March 24th Event to Focus on Software?

[soulbot]

FCP and DVDSP and others are long due.

If you review the release pattern of the FCS, you'll see they are on (about) a 2 year roll-out per "update".

Final Cut Studio released NAB 2005, Final Cut Studio 2 released NAB 2007. Final CUt Studio 3 coming out in April would be just about right - according to their historical release pattern. Not really "long due" - it's just due.

 

[zedsdead]

I doubt Blu-Ray would come. IMO, it's too soon considering that Apple just updated their whole desktop line like a week ago. It would be really stupid to update them twice in the same week.

Exactly...Blu-Ray ain't coming.

As far as the rest, this could be a Pro-Focused, largely Software Event:

(1) Final Cut Studio 3
(2) Aperture 3
(3) Logic Studio 2 (although I am not expecting it yet)
(4) LED 20" & 30" screens

The Apple TV needs some attention, but it wouldn't fit well with the other items in need of an update, and Apple usually tries to have a unifying theme during events.

As for the iPhone 3g, I am not expecting anything before WWDC. Even then, it likely will be a minor, but necessary update (ie. 32g, better camera, etc...)

 

[zedsdead]

If you review the release pattern of the FCS, you'll see they are on (about) a 2 year roll-out per "update".

Final Cut Studio released NAB 2005, Final Cut Studio 2 released NAB 2007. Final CUt Studio 3 coming out in April would be just about right - according to their historical release pattern. Not really "long due" - it's just due.

I agree, but DVD Studio Pro is very over due, and it look like it's not going to be getting any love either with the lack of Blu-Ray support.

I think Apple is going to focus on Color and making it more "Apple-like." Final Cut Pro also needs a facelift.

Compressor needs the ability to tag .m4v files.

 

[brianbobcat]

So? No professional editor authors retail disks, and professional Blu rays are sent to duplications on DLT's.

Or wait, you,re not a professional...

That's a very douchey and uncalled for thing to say. No one said retail discs and not everything is delivered on DLT anymore, but you must not be a professional to know that. I'm a videographer and editor and have 2 HD cameras and would like the option to offer companies and client BR discs in small quantities which I would burn myself. Sure I'm not going to be releasing Slumdog Millionaire on Blu-ray from my edit suite, but I'm also not a big time editor or studio. I just want the option without needing to go to third party hardware and software like Adobe.

-Brian

 

[soulbot]

I agree, but DVD Studio Pro is very over due, and it look like it's not going to be getting any love either with the lack of Blu-Ray support.

I think Apple is going to focus on Color and making it more "Apple-like." Final Cut Pro also needs a facelift.

Compressor needs the ability to tag .m4v files.

I've read elsewhere (can't remember where) that FCP will be getting a complete ground-up re-write to take advantage of the OpenCL in Snow Leopard. It's interface needs some tweaks too and I feel this will come along with the new version as well.

DVDSTP needs Blu-Ray support.

Motion could use more bug-fixes (and actual shadows cast by lights, when working in "3D"). Still not ready for prime-time in my opinion. "Ozone" crashed anyone?

Color could use a facelift to parallel the other FCS apps.

Mostly I'd like to see the alleged "Phenomenon" app. come to light.

 

[SpinThis!]

If you recall, it took Apple more than 3 years to go from Logic 7 to Logic 8! They're not exactly on the stick when it comes to their Pro Audio applications.

Do they need to be? Logic is still a great product right now. Logic 8 came out in September '07. If you can't make music because you're waiting for the next great au software instrument or the next version, you're a geek and a hardware whore, not a musician.

meaning you can render 12 streams of uncompressed HD effects simultaneously in better than realtime.

hahaha, I just look at your post and laugh. Uncompressed HD? Only fools try to edit in an uncompressed video format. You would need one hell of a raid array to do 12 streams of HD, let alone uncompressed streams. Going 64-bit will help a little here but it's not the end-cure.

 

[drlunanerd]

I reckon there's a good chance that they'll announce a formal release date for Snow Leopard. Their Leopard launch was a bit of a mess in retail stores because they had such short notice and it was suggested to me by people that work in Apple Stores that they wanted to try to avoid that again by having a bit more notice. I reckon they'll formally announce a release date for Snow Leopard of maybe a week after WWDC with registered Developers getting their copy at WWDC.

Could be. Apple need to be mindful of the press talking up Windows 7 and perhaps this is the start of their counter-attack.

