW Get 35% off Flip4Mac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Mar 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dealdiscountencodingflip4macmultimediaquicktimesoftwarevideowindows mediaWindowsMediawmvTue, 06 Mar 2007 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[VisualHub bumped up to v1.22]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/28/visualhub-bumped-up-to-v1-22/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/28/visualhub-bumped-up-to-v1-22/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/28/visualhub-bumped-up-to-v1-22/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Video, Software Update

VisualHub, the popular and easy-to-use video encoding software by Techspansion, has been updated to version 1.22. This latest version offers a number of minor enhancements and bug fixes that should increase usability and productivity. There is nothing entirely new or groundbreaking to speak of, but it's always nice to keep those video encoders up-to-date and running without a hitch. For reference, VisualHub is a robust encoding solution that handles MPEG-4, WMV, MPEG, FLV, AVI, DV, MOV, TS, and a bunch of other formats. Be sure to check out the full list of improvements on Techspansion's page.

TUAW VisualHub bumped up to v1.22 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Feb 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>encodingmultimediasoftwareupdatevideovisualhubWed, 28 Feb 2007 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Oscar-nominated short films in iTunes Store]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/26/oscar-nominated-short-films-in-itunes-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/26/oscar-nominated-short-films-in-itunes-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/26/oscar-nominated-short-films-in-itunes-store/#commentsFiled under: Video, Odds and ends, iTunes

There are two Oscar award categories with films that almost no one ever sees, and those are the live action and animated short films. Unfortunately, these films usually never make it past film festival circuits and don't receive wide distribution, and typically they are welcomed with a big "huh?" when they pop up during the Academy Awards ceremony. Anyway, this year's short film nominees are available for purchase in the iTunes Store, along with previous winners and nominees. Priced at $1.99 each, the videos are not much of a big investment and might be worth the price of admission, just to get a feel for what a Oscar-nominated short film looks like. The curious can scope them out here (warning: iTunes link).

TUAW Oscar-nominated short films in iTunes Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academy awardsAcademyAwardsitunesitunes storeItunesStoreoscarsshort filmsShortFilmsvideoMon, 26 Feb 2007 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[IFC films now available in iTunes Store]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/21/ifc-films-now-available-in-itunes-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/21/ifc-films-now-available-in-itunes-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/21/ifc-films-now-available-in-itunes-store/#commentsFiled under: Video, iTunes

IFC Entertainment has just announced the immediate availability of select independent films in the iTunes Store, including IFC's 2007 Independent Spirit Award (think Oscars for indies) nominees. All thirteen films, six of which are nominees for the award ceremony this weekend, are available for purchase at $9.99. The other films are previous Independent Spirit Award nominees, highlighting some of the most critically acclaimed titles in IFC's catalog. Film titles include Me And You And Everyone We Know, The Thin Blue Line, Pizza, Sorry, Haters, Camp, Go Tigers!, and others. Also available are free podcasts dedicated to each of the movies with behind-the-scenes footage and discussions. No word on potential future releases from IFC.

TUAW IFC films now available in iTunes Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloadfilmifcindependent filmIndependentFilmitunesitunes storeItunesStoremovievideoWed, 21 Feb 2007 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple TV takes over DVD world, or 30%, at least]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/21/apple-tv-takes-over-dvd-world-or-30-at-least/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/21/apple-tv-takes-over-dvd-world-or-30-at-least/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/21/apple-tv-takes-over-dvd-world-or-30-at-least/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Multimedia, Video, Apple TV

I don't give predictions of market analysts too much serious thought, mostly because the statistics don't really mean much other than to hype up a particular product. Or maybe these analysts just like to be able to say 'told ya so' if their predictions become true. Anyway, one Deutsche Bank analyst claims that the Apple TV can potentially capture 20-30% of the CD and DVD market within a few years after its launch this month. Not to be a naysayer or anything, but that is a huge percentage that seems way too optimistic to be taken seriously. There are a ton of factors at play here. (Oh, and let's not forget that only Disney, Paramount, and Lions Gate are on board to sell films through iTunes... and as far as I know, there are a couple more movie studios out there than just these three).

