Apple Launches New Final Cut Pro X, Motion, and Compressor Updates
Apple today sent out a press release announcing an update to its professional video editing software, Final Cut Pro X, along with updates to companion apps Motion and Compressor. The updates bring new features for motion graphics and enhancements to speed up video editing, packaging, and delivery.
As described by Apple, Final Cut Pro‘s 10.2 update marks the debut of easy-to-use tools for the creation of 3D titles, with a variety of templates that include built-in backgrounds and animations. Text styles can customize the look of titles with different materials and lighting, and it’s possible to convert 2D to 3D titles and see changes in real time.
Today’s update also lets editors view up to four video scopes at the same time for better precision when color grading, and there are now improved Shape masks that can be applied to any effect and saved as a preset. Finally, the update includes support for more video formats and makes it faster to work with RED RAW files.
Motion 5.2 offers additional options for 3D titles, bringing tools for the creation of dynamic titles with lights and cameras, while Compressor 4.2 makes it easier to prepare movies for sale on the iTunes Store.
“From Hollywood blockbuster directors to first time movie makers, Final Cut Pro X is changing the way we edit movies today,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The updated Final Cut Pro X, Motion and Compressor make it even easier to edit, title and package everything from short videos to feature-length films.”
Apple’s press release includes details from Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, who co-directed the Will Smith film Focus and used Final Cut Pro X to edit the video. The duo’s work with the software was previously featured by Apple on its Final Cut Pro X feature page.
“We loved using Final Cut Pro X to edit Focus,” said Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, co-directors of the 2015 feature film, Focus. “We created the final theatrical titles for the movie right in Final Cut Pro, and the new 3D titling and effects features will let us take in-app graphics even further. We’re using the new Final Cut Pro on our next feature film.”
Several sites have been able to get hands-on access to the new software updates ahead of their launch, and have shared details on the new tools included in the update. Fcp.co has a complete rundown on all the new features, along with screenshots, as does The Next Web.
All of today’s updates are free for existing Final Cut Pro, Compressor, and Motion users.
Final Cut Pro can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $299.99. [Direct Link]
Compressor can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $49.99. [Direct Link]
Motion can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $49.99. [Direct Link]
Samsung Galaxy S6 gets the Tesla S treatment
A year ago when the Samsung Galaxy S 5 was released, we were witness to one of the most unusual durability tests imagined when the device was subjected to being run over by a Tesla Model S. The producer of that video is back again a year later, this time with a brand new Samsung Galaxy S6 ready to undergo the same torture test.
The initial test is performed with the display face up and unsurprisingly, the new glass back that Samsung has incorporated into their design takes a beating and would need to be replaced. The Galaxy S6 is then subjected to several passes of the Tesla S to see just how much of a beating it can take. After all this, the device is still functional, albeit it is no longer the smooth, sleek smartphone it started out as. Nevertheless, the fact that it still works is a pretty good testimonial to the durability that Samsung achieved with the device.
Check out the video below, but we would not recommend that you try to recreate this with your own vehicle.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy S6 gets the Tesla S treatment
Amazon’s X-Ray now visible on Fire TV devices
One of the benefits that Fire tablet device owners have when watching Amazon Prime Instant Video is access to information about a title through IMDb thanks to their X-Ray for Movies and TV Shows feature. Using X-Ray, viewers can ask questions like “Who is that actor?”, “What else do they appear in?”, or “What is this song?” Amazon is now making this feature available to owners of their Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick devices. Using a click of their remote, viewers can get answers to those questions and more displayed on their big screen.
Amazon notes that besides basic information about who stars in a movie or show, viewers can access other information contained in the IMDb database. This includes stuff like backstories behind character development, goofs, and trivia.
The new feature only works on Amazon Prime Instant Video, but it does include Amazon’s original series and members-only exclusives. Amazon indicates the new X-Ray feature will be rolling out to Fire TV devices via an OTA update starting today.
