HD For Indies

Thoughts on Flash: "Apple has adopted HTML5, CSS and JavaScript – all open standards. Apple’s mobile devices all ship with high performance, low power implementations of these open standards. HTML5, the new web standard that has been adopted by Apple, Google and many others, lets web developers create advanced graphics, typography, animations and transitions without relying on third party browser plug-ins (like Flash)."

(my bolding)

The catch is, it allows web DEVELOPERS, that happen to know how to program in HTML5, CSS, and Javascript, to DEVELOP "advanced graphics, typography, animations and transitions."

The problem is the toolset out there, or rather, the complete, utter, and profound lack of tools for DESIGNERS to create "advanced graphics, typography, animations and transitions."

Flash rocks/rocked not because of what it can do, but WHO can do it.

Back in the early days of interactive media (mid-90s), I worked with and eventually for a company called frogdesign (which did the original industrial design for Macs, BTW). At one point, in order to create interactive media (at the time on CDs), there was a designer who comped stuff out in Photoshop, me as production artist to actually animate and do all the shiny/spinny stuff, and then a third guy was a Macromedia/Macromind Director programmer. It took all three of us to make cool stuff. Director was hard - frogdesign actually went to the trouble of hiring a badass guy (Knut Graff*) from GERMANY - including all the difficulties of getting him a green card. Took a looooong time and I'm sure wasn't cheap. But he was THE MAN on getting interactive content all programmed up and working.

Flash forward (pun intended) a few years, and the designer could do all the shiny stuff himself for web based interactive content. Sure, database integration and that kind of stuff still took Knut's chops, but the animations, transitions, typography etc was EASY TO DO. Easy enough that someone trained as a web/interactive designer was routinely expected to know how to do this stuff too.

Flash to today - if HTML5 is our future, OK. If Apple doesn't want Flash on their hardware because it doesn't run well and/or Apple doesn't want a third party dev tool that is slow to adopt Apple specific features, we can argue about the wisdom of that decision (or not), but in the end it is Apple's decision to make.

BUT...Yo Steve! Don't go trying to blow unicorn glitter up our South Port that HTML5 is as easy as Flash - where the hell is our deep, rich, widely deployed, decade-plus-in-development graphical interactive & integrated design environment/application/suite?

It is akin to the days before Illustrator and Pagemaker, telling us "No big deal, just hand code it in PostScript."

It is vector art before Illustrator, it is desktop publishing before Pagemaker, it is web dev before Dreamweaver (think the hand coded BBEdit days).

Now, if Apple were to "magically" have an interactive design solution for HTML5/CSS/Javascript at WWDC announced, then I'd really have a sour look on my face.


(* Hey Knut, do you still wear orange socks and leather sandals to work? I kinda hope so. Love ya, man!)

CHART OF THE DAY: In Case You Had Any Doubts About Where Apple's Revenue Comes From

Note where Final Cut falls in the pantheon.

Note Apple's complete and utter lack of presence at NAB, even when they released new laptops during the show.

We Are Not A Priority.

Pay $100, Jump From the Top of Vegas' Stratosphere - Stratosphere - Gizmodo

Wish I'd known while in Vegas.

Hitachi Working On Glasses-Less 3D LCD - Hitachi 3d lcd - Gizmodo: "We've always said glasses would prove the barrier for most people considering buying a 3DTV, but it's not yet known whether the parallax barrier technology can actually compete with what we've seen from Panasonic, who's the only manufacturer with a 3D plasma out."

Solar Path Recorded By Pinhole Camera Over Six Months - Mr mallon solar path - Gizmodo: "Between the months of June and December last year, 'Mr. Mallon' was filming the sun's activities on a single film cell, which lay forgotten in his back garden. This is the beautiful result."

Phantom Flex Camcorder Shoots 1080p Video at 2,800fps - Phantom flex - Gizmodo: "This particular one has a 4K 2,560 X 1,600 CMOS sensor with 12bit color depth. As mentioned before, when shooting 1080p it films in 2,800fps, but you can get 1,560 when pushing the resolution even further."

Mitch from Abel posted about this last week, been meaning to check it out further. Of course will be checking it out at NAB.

MacBook Pro 15-inch Core i7 Benchmarked: It's So Fast - Macbook pro core i7 benchmark - Gizmodo

Canon 5D Mark II used to shoot entire House season finale, director says it's 'the future' -- Engadget

I call bullshit.

