iLife '05, Keynote 2, Asteroid, and Other New Applications? [Updated]

[Dave the Great]

HD support in iMovie? Not a chance. iMovie is the consumer application for people who want to edit videos of their kids running around the backyard. Final Cut Express doesn't support HD, so there's no way they'll add such a high-end capability to iMovie at this time. They probably wont for years.

I agree. There is no way iMovie is going to support HDV when FCP does not even support it, yet.

I could see support for H.264, since it will be included in Tiger. But, then if Tiger isn't going to be out for awhile they just might add this feature as an update when Tiger is released.

I just had to point out that I, Dave the Great, was wrong on this one. Yes, it is true. I am sorry.

 

[Rod Rod]

I just had to point out that I, Dave the Great, was wrong on this one. Yes, it is true. I am sorry.

Dave, don't be sorry. I was on the other side of that argument, pointing out all the reasons it makes perfect sense for iMovie to support HDV, and it turns out I was right. I'm not saying I told you so or anything...

j/k about the "I told you so," but it's nothing to express regret about. The position I took is partially colored by the fact that I own an HDV camcorder.

During his appearance at the MWSF '05 keynote address, the president of Sony hinted that lower-priced HDV camcorders are on the horizon.

It's great to see Apple ahead of the curve on simple HDV editing. iMovie 5's "Magic iMovie" feature is so amazing. I've tested it on DV and it works great. I have yet to try it out on HDV.

The long of the short of it is, anyone who has the funds to buy an HDV camera but decides to edit on iMovie needs to have their head examined.

Capturing HDV using the LumiereHD method is similar to all versions of iMovie prior to the current one except it's worse. The iMovie 5 method is a great improvement. I could see a pro workflow doing an automated HDV capture in iMovie and then migrating the project to FCE. (iMovie 5 projects can be opened in FCE HD, and not FCP).

 

[Dave the Great]

.. I told you so ...

Dave hangs head in shame.

Still I am extremely surprised that iMovie supports HDV. I know the pres of Sony mentioned cheaper HDV cams in the future, but when most consumers are in the <$1000 price range for cams, it is still going to be some time before iMovie types own HDV. However, I could be wrong again and continue my streak.


Which HDV cam do you have? I am surprised that you haven't tried it out with iMovie 5, yet. I hope you report back after you do.

Thanks.

 

[Rod Rod]

Which HDV cam do you have? I am surprised that you haven't tried it out with iMovie 5, yet. I hope you report back after you do.

I have the JVC HD10. I haven't gotten the chance to test HDV capture on it yet because I'm getting the camera serviced by JVC right now. I tested Magic iMovie with my 13-year-old cousin's digital8 Sony. In doing so I remembered how to edit with iMovie (which I hadn't done in almost two years) -- mainly that in order to trim a clip you must first remove a transition. The only quirk I found in Magic iMovie is that it automatically places a chapter marker at the beginning of each clip (at every pause or stop point in the tape). Cleaning that up and naming chapter markers is the only time-consuming hands-on part.

I'll report back about HDV use in iMovie 5... but I'm not sure which forum section is most appropriate for that (it may as well be a new topic).

 

[Dave the Great]

I have the JVC HD10. I haven't gotten the chance to test HDV capture on it yet because I'm getting the camera serviced by JVC right now. I tested Magic iMovie with my 13-year-old cousin's digital8 Sony. In doing so I remembered how to edit with iMovie (which I hadn't done in almost two years) -- mainly that in order to trim a clip you must first remove a transition. The only quirk I found in Magic iMovie is that it automatically places a chapter marker at the beginning of each clip (at every pause or stop point in the tape). Cleaning that up and naming chapter markers is the only time-consuming hands-on part.

I'll report back about HDV use in iMovie 5... but I'm not sure which forum section is most appropriate for that (it may as well be a new topic).

What happened to the JVC; Why is it being serviced? Have you been happy with it?

 

[Rod Rod]

What happened to the JVC; Why is it being serviced? Have you been happy with it?

I had some pixel anomalies on the CCD. I'm glad I got the HD10 instead of the HD1, and that I bought it from an authorized JVC dealer. The HD10 has a one year warranty and the HD1's is only 90 days.

These days you can find the HD1 for around $1200 and the HD10 for around $1500-1800, used, on eBay.

I've been happy with the camera. It's a lot of fun to shoot nature and play with shallow depth of field shots. The biggest drag is lack of full manual control and the lack of built-in ND filters. I guess I could get or make a matte box (and make filter changes much quicker and easier). For now I just do what I can with what I have.

 

[geeman]

European i---- recipients?

Is there anyone out there from Europe (and for the sake of this poll let's include the UK in this ) who ordered iWork/iLife online and have already received their software?


My iWork order's still showing shipping on or before Jan 28...

 

[Zaty]

Is there anyone out there from Europe (and for the sake of this poll let's include the UK in this ) who ordered iWork/iLife online and have already received their software?


My iWork order's still showing shipping on or before Jan 28...

Same here. The official world wide release is Jan 29, so I guess we should receive our shipping confirmations soon.

 

[geeman]

Same here. The official world wide release is Jan 29, so I guess we should receive our shipping confirmations soon.

Thanks for the info. You would've thought that they could have released the apps globally from day one - like they do with hardware.

I'm assuming that there are no localised language versions (German, French, etc.) and that it is a "select language upon install" type thing? Anyone confirm?

 

[Zaty]

Thanks for the info. You would've thought that they could have released the apps globally from day one - like they do with hardware.

I'm assuming that there are no localised language versions (German, French, etc.) and that it is a "select language upon install" type thing? Anyone confirm?

Regardless if the software is multi-lingual (which it most probably is), they have to localise boxes and leaflets which might be one of the reasons for the delay, at least for non-English speaking countries.

 

[geeman]

...they have to localise boxes and leaflets which might be one of the reasons for the delay, at least for non-English speaking countries.

What about English-speaking countries outside of the US, such as the UK, Australia/NZ, South Africa, etc.? Printing that amount of boxes/leaflets takes a long time - plenty enough time to get translations done anyway. Plus it doesn't explain how Apple are able to release hardware around the world at the same time. Hardware needs leaflets and packaging as well, right?

BTW: When I bought my copy of FCP from the German Apple store, it arrived with 100% English-language packaging: there's nothing to indicate that it was purchased in Germany.

At the company where I work we produce all our communications in four languages. Yeah, it's a logistical nightmare, but we do it - and our entire company is only 45 people.

 

[Dave the Great]

I had some pixel anomalies on the CCD. I'm glad I got the HD10 instead of the HD1, and that I bought it from an authorized JVC dealer. The HD10 has a one year warranty and the HD1's is only 90 days.

These days you can find the HD1 for around $1200 and the HD10 for around $1500-1800, used, on eBay.

I've been happy with the camera. It's a lot of fun to shoot nature and play with shallow depth of field shots. The biggest drag is lack of full manual control and the lack of built-in ND filters. I guess I could get or make a matte box (and make filter changes much quicker and easier). For now I just do what I can with what I have.

The way you use it is perfect for the camera - it defeats the cons of the camera such as stabilization(I am assumming you are using a tripod), need for light(you are shooting outside), and issues with action sequences( I am again assuming you are shooting much more sedentary objects).


I am surprised they haven't come out with an upgrade to it, yet.