What do you think? Will the Apple TV cause that big of a shakeup in the home entertainment market once it lands? Will it appeal only to fervent Apple fans? What about those people that can barely operate the remote control of their DVD player, never mind tackling the prospect of downloading and transferring digital videos? Any thoughts?

TUAW Apple TV takes over DVD world, or 30%, at least originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analysisapple tvAppleTvdvditunes storeItunesStoremarketvideoWed, 21 Feb 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Democracy Player 0.9.5.1 update fixes important bug]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/21/democracy-player-0-9-5-1-update-fixes-important-bug/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/21/democracy-player-0-9-5-1-update-fixes-important-bug/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/21/democracy-player-0-9-5-1-update-fixes-important-bug/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Video, Software Update

A bug fix release for Democracy Player has just been posted that corrects some startup problems that a few Mac users have encountered since the 0.9.5 update. Democracy 0.9.5.1 resolves the issues originally caused by a conflict between versions of py2app and some input managers like Growl and a Camino extension. The team has upgraded to the latest py2app and all issues should now be resolved, so users can once again video channel surf to their heart's content. Recommended update.

TUAW Democracy Player 0.9.5.1 update fixes important bug originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bug fixBugFixdemocracyinternet tvInternetTvopen sourceOpenSourcesoftware updateSoftwareUpdatevideoWed, 21 Feb 2007 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Spring Cleaning now Universal]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/21/spring-cleaning-now-universal/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/21/spring-cleaning-now-universal/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/21/spring-cleaning-now-universal/#commentsFiled under: Software, Odds and ends, Universal Binary

Spring Cleaning, the system optimization, cleaning, and uninstaller utility from Smith Micro is now a Universal Binary. Completely rewritten from the ground up, version 9 introduces a wealth of new features and tools, such as a Task Scheduler, Permissions Fixer, a Housekeeping Scripts Runner, Spotlight Index Rebuilder, System Cache Cleaner, and others, in addition to a reworked interface. $49.99 for the package, or $19.99 for upgrades. Requires OS X 10.4. Although I can't vouch for this application, I will recommend OnyX for folks looking for something similar, and for free. I usually make sure to crack OnyX open every month or so for a bit of housekeeping of my own.

(via Macworld)

TUAW Spring Cleaning now Universal originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applicationonyxoptimizationsmith microSmithMicrosoftwarespring cleaningSpringCleaninguninstallerutilityWed, 21 Feb 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Voice-over recording with voXover]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/19/voice-over-recording-with-voxover/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/19/voice-over-recording-with-voxover/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/19/voice-over-recording-with-voxover/#commentsFiled under: Audio, Multimedia, Software

voXover is a new, high end voice-over automation and batch recording application for OS X intended for multimedia, video game, telephone voice-response, and related production uses. Designed for maximum efficiency for projects that require large amounts of individual voice recording, voXover allows the user to write and import scripts and rapidly automate recording. An advanced and streamlined utility designed in Cocoa from the ground up, this software takes advantage of CoreAudio, Quartz, and several other advanced OS X features. Developed by Audiofile Engineering, this is a serious audio recording utility for multimedia professionals, priced at $375. A full list of features can be found on the official website.

TUAW Voice-over recording with voXover originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiomultimediaprofessionalsoftwarevoice-overvoxoverMon, 19 Feb 2007 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New refurb MacBooks, minis, etc. in the Apple Store]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/16/new-refurb-macbooks-minis-etc-in-the-apple-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/16/new-refurb-macbooks-minis-etc-in-the-apple-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/16/new-refurb-macbooks-minis-etc-in-the-apple-store/#commentsFiled under: Retail, Deals

Apple has just added a few new goodies to the collection of refurbished products in the Apple Store, including several Intel Core Duo-based MacBooks, MacBook Pros, iMacs, and minis. Specific models range from the 17 inch, 2.16GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro with 1GB of RAM, 120GB HD, and SuperDrive for $1,999, to the 1.66GHz Core Duo-equipped mini with 512MB of RAM, 80GB HD, and a SuperDrive. There are some good deals to be had on older Core Duo (and even newer Core 2 Duo) systems here, with savings ranging between 18% to 33%+. Of course, all systems include the standard one year warranty, so if you're looking for to save a few bucks and don't mind having a slightly older model, this is a prime opportunity.

