At yesterday's opening of the 2007 NAB Show convention, Apple's vice president of applications product marketing Robert Schoeben gave a speech and- as expected, released new products for the Mac.
Both of the products are in the Final Cut Studio family.
Final Cut Studio 2 is a complete update of the application that integrated Final Cut Pro; Soundtrack Pro; DVD Studio Pro; Compressor; and Motion into one package. This second generation version contains a new program called Color, which will be used for color gradation and correction.
Final Cut Server is targeted for news organization and media- video and film- production facilities. It will work with all of the FCS products- Final Cut Pro 6; Motion 3; Soundtrack Pro 2; Compressor 3; DVD Studio Pro 4; and Color- and will update revisions for live news broadcasts and other post production needs.
Final Cut Studio 2 will retail at the current price of $1299, and will be on shelves next month. Final Cut Server will be out this summer.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
CNN.com
ESPN: The Worldwide Leader In Sports Widget
Monday, April 16, 2007
Saturday, April 14, 2007
What Will Apple Release This Time?- Chapter Three
Sunday is the start of the 2007 National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.
And no doubt, it will be an exciting time.
So the question is: what will Apple release this time?
Well, I know what they won't- and I have a bone to pick with them about, so let's get the damn thing done and over with, 'kay?
Leopard. It was supposed to be released in late June, along with iPhone. iPhone is on schedule to be in Cingular customers' hands by then. But as for Leopard, apparently, Apple has pulled a Microsoft and pushed the release date for Leopard back to October- although the beta for Leopard will be released to developers at the World Wide developers Conference in June. Apple wants to make sure that Leopard is good and ready before it reaches the public- in other words, it doesn't want to have the same troubles that Windows Vista is having now with compatibility issues.
But, come on, Apple. The suspense is killing us Mac-heads here.
Now that I'm done bitching, there is speculation that Apple will release a new version of Final Cut Studio- due, in part, to the anticipation of competition in the form of Adobe's Production Studio for Mac (which is part of the Creative Suite family) that will be released in June or July.
I'll be back here in a few days to talk about the releases- if any- from Apple.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
And no doubt, it will be an exciting time.
So the question is: what will Apple release this time?
Well, I know what they won't- and I have a bone to pick with them about, so let's get the damn thing done and over with, 'kay?
Leopard. It was supposed to be released in late June, along with iPhone. iPhone is on schedule to be in Cingular customers' hands by then. But as for Leopard, apparently, Apple has pulled a Microsoft and pushed the release date for Leopard back to October- although the beta for Leopard will be released to developers at the World Wide developers Conference in June. Apple wants to make sure that Leopard is good and ready before it reaches the public- in other words, it doesn't want to have the same troubles that Windows Vista is having now with compatibility issues.
But, come on, Apple. The suspense is killing us Mac-heads here.
Now that I'm done bitching, there is speculation that Apple will release a new version of Final Cut Studio- due, in part, to the anticipation of competition in the form of Adobe's Production Studio for Mac (which is part of the Creative Suite family) that will be released in June or July.
I'll be back here in a few days to talk about the releases- if any- from Apple.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
In A Perfect World, Race Would Just Be Another Word For 'Competition'
As we all know by now, Don Imus has been fired from CBS Radio. The Don Imus debacle has set off something that, I personally as a black male, am getting increasingly tired of. The discussion of race. Now, let me tell you my view on this. I don't care what color you are, what your race is, and what your sexual orientation is. As long as you contribute to the world at large, and help make it a better place, race, skin color and sexual orientation shouldn't even come into the equation.
But apparently, for a good number of people, it does. And here, in the greatest country in the world, it's obvious that we can't even get along with each other- no matter if it's an ax to grind for people of different races, or even the same race.