The rolling shutter, the sampling fuckups, etc - this is bogus, and the director doesn't know what he's talking about.

Now, will smaller cameras be the future, ones that can shoot stills and video? Quite possibly. But for high end narrative network broadcast television, I promise you - next season's pilots will not be shot entirely on a 5D Mk II.

PROMISE.

Sony produces 7.4-inch OLED display for professionals, prices it accordingly -- Engadget: "We're still waiting for the OLED revolution to make our monster LCD HDTVs obsolete, but until it finally gets here we're left covering niche devices like this, the 7.4-inch PVM-740 professional monitor from Sony. It has a 960 x 540 resolution, can be connected directly to camera systems, is rack-mountable, and is said to 'deliver superb high contrast, high color images, even in ambient light.' That we'll believe when we see it, but given the $3,850 MSRP"

Adam covered this, right?

Engadget: "In the Tech Specs section that went up with this morning's MacBook Pro refresh, there's a fourth video output listed: 'HDMI output using Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter (optional).'"

Probably $29, probably May.

Apple - MacBook Pro - Meet the new MacBook Pro family.

Core i5&i7 processors (higher clock speeds, Turbo Boost, Hyperthreading), faster GPUs, longer battery life, aluminum unibody, etc.

2.4-2.66 GHz i5 on all, with optional i7 on 15&17" models.

13": $1199 2.4GHz i5, 4GB/250GB, $1499 2.66 i5/4GB/320GB
15":$1799 2.4GHz i5/4GB/320GB, $1999 2.53GHz i5, 4/500GB, $2199 i7 2.66, 4/500/512MB VRAM (all others listed before are 256)
17" $2299 2.54GHz i5, 4/500/512MB, step up to i7 is BTO for $200 more

BTO options include up to 8GB RAM, 128/256/512GB SSD (for $200/650/1300 more), and that's about it for hardware options.

REDCINE-X V2 - REDUSER.net

Buncha stills and relevant comments from the Red team throughout. Support for the (I think) Euphonix control surface, modularity for plugins (using what - OpenFX?), saved looks, stillstore, and a ton of the things they talked about for Red One that never quite got here....till now.

Download link goes live wednesday.

-mike

Calibrated Software: "Calibrated{Q} Import components are cross-platform QuickTime components for NATIVE Importing and Playback of select MXF or MP4 Files in QuickTime Player and CatDV on Windows & OSX, and in Final Cut Studio 2 & 3 Applications and other QuickTime enabled applications on OSX."

Star Wars: Uncut

A zillion DIFFERENT sweded shots cut together to remake a scene from the original Star Wars.

TRY AND TELL ME you didn't smile just thinking of this.

-mike

Epic Reservation: "Stage 2 EPIC-X package will be $28,000 less $8,500 for keeping your RED ONE. So, a net price of $19,500.
Stage 2 EPIC-X package will include: an EPIC-X S35 MYSTERIUM-X brain with a PL mount, a 5' touchscreen LCD, a REDMOTE, a SIDE CF MODULE, a MODULE ADAPTOR, a BASE I/O MODULE, a PRO BATTERY MODULE, two REDVOLT batteries, and a travel charger.
The standard M-X sensor upgrade cost for a RED ONE is $5750. If you take delivery of your EPIC-X package and have (or have had) an M-X sensor put into the corresponding RED ONE, the net cost of the M-X upgrade will be $4500. A credit of $1250 will be applied when your EPIC-X package ships or when your upgraded RED ONE ships, whichever comes later.
Your decision to take part in the Stage 2 EPIC-X program must be made by May 1, 2010. The fully-refundable deposit on a Stage 2 EPIC-X package is $5,000 and you will have until June 1, 2010 to complete payment of the deposit.
Each RED EPIC-X Stage 2 package will ship in order of its corresponding RED ONE delivery date."

I'm going Stage 2 - meaning I'll keep my Red One body (upgraded to MX as soon as I can) and also get the Epic as well. Further cleverness not revealed....bwahahahahaaaaaaaa.......

The World Would Be Better If Everyone Watched This Video - Pale blue dot - Gizmodo

Carl Sagan's pale blue dot.

Made Of Awesome.