Hit the source link to read the full press release from Amazon.
source: Amazon
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Eton Ruckus Xtreme review
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Eton Rukus Xtreme
Today we present to you a rare gem in the form of a portable Bluetooth speaker. What makes it so special you ask? Does it play music so melodic that is brings tears to winged babies? Perhaps the design is something that future artists will look to when they seek inspiration? Alas no, it is none of those things. What makes the Eton Rukus Xtreme so special is the plethora of features that it brings, that you might forget it’s a speaker first and everything else second.
Design
Starting off with the design of the Eton Ruckus Xtreme, we get design features that are a smooth blend of both conventional and modern design elements. When we first saw it, we couldn’t decide if it looked more like a rectangle, maybe a slab, trapezoid? Trapezoid, that is what the overall body of the Eton Ruckus Xtreme looks like (It took many nights of restless sleep to come to that conclusion). The front where the speaker grills is the biggest part of the Eton Ruckus Xtreme. The speaker grills concave into a circular design on the sides, so the front looks like a rectangle with rounded circle edges. As you move inward the device begins to slant and get smaller, so it ends up looking like a slanted slab. There is purpose to this madness thought as this allows the solar panel (which is no top and we shall address more in detail later) to get more sunlight. Once you get to the very end of the device, there is a nice handle that makes taking the Eton Ruckus Xtreme anywhere a breeze. On the sides of the handle you will find the power button and aux port on the left and on the right lies the AC and USB out port.
The color scheme of the Eton Ruckus Xtreme is a nice black and green that flow well together. Normally such color combination do not make for great design choices but the Eton Ruckus Xtreme actually looks better for it. It gives it a distinct look, almost a sleek outdoorsy appearance.
Solar Panel
Now things start to get really interesting. The Eton Ruckus Xtreme is truly one of a kind where Bluetooth speakers are concerned as it comes with solar charging capabilities that not only allow you to charge the device itself, but also other devices using nothing but the mighty power of the sun. The solar panel on top is built to gather as much sun as possible when placed outside so your outdoor jam sessions never have to end. So how did the solar panel fare in real-world testing? Remarkably well. Our testing was done on a nice sunny day, so your experience will be different depending on the day. We let the device die down all the way and found that it took less than an hour for it to be operational again. You would still need it to be in the sun for it to keep functioning of course. So if you left it out for a while and did not use it, then it would be more than capable of being fully charged in a matter of hours.
Charging other devices was not as fast but still a nice feature if you find yourself out in the woods without any other power source. We found that keeping the device pointed directly towards the sun, the device that we needed charging (my HTC One M8) was able to get a nice charge. While we would not use it to charge our device every day, it is still a nice feature that definitely has purpose and will be a welcome addition for those that enjoy being outdoors.
Sound Quality
Now to the actual purpose of the Eton Ruckus Xtreme, playing those hit new jams you just downloaded off the Play Store. With so many other capabilities, one would think that the Eton Ruckus Xtreme would not be a great speaker but we found the opposite to be true. Eton Ruckus Xtreme made listening to music a great experience and could easily replace your current speakers. Sound was rich and deep, with loud tones being very prominent. While we would not necessarily use it to listen to classical or instrumental music, it is more than sufficient for current modern songs that rely heavily on bass and loud tones.
Final Thoughts
The Eton Ruckus Xtreme is a great speaker with many added features that makes getting one a simple choice (That choice being getting one). If you need a speaker that is also capable of charging itself and other devices with nothing more than what mother nature has already provided us, then the Eton Ruckus Xtreme should be on your wishlist. It is definitely one of the better speakers we have tested thus far due to its added features alone. Any speaker can play music and sound good while doing it, but it takes a special kind of speaker to do so and then some. You can head over to Amazon to snag one for yourself and with summer right around the corner, why wouldn’t you?
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Top Android apps to help you file your taxes
If you haven’t done your taxes yet, time is running out.
April 15 is nearly upon us. While some of us may have done our taxes already and have our refund checks sitting in the bank, it’s also easy to procrastinate. Doing your taxes bring back many unpleasant flashbacks of high school math homework and remind us that while every year we commit to set up a financial filing system to make this easy… we never quite do. Well, time’s a-wastin’ and there’s plenty your Android devices can do to help, so charge ‘em up and break out the bags of bunched-up receipts.