TUAW New refurb MacBooks, minis, etc. in the Apple Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 16 Feb 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple storeAppleStorecore duoCoreDuodealsrefurbrefurbishedFri, 16 Feb 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple to address environmental policies?]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/14/apple-to-address-environmental-policies/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/14/apple-to-address-environmental-policies/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/14/apple-to-address-environmental-policies/#commentsFiled under: Analysis / Opinion, Bad Apple, Apple

The Greenpeace activists behind GreenMyApple.org claim that Apple may begin taking steps to address several of the company's environmental issues, despite their denial of said concerns because of a disagreement with Greenpeace's ratings and criteria. In particular, Greenpeace is concerned with Apple's use of several hazardous chemicals in its products which can have adverse effects on the environment and people's health once the equipment is disassembled. Other manufacturers have already begun to ditch some of these same toxic chemicals, and Greenpeace claims Steve Jobs recently met with a Social Responsibility Fund investor to discuss some of these environmental matters.

Apple has not yet responded to this claim of meeting with Greenpeace, but they did issue a statement to a new report, which ranks Apple lower than HP, Dell, Nokia, and Sony for its global policies and practices on eliminating dangerous chemicals and on taking responsibility for products once they are thrown away by consumers. ``We disagree with Greenpeace's rating and the criteria they chose. Apple has a strong environmental track record and has led the industry in restricting and banning toxic substances such as mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium, as well as many BFRs (brominated flame retardants)." Despite the arguments, let's hope Apple can come to terms with stronger and more effective policies in this delicate day and age of increasing environmental concerns.

[via MacNN]

TUAW Apple to address environmental policies? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 14 Feb 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleenvironmentgreenmyapplegreenpeaceWed, 14 Feb 2007 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anime lands in the iTunes Store via Funimation]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/13/anime-lands-in-the-itunes-store-via-funimation/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/13/anime-lands-in-the-itunes-store-via-funimation/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/13/anime-lands-in-the-itunes-store-via-funimation/#commentsFiled under: Video, iTunes

Anime has officially landed in the iTunes Store today, courtesy of Funimation Entertainment, with newly available series for purchase including Samurai 7, Speed Grapher, and Desert Punk. Each episode from all three franchises are available for $1.99 each, and season passes can be purchased for $38.99. Notably, the videos are only offered with the option of an English dub, and knowing how particular many fans are about strictly watching shows with the original Japanese language tracks and subtitles, this might be a serious deal breaker. Other than this issue, I guess this is not such a horrible deal considering most shows would cost you anywhere from $4-6+ per episode on DVD. (Of course, that's if you don't mind the limited viewing options, DRM, and lower quality.) But, yeaaa. There you go. Anime. In the iTunes Store. Today.

TUAW Anime lands in the iTunes Store via Funimation originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animefunimationitunesitunes storeItunesStorevideoTue, 13 Feb 2007 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Democracy Player 0.9.5 now available]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/13/democracy-player-0-9-5-now-available/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/13/democracy-player-0-9-5-now-available/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/13/democracy-player-0-9-5-now-available/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Video, Software Update

For all the video sharers, viewers, and creators alike, Democracy Player version 0.9.5 has been officially released, introducing a host of new improvements and enhancements since the 0.9.2 release back in November of 2006. Here's a brief sampling of some new features:

Simpler, more minimal interface
New 'Share' menu on each item allows user to email a video or post to VideoBomb, del.icio.us, Digg, or Reddit
Video downloads are now stored in folders by channel for better organization
New pause and resume download functions
Improved BitTorrent performance
Drop-down menu feature for auto-download for individual channels
Automatic thumbnail generation on OS X for videos lacking thumbnails

The application is immediately available for download, and the development team still urges users to keep an eye open for any potential bugs that might be lurking about and to fill out a bug report where necessary. The program has really been shaping up nicely since its inception, and this upgrade will be worth the download. For 'Internet TV' surfing, there is no tighter application than Democracy, methinks. Anyway, check out the full list of improvements at the Democracy blog.