Now, I'm going to show you a few clips- thanks to the folks who placed them on YouTube (as always, I'll give credit where credit's due). First off, the offending words of Don Imus.
lestarr21/YouTube/MSNBC
Like I said on Tuesday night, I personally didn't find the comment racist, just idiotic. But his comment has, no doubt, touched off a firestorm that no one seems to want put out.
deiphilus/YouTube/MSNBC
This is clip one of the Rutgers Womens' Basketball team, you've just watched. Obviously, none of them look anything like 'nappy-headed hos'. They're girl scouts, valedictorians; and above 3.0 GPAs. Obviously, they're smart, and very intelligent.
Clip 2...
deiphilus/YouTube/MSNBC
Let's look at responses- from those who want the I-Man's head burned on the stake, and for those who defend him, saying that he just made a mistake. Although I've already made my verdict, I'll remain impartial and neutral here, in this forum. And I'll take a page from the Fox News Channel, and remain 'fair and balanced', letting you decide for yourselves. I'll put a few comments in when appropriate.
First, I'll go on the 'I-Man Defenders' side, having heard already from someone on the 'Burn Imus' side.
apalmg/YouTube
The young man here is right. The African-American community has as much responsibility for this as does Imus. Now, I don't necessarily believe completely that many black folks who buy rap or hip-hop music are tainted by rappers who use incinderary words such as nigga, and ho, and bitch, but I do agree that those (blacks) who do allow themselves to be tainted are, in a sense, bringing down the black community (but here again, I must interject that if we allow them to...). The rap and hip-hop community needs to take a good look at itself, and ask itself, is this the image we want to show the world? The shootings, the spanking and shaking of womens' backsides (though I personally find nothing wrong with that. Some women are actually turned on by that, but that's a different animal for a different day...).
We as African-Americans can do a lot better otherwise.
Now back to the Pro-Imus side. Here we hear from our favorite conservative fashionista, the always gorgeous Ann Hart Coulter:
newshoundblog/YouTube
I have to agree with Ann here- to a point. Imus should apologize to the team, and I already said that I didn't think Imus intended the comments to be racial in nature.
Next week, he will talk to the team.
Back to the anti-Imus crowd, we'll hear from Minister Paul Scott from TRUTH:
minps/YouTube
The firestorm continues. Let's hear from the pro-Imus crowd.
patriotaction/YouTube
Yes, Don Imus is a shock jock, but that still doesn't excuse his actions.
One more from the anti-Imus crowd:
whatupLauren/YouTube
So we've heard from all sides here.
Now, here's my take on the situation. What Don Imus did was reckless, irresponsible, and caused a lot of unintended consequences. While I do not think that his 'nappy-headed hos' comment was intended to be racially insensitive, his remarks set off a continuing pattern of the incinderary racial politics. I do not think that Imus needs to be fired because of perceived racial remarks. I believe that he must be fired for stepping beyond the line of responsible behavior. He had degraded and humiliated the Rutgers womens basketball team in such a manner that may have cause irreversible damage to their psyches. Sure, I'm no psychiatrist- and I do not pretend to be one. But when I heard and watched those young ladies speak, my heart sank they said that Imus' comments had ruined a great moment- they had come off a tough loss to Tennessee, in which they fought very hard on the basketball court at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Those ladies deserve our sympathy, our love, and our support. Don Imus, believe it or not, also deserves our love, and support as he, too, is struggling over this. But it does not change the fact that he has crossed the line from plain comedy to a minefield in which he may never recover from this time.
As for my beloved African-American community, I too must hold you to the fire. The use of the word nigger- in any form- needs to stop. The images of women's backsides being slapped and shaking in music videos...that's debatable, but personally, I find nothing wrong with seeing such images. What I'm sayingm, however, is to the hip-hop and rap communities, you have a responsibility to conduct yourselves in such exemplary demeanor, as a new generation of young- predominantly black- youth look up to you. Being arrested on gun, drug, or even sexual assault charges is not the way to show the kids how successful you are. If anything, it would be better for the black youth to look up to such figures as Time Warner's Richard Parsons, who is the CEO; and Earl Graves, Sr, of
Black Enterprise magazine. James DePriest, who for 25 years, conducted the Oregon Symphony as its' musical director (he is now the Symphony's lauraete music director; and principal conductor of the Tokyo Symphony, among other accomplishments). If you want to go one better, Barack Obama, who may be our next President of the United States. You are our future. Do not under any circumstances let it die out.
