Some of the biggest improvements available include 64-bit architecture,sound editing and color enhancement tools. The 64-bit architecture allows users to harness the power of new hardware during content creation. The sound and color tools used to be separate applications, but are now included, adding to the value of Final Cut Pro X, especially when compared the the entire whole suite that costs $1000.

Other Final Cut Studio Apps Now Sold Separately

Two other apps that were in the former suite are being sold separately as well – Motion 5 and Compressor which are each $49.99. Motion is designed to help you create animations, professional looking titles and other things to add that professional look to your videos. Compressor is a post processing tool that lets you export videos into a various formats or codecs so your video can be played in different environments. When added to the cost of Final Cut Pro X, these various tools still are $600 less than the cost of Final Cut Studio. They also are sold in the Mac App Store, so you can download them to any of your Macs that use the same Apple account.

New Timeline Features

The new timeline is what Apple calls a “magnetic timeline” and it allows you to put two clips into the new timeline and they will snap together to easily eliminate blanks space between the clips. The new ”clip connections” feature will keep your clip, sound, titles and other elements together when you move them around the timeline.

Editing is Faster

The import tool is enhanced with automatic background rendering. Rendering helps you make a segment of video editable in the program in real-time so that you don’t have to wait for it be rendered. This speeds up video editing. Normally you have to “optimize” or render the video before you can do certain things, like add a slow motion effect. With this improvement the rendering happens in the background so that you won’t spend as much time waiting to add effects.

The Auditions feature lets you put several possible clips into a single spot and see how your video would look with each clip in place. It is a fast way to test multiple edits in a single spot.

Organizing media is also enhanced with Smart Collections which let you search using metadata and then group the results for future use. The program will also analyze your media and you can create Smart Collections automatically with Auto-analysis.

Should the Average User Get Final Cut Pro X?

Even though Final Cut Pro X is much cheaper than its predecessor, should you drop $300 on this package?

That depends on your needs. Final Cut Pro X is not a simple program to use. There is a steep learning curve and if you don’t have the patience for learning a complex tool like this, stick with an app like iMovie. If you don’t think you will ever need all the powerful new features, then also stick with iMovie. Most people just want to splice together some clips of video, add music or narration and put simple titles on the clips. If that is you, don’t get this app.

Final Cut Pro X is for people with very powerful needs (or those who just like to blow money on stuff they don’t need). If you find yourself bristling at the limitations of iMovie, then Final Cut Pro X is a powerful option, but unless you are a prosumer, you probably won’t need the power of Final Cut Pro X.

We hoped that a new cheaper Final Cut Express would show up with some of the new Final Cut Pro X features, but so far there is no sign of a Final Cut Express app. Final Cut Express is an intermediate level video editor which provides a step up from iMovie without all the power and the high price of Final Cut Pro.

Unfortunately, the link to Final Cut Express at Apple (http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress) sends you to the Final Cut Pro X page, which is a sign that Apple sees the cheaper Final Cut Pro X as a replacement for the mid-level movie editor.

Final Cut Pro X Available in Mac App Store, May Replace Express is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Updating iTunes is very easy, in fact, it comes with it’s own update manager called Apple Software Update for obtaining the latest versions of Apple software installed on your Windows PC such as Safari and QuickTime.

Click Start, type: Apple Update

Hit Enter on your keyboard

If you are connected to the Internet, it will check for the latest update.

You can individually select which programs you would like to update.

Another way you can upgrade iTunes is by opening iTunes. iTunes will automatically prompt you with a dialog informing you there is a new version of iTunes available. You can click the Download iTunes button and follow the on screen instructions to update.

Interestingly, if you browse to the iTunes Download page in Google’s Chrome web browser, you are offered both 32 and 64 bit executable. You can download the 32 bit here and 64 bit here

Troubleshoot iTunes Installation Problems:

If you encounter problems during installation, the first thing to do is try removing and reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows Vista or Windows 7 if you already have older version of iTunes installed on the computer.

Other things you can do if the problem persist include:

• Disable your Antivirus utility temporarily while you attempt to install iTunes.
• Close any open applications when attempting  to install iTunes.
• If you had iTunes open prior to attempting the installation, the program might still be running in the background. The best work around is to restart your computer.
• Make sure you are installing the right architecture for the right operating system, so if you are running Windows 7 64 bit, make sure you are installing iTunes 64 bit.
• Try clearing out your Temporary Internet Files folder:

  Click Start, type: %temp%

  Hit Enter on your keyboard

  Delete the contents of the directory then download iTunes again and attempt the installation again.

How to Upgrade iTunes in Windows is a post by Andre from Notebooks.com.

Apple has finally decided to fully lift the ban on VOIP on their iPhones and iPod touches.   This is in the wake of the news that Google Voice is now allowed on the iPhone platform, at least via a web browser.

Apple has updated their SDK to allow for developers to make VOIP applications that work over 3G  to run on their platform.  This first company taking advantage of this is iCall.  iCall for the iPhone and iPod Touch is now enabled for unrestricted free local and long distance calling over 3G data networks.   iCall is the first and only VoIP application available for the iPhone platform that allows use over 3G networks.  The application is available via the Apple App store for download.

All I can say is that its about time!  This will only increase Apple’s base of customers and make a lot of people happy.  VOIP is the one thing most people would like to use on their iPod Touches, but couldnt due to the restriction.  I know I am going to try it.

Now I said that this may reflect on the iPad.  How/Why?  Well, the iPad runs all iPhone applications.  The iPad has WiFi and 3G.  All you need is a headset that works and well, now the iPad can do VOIP as well.  It has possibilities.

Apple goes VOIP, lifts ban and allows iCall is a post by Amy from Notebooks.com.