So grab your 1040 and let’s go get that refund! Maybe.
Redesigned YouTube App for iOS Briefly Appears for Some Users [iOS Blog]
MacRumors has received multiple tips from users that claim a redesigned version of YouTube for iOS briefly appeared on iPhone last week before reverting back to the current design. One tipster sent us a gallery of screenshots showing off the possible redesign, which is speculated to be in the works for both iOS and Android alongside a new web-based video player that is currently in testing.
While we cannot verify the authenticity of these photos, and were unable to witness the redesigned version of YouTube firsthand, the possible redesign appears consistent with the appearance of other Material Design apps on iOS and Android. Specifically, the screenshots show that the app will gain a cleaner look, red header and new bottom menu with options for home, trending videos, all videos and user profiles.
The unofficial Google Operating System blog reported over the weekend that YouTube is testing a new HTML5 desktop video player for Mac and PC with a transparent control bar that automatically hides until you hover over it. It would seem logical that an updated version of YouTube for iOS and Android may also be in development at Google, although an exact timeframe for a release date remains unknown.
Huawei Watch may get mid-year launch in UK
One of the more impressive wearable devices that was announced at MWC 2015 was the Huawei Watch, the company’s entry into the smartwatch market. The specs were impressive, especially the 400 x 400 resolution screen. However, Huawei did not have estimated pricing or availability ready other than to reveal they were planning to release the Watch in 20 markets around the globe. The Huawei UK Twitter account revealed today that the device is expected “around the middle of this year.”
“Middle of this year” is a vague term that could easily extend into fall before the device is ready for consumers. The Huawei UK account followed up the tweet by noting that no official “confirmed” release date has been set for the UK market. Unsurprisingly, they did not mention anything about other markets.
Anyone out there waiting for this device?
Hi @flibbert1gibbet we will be releasing the watch around the middle of this year. Stay tuned to us for more details!
— Huawei UK (@HuaweiUK) April 13, 2015
source: @HuaweiUK
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HP’s Omen Pro is a slim laptop meant for serious work
Tempted by HP’s svelte Omen gaming laptop, but need even more horsepower? Say hello to the Omen Pro. It shares the same aluminum 0.78-inch, 4.68 pound frame as its gaming sibling, but it packs in faster Core i7 processors and an NVIDIA Quadro K1100M graphics card. It also shares the original Omen’s a unibody aluminum case and 15.6-inch 1080p touchscreen, and it sits right alongside HP’s ZBook workstations, except it balances style alongside hardware prowess. The Omen Pro is available today, but at $2,199 it’s clearly targeted at the graphics hungry professionals actually making games, and not just people looking for their latest Far Cry fix.
When it comes the storage, you’ve got a choice between HP’s 256GB or 512GB Z Turbo PCI-E solid state drives. Its RAM capacity tops out at 16GB, so if you need even more memory you’d have to forgo style for one of HP’s ZBooks. And of course, the Omen Pro runs Windows 7 professional — because anyone buying a machine like this wouldn’t stand for Windows 8 anyway.
How to filter and disable notifications for iMessages from unknown senders
If you frequently receive iMessages from people not stored in your address book, you can quickly filter them out.
A lot of us depend on iMessage to communicate with friends, family, clients, and colleagues. That means not every message we receive is attached to someone in our contacts. If you keep finding yourself buried in tons of iMessage threads, some less important than others, here’s how to filter out messages from those you don’t have saved.
Keep in mind that filtering unknown senders also disables notifications for those senders. If you depend on messages from clients, you may want to consider whether or not you want this option enabled. For example, if you frequently receive important messages from unknown numbers, this may not be the best option for you.
However, if you prefer not receiving notifications for anyone not in your contacts, continue on.
How to filter out iMessages from unknown contacts
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad running iOS 8.3 or higher.
- Tap on Messages.
- Turn On the option for Filter Unknown Senders.
- In the Messages app you’ll now see a tab at the top to view unknown senders.
AIVAnet 