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Apple Reportedly Lays Off 40 Final Cut Employees
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Jobs will say whatever is in Apple's best interest regardless of what's really going on. If FCP wasn't doing well do you think he would really say so and poison the product like that?
Actions peak louder than words so I'll continue to let Apple's hardware and software releases speak for themselves.
Lethal
Actions peak louder than words so I'll continue to let Apple's hardware and software releases speak for themselves.
Lethal
Even if the comment is from real Steve I'm not really re-assured by it. It seems when he gives one of his one liners they are half-truths ("Apple is not interested in netbook market" -> iPad). All we know they might be ready to sell FCS. All I would like to know is get some sort of estimate for next major release but then again if such release is not coming its hard to give any estimates...
Steve has had bad habit of speak non-truths:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/02/17/steve.jobs/index.html?hpt=Sbin
Why did he then even bother to answer? I think way to much is interpreted into this story. We have no clue what really happened and why.
FCS is on a 2 year release cycle. Apple has fallen behind in particular in the area of DVD Studio. The stupid take on Bluray is beyond me.
The weird bit on the whole blu-ray thing is Compressor. Aside from DD+/TruHD support on the Dolby encoder, is it really missing anything it would need in a blu-ray capable FCS? I can't think of anything else. It's almost as though they started working on BD support, but part of it was never finished. Makes me wonder if they were working on a new app for that sort of thing, but couldn't finish it for the launch.
Could be - but highly unlikely from my point of view. They decide on the product requirements for the next release 2 years or more in advance and then change it shortly before launch ? Then something really went wrong during development.
Anyway - creating BD discs is a requirement today for many individuals and small production shops that like to stay on one platform and use one product.
He answered because he wants customers to feel secure buying FCP even if FCP's future is in doubt. Just like Jobs said flash memory was a bad idea for MP3 players, no one wants to watch video on a tiny iPod screen, they have no interest in making a smart phone, and on one reads anymore... by the way here is our iPad which we think will be a great book replacement.
What changed, IMO, is Apple getting heavily involved in media distribution. They want you to buy movies and TV shows from them, not on Blu-ray and the collateral damage of that is DVD SP staying gimped. Years ago Apple touted DVD SP as being the first desktop authoring App to be able to burn HD discs (a rather gimped HD-DVD process that would only work on other Macs and certain Toshiba HD-DVD players) and now we just here crickets... The Blu-Ray Share function is just an attempt at appeasement I think.
Lethal
He answered because he wants customers to feel secure buying FCP even if FCP's future is in doubt. Just like Jobs said flash memory was a bad idea for MP3 players, no one wants to watch video on a tiny iPod screen, they have no interest in making a smart phone, and on one reads anymore... by the way here is our iPad which we think will be a great book replacement.
It could be you are right, or wrong. No one outside Apple really knows. Could be those 40 employees are laid of in the US and 200 are re-hired in India. When I worked for HP and Agilent it happened all the time that factorys have been closed in the US and moved to China. The products didn't disappear, they just moved manufacturing and laid of many many colleagues.
Thats used as an argument all the time but those things have really nothing to do with each other. If someone has a desire or need for creating a BD disc he will. If you have to deliver on BD disc, you will. Unfortunately you cannot use Apples FCS for doing so and in addition you cannot watch the movie after that on your Mac.
The main difference is that FCS is used for creating movies and not for consuming them whereas iTunes as a sales channel. I think it has less to do with the creating but more with watching the movies.
Unfortunately they are related because if Apple gives professionals the ability to properly author Blu-ray discs that means they also give consumers the ability to playback Blu-ray discs. So while I agree that there is a difference between a pro creating content and a consumer watching content the two require some of the same basic technology to accomplish their goals.
Lethal
I know tones of people with iPods/iPhones that will never buy a Mac. One of my friends hates Apple computers and still he has an iPhone. The million of users of iPods and iPhones (iPads) are the new user base. Apple puts so much effort on it.
I know, I know - and I agree to some degree. My point is that a Pro that has to deliver a BD disc will do so w/ or in this case w/o Apples apps. The simple solution is a BD burner and Toast 10, the better solution is Adobe and probably the best and most expensive is Sony.
Oh, definitely. No one who needs to create Blu-Ray discs should be waiting around for Apple to update DVD SP.
Lethal
Yeah,
one just needs to buy CS and that makes one wonder the next time FCS is due update that if one has to buy CS anyway, why bother with FCS.
Oh brother, there are TONS of people wondering the same thing.
On of the biggest advantages that a user with an entirely Adobe workflow has is the ability to leave Mac OS X.
Going back to what you said early on, a person with Lightroom instead of Aperture and CS4 Production Premium instead of FCS can essentially run it on the Mac for those few remaining apps that are useful to the freelancer/professional, or grab Windows licenses and get a workstation with current technology for $2000.
Thats true and that might become a problem for Apple. I myself still use FCS2. I wait until CS5 and FCS4 is out and then make a decision. Avid is not for me as it is to expensive.
Not having BD disc might hurt Apple as well in the consumer space. I guess some people in particular switchers will look at the platform and compare it to nice laptops from Sony.
There's a lot of truth in this, people are buying more Macs these days, and these are new customers, not existing loyal mac customers who are upgrading or earn more money to buy even more macs. Apple are gaining new customers every day, and these are a combination of marketing, retail stores, and people who had bought an iPod, iPhone, or Touch. These gadgets appear to also help build a better Apple brand to people who normally buy Window-based PCs, and someday they just want a Mac.
Is crossgrading from/to windows nowdays free with CS?
Or does it include both windows & mac serial numbers?
I've heard from others that have switched from PC to Mac say that Adobe will just send you Mac serials and make your PC serials null. Then you can just buy the trail disc of the software and plug in the serial. Take this with a grain of salt since its not first hand.
The only time I've done it was with my university's newspaper, going from PC to Mac as well. It was about 7 years ago or so and they just gave us Mac serials on some login page they had where we could grab every serial we purchased. It was free of charge.
That was with CS1, so I have no idea if that's changed recently.
I agree 100% and if you don't mind me co-signing, no one that makes money off of any Apple Pro-App should be waiting for Apple on anything. You might find yourself waiting for years. The only sad part is that you might find yourself with two competing sets of software. My machine has both Aperture and Lightroom and I use both apps from time to time.
So you're suggesting they operate like a social welfare and keep staff they don't need just because they have billions in the bank?
I do agree that layoffs are ugly and unpleasant, but companies are not welfare entities.
Harsh words from what appears to be a person not running a household, doesn't have kids and a mortage, or never lost his job.
I've got this feeling from you like "as long as Steves happy!" like some people on here.
In no way is apple running like a charity. They are a premium brand charging healthy amounts for what they provide.
To clarify, I'm from a descent neighbourhood, haven't lost my job and don't have family to support. But it doesnt take much insight to feel the impact for these people.
Not to mention that Avid Media composer 4 has sound driver issues in Snow leopard that has caused me headaches. I will pass on this overpriced app that does not allow you to update you're os past their specs.
Didn't Steve replied in an email and said those engineers worked in customer support and Final Cut is doing great? Something like that.