Tag: Movies

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Apple Introduces Final Cut Express 4

Apple introduces Final Cut Express 4.

Final Cut Express 4 box

For more informations on Final Cut Express 4, head to:
http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/

System Requirements

  • A Mac computer with a 1.25GHz or faster PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5, Intel Core Duo, Intel Core 2 Duo, or Intel Xeon processor
    For AVCHD: A Mac computer with an Intel processor
  • 1GB of RAM or more
  • An AGP or PCI Express graphics card compatible with Quartz Extreme; or an Intel GMA integrated graphics processor in a MacBook or Mac mini computer
  • Some FxPlug filters are not compatible with integrated Intel graphics processors.
  • A display with 1024-by-768 resolution or higher
  • A DVD drive for installation
  • Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later
  • QuickTime 7.2 or later
  • 500MB of disk space to install Final Cut Express and LiveType
  • Additional 500MB to install LiveType content

It is finally answering the one question out of many that I currently care about.

“Why doesn’t Final Cut Express support AVCHD? Final Cut Pro can, but I rarely use it for small projects. Wait a minute, iMovie ’08 can too. I feel that iMovie ’08 is under-powered, and Final Cut Pro is an overkill. Apple, please add AVCHD support to Final Cut Express. I would like to import and edit the AVCHD-encoded clips that I took using my new Panasonic HDC-SD5 camcorder.”

OK, apparently Apple was not going to add AVCHD support to Final Cut Express 3.5 and older. The AVCHD support will be built in Final Cut Express 4.

Anyway, I like using Final Cut Pro; but it’s a bit overkill at many times. I like using iMovie HD ’06; but it’s a little bit limited in features. I like using iMovie ’08; but it’s missing some important features such as audio extractions, and many others. In my mind, I’d say that for most of the projects I’m working on, I can sufficiently handle them in Final Cut Express. I recently purchased Panasonic HDC-SD5 camcorder and it records into the AVCHD format. I was going to fire up Final Cut Pro to work on some videos, but since Apple announces Final Cut Express 4 with AVCHD support; I don’t need Final Cut Pro for most of my projects.

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Futurama: Countdown to “Bender’s Big Score”

“Good News, Everyone…….. Futurama is BACK!”

First and foremost, I can’t wait to watch the brand spankin’ fresh and new Futurama. I’m a big fan of the show. I cursed the day Fox Network revealed that they are canceling the show. Anyway, the first installment of the “Return of The Futurama” is coming within a “feels like a space eternity” 2 weeks. Can’t wait, can’t wait, can’t wait, and Bender is Great! Bender is Great!

B E N D E R

Bender! Bender is Great!

I got carried away there.

“Futurama The Movie – Bender’s Big Score” will be released on November 27th, 2007. I already pre-ordered it through Amazon.com. The crazy part is that I know that I’ll be picking it up at the local Target or Circuit City store. I despise “Best” Buy, and have no plan to spend my money there. OK, I’ll buy the DVD from Best Buy if they would give me a life-size Bender statue.

Silly Futurama Preview @ Amazon.com

Futurama The Movie - Bender's Big Score

Based on the available informations, the “Futurama The Movie – Bender’s Big Score” will be in a “glorious” widescreen format.

From Fox Home Entertainment and courtesy of GotFuturama.com (there’s where I got it from):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE FEATURE-LENGTH ACTION EPIC 1000 YEARS IN THE MAKING ARRIVES…

FUTURAMA IS BACK, BABY!

In Fox Home Entertainment’s First Carbon-Neutral Release, Fry, Leela, Professor Farnsworth And Bender Triumphantly Return On DVD November 27

Century City, CA – The future is back…and it’s cleaner than ever! Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents the first of four direct-to-DVD Futurama adventures when Futurama: Bender’s Big Score makes its highly anticipated DVD debut on November 27. As the studio’s first carbon-neutral release, the carbon impact of the production, manufacture and distribution of the Futurama Bender’s Big Score DVD was directly assessed and actively reduced. For the unavoidable emissions, the studio used high-quality, verified carbon offsets. Futurama: Bender’s Big Score also features an eco-friendly highlight: a cameo from former Vice President Al Gore, guest starring as himself.

The first feature-length Futurama action epic, with three more adventures expected through 2009, finds the Futurama crew fighting to save Earth in an epic battle against nudist alien Internet scammers. It’s nearly Christmas 3007 when evil naked aliens launch a cyber-attack on the Planet Express and make a shocking discovery: the secret of time travel, mysteriously tattooed on Fry’s buttocks. Using their devious nudist software to control Bender, the aliens send him through history where he has run-ins with the likes of Al Gore, Coolio (Daredevil, Batman & Robin) and Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program, School For Scoundrels).