TUAW Democracy Player 0.9.5 now available originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>democracyinternet tvopen sourceOpenSourcevideovideo sharingVideoSharingTue, 13 Feb 2007 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Yahoo!, Monster supports Jobs in DRM battle]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/13/yahoo-monster-supports-jobs-in-drm-battle/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/13/yahoo-monster-supports-jobs-in-drm-battle/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/13/yahoo-monster-supports-jobs-in-drm-battle/#commentsFiled under: Software, iTunes, Steve Jobs, Apple

Looks like Steve Jobs has found allies in the form of Yahoo! Music and Monster Cable executives in the quest to banish DRM. An executive from competitor Yahoo! Music, Dave Goldberg chimes in with: ``I've long advocated removing DRM on music because there is already a lot of music available without DRM, and it just makes things complicated for the user." Claiming Microsoft's brand of DRM ``doesn't work half the time", the exec claimed Yahoo! made several attempts to offer music with or without DRM, and the removal of DRM has improved sales.

Additionally, Monster Cable backed up Jobs with a statement from head Noel Lee: ``Monster Cable shares Mr. Jobs' vision of breaking constraints for legal music downloads.... DRM is a complex and political issue, but digital music compatibility is even more complicated to consumers and limiting to the industry.... We are proud to support an open format and leaders like Steve Jobs who are making the efforts to get us there." The Monster Music branch offers a music format known as SuperDisc, which contains high definition surround tracks and DRM-free files. So... what now? Will other companies continue to stand up, or will Apple and the others buckle under the continued pressure from major labels to keep the DRM system intact?

TUAW Yahoo!, Monster supports Jobs in DRM battle originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscopyrightdrmindustryitunesmusicsteve jobsSteveJobsyahooTue, 13 Feb 2007 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[CPCC wants to tax your iPod]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/12/cpcc-wants-to-tax-your-ipod/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/12/cpcc-wants-to-tax-your-ipod/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/12/cpcc-wants-to-tax-your-ipod/#commentsFiled under: iPod Family

Bad news for our buddies up north: Canada's Private Copyright Collective (CPCC) is hoping to tax consumers who purchase portable MP3 players, planning to compensate musicians for money lost due to copyright infringement and music copying. The Canadian federal court turned down the previous lobbying attempt made by the CPCC last year, because their law did not recognize portable players' hard drives and memory storage among its list of recording media. However, this hasn't stopped the CPCC from trying again, with a new proposal that suggests taxes on MP3 players in the amounts of $5CAD for players with up to 1GB of storage, $25CAD for players up to 10GB, $50CAD for players holding 10GB-30GB, and $75CAD for any player holding more than 30GB. Steep. In addition to MP3 players, the CPCC hopes to include memory cards (SD, MMC, Memory Sticks, etc.) to the list of taxable items. (Insert eye rolling here.)

(via MacNN)

TUAW CPCC wants to tax your iPod originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscanadacopyrightcpccipodtaxMon, 12 Feb 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Disco hits 1.0]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/12/disco-hits-1-0/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/12/disco-hits-1-0/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/12/disco-hits-1-0/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Odds and ends, Software Update

Everybody's favorite funk-inspired disc burning application, Disco has hit version 1.0 and features a wealth of new enhancements and additions. With improved disc naming, a beefed-up Discography function, and minor interface enhancements, Disco 1.0 has seen a wealth of improvements to warrant the $15 price tag. Oh, and the infamous Smoke interface now works on almost any Quartz Extreme-capable Mac. The demo version limits users to seven complete disc burns, and the software requires OS X 10.4.3. Folks who participated in the beta testing should be eligible for a free upgrade to 1.0.

Dare I say 'groovy'?

TUAW Disco hits 1.0 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burningcddiscodvdsoftwareMon, 12 Feb 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MPEG Streamclip: complete video encoding software]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/08/mpeg-streamclip-complete-video-encoding-software/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/08/mpeg-streamclip-complete-video-encoding-software/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/08/mpeg-streamclip-complete-video-encoding-software/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Software, Video, Freeware

Ok, so MPEG Streamclip certainly isn't new but it's such a solid piece of software that I feel like I just need to give it a random mention. I broke it out for the first time in a few months the other day, and I was instantly reminded of how much I really appreciate this software's versatility. MPEG Streamclip is a video encoding application for converting to, and from, a boatload of different formats including: MPEG, MOV, DV, MP4, AVI, and others. You can convert raw Final Cut Pro video files (my most often used function), demux VOB files, and easily export screenshots. And it supports DivX, WMV, and FLV with the necessary components, in addition to all of the other standard formats.