In closing, I challenge every one of us to one, take a breather; and two, if you like, have a dialogue and begin the healing.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
But apparently, for a good number of people, it does. And here, in the greatest country in the world, it's obvious that we can't even get along with each other- no matter if it's an ax to grind for people of different races, or even the same race.
Now, I'm going to show you a few clips- thanks to the folks who placed them on YouTube (as always, I'll give credit where credit's due). First off, the offending words of Don Imus.
lestarr21/YouTube/MSNBC
Like I said on Tuesday night, I personally didn't find the comment racist, just idiotic. But his comment has, no doubt, touched off a firestorm that no one seems to want put out.
deiphilus/YouTube/MSNBC
This is clip one of the Rutgers Womens' Basketball team, you've just watched. Obviously, none of them look anything like 'nappy-headed hos'. They're girl scouts, valedictorians; and above 3.0 GPAs. Obviously, they're smart, and very intelligent.
Clip 2...
deiphilus/YouTube/MSNBC
Let's look at responses- from those who want the I-Man's head burned on the stake, and for those who defend him, saying that he just made a mistake. Although I've already made my verdict, I'll remain impartial and neutral here, in this forum. And I'll take a page from the Fox News Channel, and remain 'fair and balanced', letting you decide for yourselves. I'll put a few comments in when appropriate.
First, I'll go on the 'I-Man Defenders' side, having heard already from someone on the 'Burn Imus' side.
apalmg/YouTube
The young man here is right. The African-American community has as much responsibility for this as does Imus. Now, I don't necessarily believe completely that many black folks who buy rap or hip-hop music are tainted by rappers who use incinderary words such as nigga, and ho, and bitch, but I do agree that those (blacks) who do allow themselves to be tainted are, in a sense, bringing down the black community (but here again, I must interject that if we allow them to...). The rap and hip-hop community needs to take a good look at itself, and ask itself, is this the image we want to show the world? The shootings, the spanking and shaking of womens' backsides (though I personally find nothing wrong with that. Some women are actually turned on by that, but that's a different animal for a different day...).
We as African-Americans can do a lot better otherwise.
Now back to the Pro-Imus side. Here we hear from our favorite conservative fashionista, the always gorgeous Ann Hart Coulter:
newshoundblog/YouTube
I have to agree with Ann here- to a point. Imus should apologize to the team, and I already said that I didn't think Imus intended the comments to be racial in nature.
Next week, he will talk to the team.
Back to the anti-Imus crowd, we'll hear from Minister Paul Scott from TRUTH:
minps/YouTube
The firestorm continues. Let's hear from the pro-Imus crowd.
patriotaction/YouTube
Yes, Don Imus is a shock jock, but that still doesn't excuse his actions.
One more from the anti-Imus crowd:
whatupLauren/YouTube
So we've heard from all sides here.
Now, here's my take on the situation. What Don Imus did was reckless, irresponsible, and caused a lot of unintended consequences. While I do not think that his 'nappy-headed hos' comment was intended to be racially insensitive, his remarks set off a continuing pattern of the incinderary racial politics. I do not think that Imus needs to be fired because of perceived racial remarks. I believe that he must be fired for stepping beyond the line of responsible behavior. He had degraded and humiliated the Rutgers womens basketball team in such a manner that may have cause irreversible damage to their psyches. Sure, I'm no psychiatrist- and I do not pretend to be one. But when I heard and watched those young ladies speak, my heart sank they said that Imus' comments had ruined a great moment- they had come off a tough loss to Tennessee, in which they fought very hard on the basketball court at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Those ladies deserve our sympathy, our love, and our support. Don Imus, believe it or not, also deserves our love, and support as he, too, is struggling over this. But it does not change the fact that he has crossed the line from plain comedy to a minefield in which he may never recover from this time.