Also likely is Push Notification finally being delivered for the iPhone.

 

[kaisdaddy]

You are correct!

Do they need to be? Logic is still a great product right now. Logic 8 came out in September '07. If you can't make music because you're waiting for the next great au software instrument or the next version, you're a geek and a hardware whore, not a musician.

My comment was aimed at the folks who are expecting the next version of Logic Pro. I'm not saying that I can't make music without a new version, as I have been making music since well before I had my first computer of any kind and started recording on 2-track reel to reel machines. (I realize I'm dating myself here.)

Having said that, I do admit to being a geek.

 

[Tallest Skil]

Sevenmac.de reports [Google translation] that they have received an anonymous tip that the rumored March 24th Apple special event will focus on software.

Of course they have. Since they were WRONG about the hardware date, they have to come up with something else to save their skins.

 

[SpinThis!]

My comment was aimed at the folks who are expecting the next version of Logic Pro.

Yeh fair enough... my comment wasn't necessarily aimed directly at you either. Seems a lot people just get caught up in planned obsolesce of gear and forget what they have.

Then again, a new piece of kit can help fuel the creative juices if you're in a rut...

 

[verdee]

Interestingly, the Apple store in the Cherry Creek Mall, here in Denver (which I believe is the biggest store in the state) will be closed for "renovation from March 18-24

 

[PeterQVenkman]

The beta version, however, is reported to be buggy, which could force Apple to delay the special event by several weeks.

The current FCP is unstable as hell on my dual quad 2.8 with 6 GB ram.

Soundtrack Pro has a reproducible bug in it which can cause hearing damage depending on your sound setup.

 

[Peace]

Isn't it odd that this rumored date happens to be around the same time the ATI HD 4870 will be shipping ?

If there is an event Apple will be showing off Snow Leopard's greatly improved graphics capabilities.

 

[Saladinos]

...As long a the new Final Cut will have an updated GUI, I'll be happy... I'm sick and tired of the current OS8 UI. I would love to see an overhaul like they did with Logic.

Logic also needs an update.

 

[lazyrighteye]

If you want to see a Mac Pro in action, visit your friendly professional photographer next door and see him shoot pictures with his camera tethered to Apple Aperture or Adobe Lightroom. Those guys are more likely to use Mac Pros than your next door software developer.

Or Capture One.

 

[Saladinos]

My thought exactly, but maybe Apple isn't going to keep it a separate application and instead roll it into Motion maybe? Then again it is a vastly different program, so probably not. I would love to see FCS3 be Snow Leopard only so that ALL of Final Cut's code could be rewritten not just for Intel only, but as 64-bit only with true multicore capabilities. Imagine the Pro App Devs getting up there and saying that it's not just 5x faster meaning you can render 12 streams of uncompressed HD effects simultaneously in better than realtime. I'd bite, and I'd bite Hard. Don't hate me, but DVDSP is also WAY overdue especially Compressor with it's HD DVD compression, so Blu-Ray is a Must for Apple. If they don't include it, Adobe will be the king on Macs for Blu-ray, and when Adobe takes a lead, it's tough to get it back.

If FCS3 is Snow Leopard dependent, it would give them 3 months to get it cleaned up and functional while still getting their news out before NAB. Also, a mild refresh in June for the Mac Pros with 1.5 or even 2TB drives as BTO options and a Blu-ray drive (or two) isn't too hard to believe.

Please Don't Disappoint when it comes to the Pros at least Apple! PLEASE!

-Brian

LOL! So anything less than 12 uncompressed HD streams at >1x is a disappointment?

You can imagine what you like. Personally, I'm going to imagine Steve Jobs turning up and saying that he was dying, but Apple luckily stumbled on the cure for cancer. They also invented a real time machine, divided by zero, counted to infinity, proved the Goldbach conjecture, beat the second law of thermodynamics, discovered the composition of dark matter and proved the absence of a God using nothing but a paperclip and ball of string.

Anything less and I'll be disappointed.

 

[philiplipetz]

It is announcing a new software sales center in stores

As a FCP user I would like nothing more than a new Pro UI such as was hinted at in the iMovie 09 intro a few months ago, but I also feel that this will be an announcement of new software orientation in Apple Stores as was rumored previously. This fits with the closing of the Cherry Creek store for renovations.