In addition to the never-before-seen movie, the Futurama: Bender’s Big Score DVD features commentary from Matt Groening, David X. Cohen and cast members Billy West, John DiMaggio, Phil LaMarr, Dwayne Carey-Hill and Ken Keeler; an animated promo for An Inconvenient Truth starring Bender and Al Gore, with commentary by the former Vice President, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen; an all-new episode entitled “Everybody Loves Hypnotoad” including TV commercials of the future; a Futurama mind-shattering math lecture; character and design sketches and deleted scenes. Futurama: Bender’s Big Score will be available for a suggested retail price of $29.98 U.S./$37.98 Canada.

Tech Specs (yeah, I cmd-x and cmd-v from GotFuturama.com):

DVD Special Features:
The Futurama: Bender’s Big Score DVD will be presented in full screen WideScreen format with English Dolby Surround 5.1, along with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Bonus features include:

  • Commentary By Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, Billy West, John DiMaggio, Phil LaMarr, Claudia Katz, Dwayne Carey-Hill and Ken Keeler
  • Futurama Returns! A Live Comic Book Reading By The Futurama Cast Featurette
  • Everybody Loves Hypnotoad – A Spellbinding Episode Of The Future’s Most Popular TV Program
  • A Terrifying Message From Al Gore: Animated Promo For An Inconvenient Truth
    • Video Commentary by Al Gore, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen
  • Bite My Shiny Metal X: A Mind-Shattering Futurama Math Lecture Featurette
  • Bender’s Big Score: The Original First Draft Of The Script Featurette
  • New Character/Design Sketches
  • Original Five-Minute Comic-Con Promo
  • Deleted Scenes
    • Monte Carlo
    • Robot Mafia
    • Limbo Contest


FUTURAMA: BENDER’S BIG SCORE
Street Date: November 27, 2007
DVD Price: $29.98 U.S. / $37.98 Canada
Closed Captioned: Yes

BENDER IS BACK, BABY!!!!

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Mac OS X Leopard: Front Row

An Apple A Day Gallery – 2007.11.03
Mac OS X Leopard: Front Row
Front Row Icon
Front Row is now available on any Macs. Front Row can be activated by using Apple Remote, launching the Front Row.app, or by using the default keystroke Command-Esc.

Previously Front Row only available on Macs with Apple Remote and IR receiver support. Kudos to Andrew Escobar for providing Front Row Enabler; to install Front Row for Mac OS X Tiger (10.4.x) on older Macs without Apple Remote and IR receiver support.

Front Row

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Apple Releases Updates to iLife ’08

Apple releases updates to iLife ’08 through Software Update and Apple Support Downloads page.

GarageBand 4.1 – 46.1MB
This update addresses isolated graphic display issues, compatibility with 3rd party audio software, fixes minor problems with Magic GarageBand, and supports general compatibility issues.

iMovie 7.1 – 44.6MB
This update addresses several areas including video and audio editing capabilities, and performance associated with opening and switching iMovie Events and Projects.

iPhoto 7.1 – 59.3MB
This update addresses issues encountered when moving photos between Events, plus new greeting card themes, including holiday card designs.

iDVD 7.0.1 – 18.6MB
This update improves overall stability, supports general compatibility issues, and addresses a number of other minor issues.

iLife Support 8.1 – 7MB
This update supports system software components shared by all iLife ’08 applications.

I have been having some issues with iDVD ’08 (iDVD 7.0.0) when it comes to browsing media. I will check if this update address the issue.

http://www.apple.com/supports/downloads/

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Which AVCHD Camcorder To Buy? Panasonic HDC-SD5 or Sony HDR-CX7

I have been thinking about getting an HD Camcorder for a while now. I am now looking at the solid state AVCHD Camcorders from Panasonic and Sony.

I still can’t decide to get Panasonic HDC-SD5 or Sony HDR-CX7. Each has its own strength and weaknesses. I wish that I could have a combination of both. Panasonic HDC-SD5 uses three (3) CCD sensors, while Sony HDR-CX7 uses one (1) CMOS sensor. Sony HDR-CX7 has the NightShot® Infrared System which I really like and Active Interface Shoe. Based on the specs, Panasonic HDC-SD5 has higher effective pixels, web-cam feature, uses SD-card which is generally cheaper than Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick PRO Duo™ Media.

Anyway, I still can’t make up my mind between the two.
Sony HDR-CX7 AVCHD Camcorder Panasonic HDC-SD5 AVCHD Camcorder

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Rumor: iPhone Software Update on September 5

UPDATE: Apparently Apple is not ready to push the update until later in September 2007.
Fake rumor from a completely made up source who allegedly works for Apple (Go ahead, Apple, try tracking the source of the leak):

Apple will push another software update for the iPhone during “The Beat Goes On” special event on September 5th, 2007. This one is iPod and iTunes related.

This fake rumor might not be entirely false, who knows!

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