As for my beloved African-American community, I too must hold you to the fire. The use of the word nigger- in any form- needs to stop. The images of women's backsides being slapped and shaking in music videos...that's debatable, but personally, I find nothing wrong with seeing such images. What I'm sayingm, however, is to the hip-hop and rap communities, you have a responsibility to conduct yourselves in such exemplary demeanor, as a new generation of young- predominantly black- youth look up to you. Being arrested on gun, drug, or even sexual assault charges is not the way to show the kids how successful you are. If anything, it would be better for the black youth to look up to such figures as Time Warner's Richard Parsons, who is the CEO; and Earl Graves, Sr, of
Black Enterprise magazine. James DePriest, who for 25 years, conducted the Oregon Symphony as its' musical director (he is now the Symphony's lauraete music director; and principal conductor of the Tokyo Symphony, among other accomplishments). If you want to go one better, Barack Obama, who may be our next President of the United States. You are our future. Do not under any circumstances let it die out.
In closing, I challenge every one of us to one, take a breather; and two, if you like, have a dialogue and begin the healing.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
The House of Cash Burns Down
The home where the late Johnny Cash, and his wife, the late June Carter Cash created music- and one son- was destroyed by fire today.
The lakeside home in Hendersonville, outside of Nashville, had entertained US presidents, fellow musicians from many genres, and even ordinary folk.
Firefighters say that the home, purchased by Bee Gee Barry Gibb last year, was likely destroyed by a wood treatment chemical that ignited and caused the flame to rapidly engulf the house.
I have the link from WSMV Nashville. Just click on the title.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
The lakeside home in Hendersonville, outside of Nashville, had entertained US presidents, fellow musicians from many genres, and even ordinary folk.
Firefighters say that the home, purchased by Bee Gee Barry Gibb last year, was likely destroyed by a wood treatment chemical that ignited and caused the flame to rapidly engulf the house.
I have the link from WSMV Nashville. Just click on the title.
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
A Gay Classic Turns 25
SuperPat1972/YouTube
If it weren't for a friend doing comparisons of Martha Wash's size, I wouldn't have taken a look at this video.
As I watched it, it dawned on me that this song, It's Raining Men, by The Weather Girls, may have hit a milestone. So, thanks to the jolly good folks at Google, I had to find out when this song came out.
All you gorgeous hunks out there who love your men, and all you women who love your men (no matter the sexual orientation), start dancing!
It's Raining Men is 25!
When this song came out in 1982, it was written by Paul Jabara and Paul Shaffer- yes, that Paul Shaffer! It was offered to Donna Summer; Teena Marie (Lovergirl); Diana Ross (what? Boss Ross turned it down?!!); even Cher before the duo The Weather Girls- Martha Wash and the late Izora Armstead- accepted it and made it their own (Diana turned it down...why? And Cher? What was she thinking when she said no?...sheesh!). It had hit number 34 on the US Billboard R&B charts, 46 in the Top 100; and number 1 in the Hot Dance Club Play charts. It was #2 in Britain.
The song has since been remade by RuPaul- you knew this would happen sooner or later! (he and Wash dueted on the 1997 version); the Spice Girl's Geri Halliwell in 2001, and last year by a group called Young Divas.
But as for the song and its' connection to the gay community, almost every gay man on the planet immediately took to the song, which explains why it's a gay anthem 25 years after its' release. It's campy...the video's a bit humorous, and it's fun to watch.
Of course, it's the theme song to a cute little skit on Fox's
In Living Color. Can anyone guess what that is?
jennifer990/YouTube/Fox
Copyright 2007, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.
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