The software is along the same vein as ffmpegX, but the somewhat 'easier' nature of MPEG Streamclip is what really makes it shine. Encoding settings are a-plenty and easily tweakable, plus the software is quick, too. Anyway, if you're looking for a complete video encoding package for exporting Final Cut projects, or want to make some quick MP4s for your iPod, or whatever it is you might want to do with the video lying around on your hard drive, MPEG Streamclip is a fine option for your video tinkering and encoding needs. Oh, and of course: it's free.

TUAW MPEG Streamclip: complete video encoding software originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applicationencodingfreewarempeg streamclipMpegStreamclipsoftwarevideoThu, 08 Feb 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shades: application color customization]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/06/shades-application-color-customization/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/06/shades-application-color-customization/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/06/shades-application-color-customization/#commentsFiled under: Software, Odds and ends

You know those paint color sample strips that you typically see in home improvement stores? They usually have different shades of the same color on individual strips so that you can easily compare and fine-tune your color choices. Shades 1.0 applies this same methodology of color selection to the standard Apple Color Picker within OS X. With this little utility installed, any application that uses the Apple Color Picker will be transformed to display a color grid once you select a center color, step size, and a constant color coordinate (of H, S, or B). And with this handy grid, you can tweak your color choice even further for precise customization. Ok, so this utility probably best serves only the truly obsessive among us, but the concept is still pretty nifty, I think.

Shades is shareware, and will set you back $14.95 for a full license.

TUAW Shades: application color customization originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Feb 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple color pickerAppleColorPickercustomizationshadessharewaresoftwareTue, 06 Feb 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Simple voice-over narration with Ishmael]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/06/simple-voice-over-narration-with-ishmael/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/06/simple-voice-over-narration-with-ishmael/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/06/simple-voice-over-narration-with-ishmael/#commentsFiled under: Audio, Multimedia, Software, Video

Ishmael is a basic application for easily creating voice-over narration for still photos and images, and then exporting your final product as a QuickTime video. So if you need to whip up a quick presentation, or want to make up a little story about a recent trip this is the app for you.

Ishmael supports images from iPhoto albums or PDF files as its source, which can then be dubbed over and encoded as an actual QuickTime file. You can then take that video output and include it in an iMovie or Final Cut Pro project, or even export it back to iPhoto. Ishmael supports most Core Audio-compatible input devices, and includes multiple video encoding formats, and it even features Apple Remote support. Note, however, that it requires iPhoto 6.0, QuickTime 7.0, and OS X 10.4. Give the free demo a go and it will cost you $30 for the full package. Unfortunately, I'm running 10.3.9 (shock!), so I can't give this guy a test spin, but there are video samples linked on the official Ishamel website.

TUAW Simple voice-over narration with Ishmael originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Feb 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final cut proFinalCutProimovieiphotoishamelmultimedianarrationvideovoice overVoiceOverTue, 06 Feb 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BitrateCalc 2.0: optimal DVD/DivX encoding]]>http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/05/bitratecalc-2-0-optimal-dvd-divx-encoding/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/05/bitratecalc-2-0-optimal-dvd-divx-encoding/http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/05/bitratecalc-2-0-optimal-dvd-divx-encoding/#commentsFiled under: Multimedia, Software, Video, Freeware

BitrateCalc, a teensy little utility that calculates optimum bitrates for encoding video and audio for authoring DVDs and encoding DivX video discs, has been updated to version 2.0. Although it boasts no new features, it is now a Universal Binary. As far as using the program, all you are required to do is enter the time length of the video and choose your media type and audio bitrate, and you've got yourself a max bitrate figure for encoding that disc! Easy enough. (And free, of course.)

TUAW BitrateCalc 2.0: optimal DVD/DivX encoding originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 05 Feb 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applicationbitratecalcdivxdvdencodingfreewaresoftwareutilityvideoMon, 05 Feb 2007 16:00:00 EST