Software orientation is a way to draw attention to Snow Leopard and its many advantages. Win 7 is basically a reintroduction of Vista with better hardware utilization, and Snow Leopard is the same for Leopard. CL will make many things possible, including amazing Pro Apps. By changing the stores Apple diverts attention from Win 7 and highlights the many software advantages of Snow Leopard.

 

[Lepton]

De phone! De phone!

I could definitely see a Pro software update, but we haven't heard a peep on iPhone software recently. This might be a good time for an update, between the last one and the Summer which will probably see a hardware revision.

There are two shoes going to drop with iPhone software. One is push. That will really spur many very cool software updates in the app store, as an app developer I'm pretty sure of that.

The other shoe is plugging the jailbreak hole. It's not so much to keep stuff like video recorders out, as it is to keep piracy out. My little penny-ante apps are both being cracked and pirated and I am not too happy, but the thing is, big corporate apps, those major game makers, those are being pirated and I can only imagine the pressure being put on Apple to fix it. Huge pressure. Phones need jailbreaking to install pirated apps, so I expect the jailbreak hole will be plugged, and soon, for that reason.

Maybe with plugging jailbreak they'll also lighten the heck up on what they let into the store? Nah, I'm dreamin' now.

As for copy and paste on the phone... Meh. I've got two words for ya: Data Detectors.

 

[tri3limited]

I would literally parade around the streets naked for a new version of FCS!! Personally i'd like to see a GUI refresh with a nice dark grey or even blacks for a pro feel. Something a bit new, shiny and different and i would willingly shell out for my first private copy of the software (only work copies atm).

I love the current version but i'd just like a continuing theme throughout the whole suite. Also i'd like the option to buy the suite with a new version of Shake, but also a Shake free option for those on a budget or with no need for the software. Not a Motion/Shake combi... People forget that they are both very different bits of software. Motion is for graphics and graphic animation and Shake is for compositing and effects.

 

[ChrisA]

My guess is that the pro apps will not see a major revision until after Snow Leopard. They will need SN to be out in the field and proved stable and then we will see revision to pro aps that take advantage of SN's new features. This can't be until late 2009

But I do expect there to be updates to the pro apps before SN is released. But they will have to hold back the major new versions until late 09. So we might see trivial things like changed GUI colors and an extra option on a dialog box, bug fixes and so on.

People who use software in their business really don't like frequent updates. They mostly don't want to upgrade unless it really is much better. Because there is always some risk associated with an update. I think an 18 to 24 month cycle is about right.

 

[thedarkhorse]

I'd rather wait if it's buggy, they better not release a buggy FCS.

I hope they streamlined the interface a bit better, especially for color, but nothing too drastic for the other apps, I've never really cared for Compressor's layout.

And obviously I want blu ray authoring in DVDSP, but with the latest hardware it doesn't look like it's gonna happen(damn you apple! *shakes fist).

I wonder if we will finally see the successor to Shake as well.

 

[MrCrowbar]

Maybe Logic Studio 9....?

I'm back to Logic 7, Logic 8 has terrifying bugs that still are not fixed after a year (corrupts projects, stalls wehn recording, etc.). I think Apple is abandoning the pro market in the long run.

 

[Kaptajn Haddock]

I hope to see Aperture 3.0 with some of the iPhoto 09 features + more non-destructive editing plug-ins.

 

[Eric S.]

Interestingly, the Apple store in the Cherry Creek Mall, here in Denver (which I believe is the biggest store in the state) will be closed for "renovation from March 18-24

Well, Apple already announced that they're going to be redesigning the layout of their stores to emphasize software and de-emphasize hardware. As to the specific timing, it's probably just a coincidence since I doubt all stores will be updated simultaneously.

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

Could be. Apple need to be mindful of the press talking up Windows 7 and perhaps this is the start of their counter-attack.

Also likely is Push Notification finally being delivered for the iPhone.

Good point, I didn't think about the Windows 7 press. I don't think Snow Leopard will get all that much press compared to Windows 7 though anyway. I mean there aren't many things that they can improve on vs Leopard (apart fom under the hood stuff that your average Joe won't notice). I don't know what else they could add. Windows 7, on the other hand, is something being cried out for due to the rubbishness of Vista. Vista's badness is itself an advertisement for Windows 7!

As for push for the iPhone... I think they've brushed that under the carpet and will simply release a new iPhone later on in the year that can do multitasking.