Apple announces new Final Cut server at NAB

April 15, 2007 By

I love Engadget. They go to NAB so I don’t have to and do live reporting from the Apple keynote.

I’ll have to get one of those new Final Cut servers for PodTech. Sounds like it could help our video-production workflow out a bit.

People who watch my link blog knew about Engadget’s coverage a few minutes ago. Lots of other interesting stuff on my link blog, including a new Outlook 2007 patch that improves performance.

UPDATE: Apple just announced a bunch of other stuff as well (new sound editing software, other Final Cut updates). See Engadget.

UPDATE2: I just put a bunch of stuff from Gizmodo up on my link blog, they had great coverage of the NAB keynote as well.

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  • wreck

    How is it Apple can continually come out with cool, consumer-loved software while MS stagnates? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like MS one bit. I don’t use their tripe except at work where I’m forced to, but one would think with all those programmers and all those billions in the bank, they could actually produce some quality software like Apple does, but, alas, I think it will never happen.

    Apple is fairly small as large companies go, and I think that being small and focused like Apple means being nimble and more able to respond to the needs/wants of the consumer.

    Apple grows with the times and puts out hit after hit while MS is still trying to figure out why it cannot sell vinyl records anymore.

  • wreck

    How is it Apple can continually come out with cool, consumer-loved software while MS stagnates? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like MS one bit. I don’t use their tripe except at work where I’m forced to, but one would think with all those programmers and all those billions in the bank, they could actually produce some quality software like Apple does, but, alas, I think it will never happen.

    Apple is fairly small as large companies go, and I think that being small and focused like Apple means being nimble and more able to respond to the needs/wants of the consumer.

    Apple grows with the times and puts out hit after hit while MS is still trying to figure out why it cannot sell vinyl records anymore.

  • http://mickeleh.blogspot.com/ Michael Markman

    @1 Maybe it’s because so many MS developers are distracted by blogging. Maybe Apple has a more efficient method for staying in touch with what customers need.

  • http://mickeleh.blogspot.com Michael Markman

    @1 Maybe it’s because so many MS developers are distracted by blogging. Maybe Apple has a more efficient method for staying in touch with what customers need.

  • James

    Look at the cbs promo clip for Final Cut Server. at apples site.

    Looks good.

  • James

    Look at the cbs promo clip for Final Cut Server. at apples site.

    Looks good.

  • http://ebersys.blogspot.com/ Eber Irigoyen

    gizmodo coverage is much more complete

    http://www.gizmodo.com/

  • http://ebersys.blogspot.com/ Eber Irigoyen

    gizmodo coverage is much more complete

    http://www.gizmodo.com/

  • Goebbels

    “I’ll have to get one of those new Final Cut servers for PodTech.”

    Sounds like you think it’s hardware… Shouldn’t you know what it is before you buy it?

  • Goebbels

    “I’ll have to get one of those new Final Cut servers for PodTech.”

    Sounds like you think it’s hardware… Shouldn’t you know what it is before you buy it?

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    #2: I only know of about 3,000 Microsoft employees who’ve blogged at all, and of those, only about 500 really update regularly. What is the excuse for the other 68,000 employees?

    #5: sorry to leave you with that impression. But, in this case, I’d need to buy both the software and another machine to host it on. Of course I’d take a look at it and present a business justification before spending $6,000 or more.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    #2: I only know of about 3,000 Microsoft employees who’ve blogged at all, and of those, only about 500 really update regularly. What is the excuse for the other 68,000 employees?

    #5: sorry to leave you with that impression. But, in this case, I’d need to buy both the software and another machine to host it on. Of course I’d take a look at it and present a business justification before spending $6,000 or more.

  • http://www.clarkezone.net/ james clarke

    I do hate generalizations.. the team I work on is doing some interesting things. we are writing good quality code in an agile manner and it feels a lot like a startup to be part of it (I know since I do cofounded one) . you ll have to wait until this evening for the NAB news. BTW the apple final touch stuff does look cool

  • http://www.clarkezone.net james clarke

    I do hate generalizations.. the team I work on is doing some interesting things. we are writing good quality code in an agile manner and it feels a lot like a startup to be part of it (I know since I do cofounded one) . you ll have to wait until this evening for the NAB news. BTW the apple final touch stuff does look cool

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    James #7: yeah, I should point out there’s plenty of interesting stuff coming soon from Microsoft as well.

    But, Microsoft is having trouble seeing smaller things. Apple is doing a FAR better job of seeing small things and taking credit for seeing them. Yes, I do notice the signs in Apple stores that talk about blogging, podcasting and other things that Microsoft simply hasn’t gotten and when it has gotten, um, MSN Spaces, it’s not tried to be best of breed and has relied too much on its already existing audience rather than trying to find a new audience that isn’t already in its pocket.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    James #7: yeah, I should point out there’s plenty of interesting stuff coming soon from Microsoft as well.

