Tag: Media

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Mini Review: iMovie ’08 – First Impressions

I finally had the time to go to an Apple Retail Store to pick up iLife ’08 and iWork ’08 today. Well, it’s because all the Apple Retail Stores nearby, about 7 of them didn’t have iLife ’08 in stock on Tuesday.

iMovie '08

Anyway, after playing with iMovie ’08 for 30 minutes or so, I missed iMovie HD (iMovie 6.x) already. Apple is apparently aware of this.

First, iLife ’08 installer actually preserves iMovie HD application and moved it into “iMovie (previous version)” folder inside the Applications folder.

iMove in Applications Folder

Second, Apple has made iMovie HD 6.0.4 as a free download for any iLife ’08 owner.
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/imovieHD6.html

About iMovie HD 6
iMovie HD 6, previously distributed with iLife ’06, is available for download for those who have purchased and installed iLife ’08

System Requirements

  • Mac OS X 10.3.9
  • Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later
  • Mac OS X 10.4.4 recommended
  • iLife ’08

UPDATED (08.09.2007 09:50AM)
So far, I don’t like using iMovie ’08. Actually now I prefer using Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro (because there are a lot of things that I can’t do in iMovie HD). Don’t get me wrong, I still need to sit down and use iMovie ’08 for a while and figure out a way to get comfortable with it. Previous versions of iMovie HD are a lot more simplistic, and yet lacking many editing features. Apple has made such drastic changes to the interface, it takes time to get used to it.

iMovie ’08 runs fast on my MacBook Pro Core Duo (early 2006). I can easily scrub scrub movie clips without any slowdowns at all. One thing I really hate about iMovie HD is the titling options. Sometimes you want to have a subtitle to last 6 seconds, and iMovie HD only allows maximum of 5.

–

My colleague found the iMovie HD 6.0.4 link in Apple’s own Discussion Board.

I will use iMovie ’08 to see if it is a worthy upgrade, at least for myself.

UPDATE (08.14.2007)
Next: iMovie ’08 to iMovie HD ’06 Comparisons (coming soon)

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iLife ’08 and iWork ’08 Are Now Available at Apple Retail Stores

Shortly after the announcements of iLife ’08 and iWork ’08, I called some Apple Retail Stores to confirm the availability of both software packages. To my surprise, all the Apple Retail Stores I called have on iWork ’08 but not iLife ’08. Every Apple Retail Store employee I talked to could not confirm the ETA of iLife ’08 at their respective locations.

UPDATE 08.08.2007
Both iLife ’08 and iWork ’08 are available at Apple Retail Stores.

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Apple Updates: Mac Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.1

Apple releases Firmware Update 1.1 for Mac Pro

System Requirements

  • Mac OS X 10.4.10
  • Mac Pro

Mac Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.1 – 544KB
The SMC Firmware Update adjusts fan behavior in Mac Pro

After this update has completed successfully, your SMC Version will be:
1.7f10 (Mac Pro)
1.5f3 (Mac Pro 8-core)

The updater application will be installed in the /Applications/Utilities folder and will launch automatically after restart.

Please follow the instructions in the updater application to complete the process.

To update the SMC firmware on your Mac Pro:
Your computer’s power cord must be connected and plugged into a working power source.
1. Quit all other open applications.
2. Click Restart in the Mac Pro SMC Firmware Update window and wait for your computer to restart.

The SMC firmware update starts automatically. A status bar indicates the progress of the update. During the update your computer fans will run at full speed, but will return to normal once the update completes.

Important: Do not interrupt the update.

Your computer restarts automatically when the update is completed and opens the Mac Pro SMC Firmware Update.

3. Click OK. The SMC firmware is now up-to-date.

If these instructions appear on your screen again, the SMC firmware update was not successful. Repeat steps 2 and 3.

Note:
This update requires a Macintosh formatted disk or partition. If you are starting up using a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) subsystem, you must attach a Macintosh formatted storage device to apply this update.

Some USB and FireWire devices may prevent firmware updates from installing correctly. If you are having trouble installing an update try disconnecting non-essential devices and use only an Apple branded keyboard, mouse and monitor.

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Apple Releases Boot Camp 1.4 beta

Just a few months before the release of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, Apple has once again updates its Boot Camp software.

Changes in Boot Camp 1.4 beta
Boot Camp 1.4 beta contains several updates and is intended for all new and previous Boot Camp beta users.

Boot Camp 1.4 beta includes:

  • Support for keyboard backlighting (MacBook Pro only)
  • Apple Remote pairing
  • Updated graphics drivers
  • Improved Boot Camp driver installer
  • Improved international keyboard support
  • Localization fixes
  • Updated Windows Help for Boot Camp

http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/

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iLife ’08 Is Not Available in some Apple Retail Stores

Shortly after the announcements of iLife ’08 and iWork ’08, I called some Apple Retail Stores to confirm the availability of both software packages. To my surprise, all the Apple Retail Stores I called have on iWork ’08 but not iLife ’08. Every Apple Retail Store employee I talked to could not confirm the ETA of iLife ’08 at their respective locations.

UPDATE 08.08.2007
Both iLife ’08 and iWork ’08 are available at Apple Retail Stores.