    But, Microsoft is having trouble seeing smaller things. Apple is doing a FAR better job of seeing small things and taking credit for seeing them. Yes, I do notice the signs in Apple stores that talk about blogging, podcasting and other things that Microsoft simply hasn’t gotten and when it has gotten, um, MSN Spaces, it’s not tried to be best of breed and has relied too much on its already existing audience rather than trying to find a new audience that isn’t already in its pocket.

  • http://www.clarkezone.net/ james clarke

    I cant speak for the rest of the company but there is attention to detail in the stuff we re doing. I learnd back in the day Avid that the small things are vitally important. Even more important listen to your customers. stay tuned

  • http://www.clarkezone.net james clarke

    I cant speak for the rest of the company but there is attention to detail in the stuff we re doing. I learnd back in the day Avid that the small things are vitally important. Even more important listen to your customers. stay tuned

  • http://chris.comitar.com/blog/ Chris

    I am excited beyond all belief by the upgrade to Final Cut Studio… I’m preparing a blog post for YouMakeMedia.com about it. Apple is changing the film industry in totally unexpected ways thanks to these fantastic tools they routinely put out.

  • http://chris.comitar.com/blog/ Chris

    I am excited beyond all belief by the upgrade to Final Cut Studio… I’m preparing a blog post for YouMakeMedia.com about it. Apple is changing the film industry in totally unexpected ways thanks to these fantastic tools they routinely put out.

  • http://gwhiz.wordpress.com/ gwhiz

    Mr. Scoble… Did you see that FCSPro reel from NAB. OMG! That stuff’s hot! I think the Scoble show needs some new lead-in and lead-out (no duckies!) :)

  • http://gwhiz.wordpress.com/ gwhiz

    Mr. Scoble… Did you see that FCSPro reel from NAB. OMG! That stuff’s hot! I think the Scoble show needs some new lead-in and lead-out (no duckies!) :)

  • mike

    Apple is fairly small as large companies go, and I think that being small and focused like Apple means being nimble and more able to respond to the needs/wants of the consumer.

    –

    It’s because they deliberately hire people from all walks of life. You get 70,000 Comp Sci guys together, guess what, they come up with pretty unoriginal ideas. Apple goes out and finds people from various backgrounds, who also happen to be incredibly smart…

    Lastly, it’s important to remember that MS doesn’t really need the home user. That’s just something they do to beef up the top line. MS is a companye that builds Applications for BUSINESSES. Don’t be surprised if their stuff looks boring, it’s not aimed at YOU. It’s aimed at IT Managers and Workgroups. Apple has always been about the consumers and ‘real people.’

    Having said that, it’s pretty funny how when Apple does its Pro software (deviating from the ‘normal people’ matra slightly) even regular shmucks think it looks cool. And we don’t even know what it is!

  • mike

    Apple is fairly small as large companies go, and I think that being small and focused like Apple means being nimble and more able to respond to the needs/wants of the consumer.

    –

    It’s because they deliberately hire people from all walks of life. You get 70,000 Comp Sci guys together, guess what, they come up with pretty unoriginal ideas. Apple goes out and finds people from various backgrounds, who also happen to be incredibly smart…

    Lastly, it’s important to remember that MS doesn’t really need the home user. That’s just something they do to beef up the top line. MS is a companye that builds Applications for BUSINESSES. Don’t be surprised if their stuff looks boring, it’s not aimed at YOU. It’s aimed at IT Managers and Workgroups. Apple has always been about the consumers and ‘real people.’

    Having said that, it’s pretty funny how when Apple does its Pro software (deviating from the ‘normal people’ matra slightly) even regular shmucks think it looks cool. And we don’t even know what it is!

  • http://www.bynkii.com/ John C. Welch

    I cant speak for the rest of the company but there is attention to detail in the stuff we re doing. I learnd back in the day Avid that the small things are vitally important. Even more important listen to your customers. stay tuned

    And the division you work in/product you work on is?

  • http://www.bynkii.com/ John C. Welch

    I cant speak for the rest of the company but there is attention to detail in the stuff we re doing. I learnd back in the day Avid that the small things are vitally important. Even more important listen to your customers. stay tuned

    And the division you work in/product you work on is?

  • met

    James Clark : MS has been telling me to stay tuned for the past 10 years :)

  • met

    James Clark : MS has been telling me to stay tuned for the past 10 years :)

  • Christopher Coulter

    Certainly interesting, SmoothCam, Server and FCP6, trying to take on Avid and Autodesk, not sure they can make it, but they will sure grant a run for the money.

    http://www.eventdv.net/ is also a good place to follow the NAB announcements, and some insightful post-analysis.

    PS – Wish Sony would gear up Vegas more, but NewTek’s SpeedEDIT still winning raves.

    They go to NAB so I don’t have to

    The only mediaish conference really worth anything, and you leave it up to short-attention-span bloggers, who cover it like a live hockey game? ((Rolling eyes)).

  • Christopher Coulter

    Certainly interesting, SmoothCam, Server and FCP6, trying to take on Avid and Autodesk, not sure they can make it, but they will sure grant a run for the money.

    http://www.eventdv.net/ is also a good place to follow the NAB announcements, and some insightful post-analysis.

    PS – Wish Sony would gear up Vegas more, but NewTek’s SpeedEDIT still winning raves.

    They go to NAB so I don’t have to

    The only mediaish conference really worth anything, and you leave it up to short-attention-span bloggers, who cover it like a live hockey game? ((Rolling eyes)).

  • Christopher Coulter

    Dang, read more of the press reports and some of the insidery talk…Kent of Paladin Media Group said his post-man was “blown away”…

    Pretty much lights-out for Vista as a content creation platform, they will lose that niche. Sony, Adobe and others just don’t have a matching game plan. But I think Apple is not even looking at them, rather Avid. Well regardless, this upgrade has got all of Wilshire and Burbank in a tizzy.

    Still it’s not the software, it’s what you do with it that matters. Something the geeky tooltalk types always miss.

  • Christopher Coulter

    Dang, read more of the press reports and some of the insidery talk…Kent of Paladin Media Group said his post-man was “blown away”…

    Pretty much lights-out for Vista as a content creation platform, they will lose that niche. Sony, Adobe and others just don’t have a matching game plan. But I think Apple is not even looking at them, rather Avid. Well regardless, this upgrade has got all of Wilshire and Burbank in a tizzy.

    Still it’s not the software, it’s what you do with it that matters. Something the geeky tooltalk types always miss.

  • Goebbels

    Chris, I think the sights are squarely set. Yes, Avid, Autodesk, Sony, and Adobe lead in particular features, or roles, or workflows with some of their products, but Apple more firmly competes with all of them especially in the complete relatively affordable end-to-end solution market, particularly for independents.

    Now, look at the market caps of those 4 companies. You’ll notice that Avid is 1.5 Billion and has not produced profits recently. (Autodesk, the next cheapest, is 9 Bills.) As Apple chips away at their marketshare and market value, they become a potential acquisition.

    Heck, if you consider the Macromedia/Key Grip, Logic, Shake, Silicon Color, Proximity, and several other media production acquisitions that Apple has made for around 200-600 million in total… you are quickly approaching, or exceeding, the price of Avid now.

    As Apple builds out CoreAudio, CoreVideo, etc.. in their OS and rebuild “Motion” into “Shake” and continute their own internal development of FCS, and integrates their various acquisitions (the products, staff, and expertise) over the next couple of years, it will become apparent that even though Avid is more dominant, a more robust solution, that their only future is a takeover. It could be Adobe, I imagine, but I think Apple is more focused on Avid’s core market than Adobe is.

  • Goebbels

    Chris, I think the sights are squarely set. Yes, Avid, Autodesk, Sony, and Adobe lead in particular features, or roles, or workflows with some of their products, but Apple more firmly competes with all of them especially in the complete relatively affordable end-to-end solution market, particularly for independents.

    Now, look at the market caps of those 4 companies. You’ll notice that Avid is 1.5 Billion and has not produced profits recently. (Autodesk, the next cheapest, is 9 Bills.) As Apple chips away at their marketshare and market value, they become a potential acquisition.

    Heck, if you consider the Macromedia/Key Grip, Logic, Shake, Silicon Color, Proximity, and several other media production acquisitions that Apple has made for around 200-600 million in total… you are quickly approaching, or exceeding, the price of Avid now.

    As Apple builds out CoreAudio, CoreVideo, etc.. in their OS and rebuild “Motion” into “Shake” and continute their own internal development of FCS, and integrates their various acquisitions (the products, staff, and expertise) over the next couple of years, it will become apparent that even though Avid is more dominant, a more robust solution, that their only future is a takeover. It could be Adobe, I imagine, but I think Apple is more focused on Avid’s core market than Adobe is.

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  • Christopher Coulter

    …it will become apparent that even though Avid is more dominant, a more robust solution, that their only future is a takeover…

    Yeah, that’s what my tea leaves would read, it will eat at the base.

    Adobe is spread too thin, and Sony isn’t really that serious, they should wrap the Sonic Foundry’s into something really powerful. But really Avid is gonna have to map out some strategy, pretty darned fast.

  • Christopher Coulter

    …it will become apparent that even though Avid is more dominant, a more robust solution, that their only future is a takeover…

    Yeah, that’s what my tea leaves would read, it will eat at the base.

    Adobe is spread too thin, and Sony isn’t really that serious, they should wrap the Sonic Foundry’s into something really powerful. But really Avid is gonna have to map out some strategy, pretty darned fast.