Avid | Media Composer Software 5: "Directly access and edit RED files through AMA, without transcoding (images are scaled to HD frame size)
Work natively with QuickTime video formats, including Apple ProRes and H.264
Edit video and audio by dragging and dropping elements in the timeline
Keep high-end finishing projects in-house and gain great color precision with HD-RGB support (including dual-link I/O support with Nitris DX systems)
Monitor video externally with support for the Matrox MXO2 Mini
Mix and match frame sizes and aspect ratios — in addition to formats, frame rates, and resolutions — in the same timeline
Take a break during long renders and have your system email you when the job’s done
Import AVCHD files directly from cameras and other devices
Capture to and edit XDCAM HD and DVC PRO HD formats from baseband without additional hardware
Access low-res XDCAM proxies for offline work, with full-quality audio
Import text-based ancillary data and embed it in the video signal with the new “Data Track” and SMPTE 436M support using Nitris DX- and Mojo DX-based systems
View stereo audio tracks as single channels in the timeline for easier handling
Create high-quality sounds and mixes with support for RTAS audio processing plug-ins
Natively access and edit 4:2:2 MPEG-2 media from the new Canon cameras using AMA

Directly access and edit RED files through AMA, without transcoding (images are scaled to HD frame size)
Work natively with QuickTime video formats, including Apple ProRes and H.264
Edit video and audio by dragging and dropping elements in the timeline
Keep high-end finishing projects in-house and gain great color precision with HD-RGB support (including dual-link I/O support with Nitris DX systems)
Monitor video externally with support for the Matrox MXO2 Mini
Mix and match frame sizes and aspect ratios — in addition to formats, frame rates, and resolutions — in the same timeline
Take a break during long renders and have your system email you when the job’s done
Import AVCHD files directly from cameras and other devices
Capture to and edit XDCAM HD and DVC PRO HD formats from baseband without additional hardware
Access low-res XDCAM proxies for offline work, with full-quality audio
Import text-based ancillary data and embed it in the video signal with the new “Data Track” and SMPTE 436M support using Nitris DX- and Mojo DX-based systems
View stereo audio tracks as single channels in the timeline for easier handling
Create high-quality sounds and mixes with support for RTAS audio processing plug-ins
Natively access and edit 4:2:2 MPEG-2 media from the new Canon cameras using AMA
Work Directly with RED Using the Newly Improved AMA
With Media Composer 5, AMA (Avid Media Access) has been completely reengineered, so you can work natively with more file-based media formats now and in the future. With the new and improved AMA, you can speed up RED workflows by directly accessing RED files (.R3D) in Media Composer without having to prepare them through MetaFuze (all footage is scaled to HD frame size). Plus, you have access to its full metadata and color management data too.

Edit QuickTime Formats Natively
Get native access to all popular QuickTime formats, with full access to clip metadata. Thanks to AMA, you can natively access and edit any movie that can be played in Apple’s QuickTime Player (including Apple ProRes and .mov files captured by Canon 5D and 7D cameras) right in Media Composer — no transcoding, rewrapping, or logging and transferring required.

Drag and Drop Video and Audio to Edit
Get comfortable — with Media Composer 5, you can truly edit the way you like. In addition to the standard way of editing, you can also now directly manipulate elements in the timeline to edit video and audio. Drag and drop clips anywhere you want on the timeline to rearrange sequences. And grab a clip’s in or out point and drag to trim a scene, dialog, or music.

Get Full-Quality HD-RGB Processing
Keep those finishing jobs in house, and deliver the highest quality color and effects work, with support for full-quality 4:4:4 HD-RGB color space processing in Media Composer. With the higher resolution detail, you can perform color correction, keying, and effects work with greater precision and ease. And if you have a Nitris DX-based system, you can digitize, process, monitor, and output (output in Symphony systems only) projects in HD-RGB, using the two HD SDI connections to handle the high-bandwidth resolutions.

Monitor Video Externally through Matrox MXO2 Mini
If you don’t have a Nitris DX- or Mojo DX-based system, Media Composer 5 opens the door to third-party workflows, enabling you to monitor video externally using the Matrox MXO2 Mini interface, which is available for Mac and Windows systems. When paired with Media Composer software, MXO2 Mini becomes a dedicated, high-quality monitor-only solution for file-based or workgroup production, so you can view your video work in real time without any major expense.
"

Yeah! Nice.

Whither art thou, Apple? Feels like all your efforts are going into iPad - wherefore art thou, FCP updates, new towers and laptops? 12 core Mac Pro? Hello? Hello? Tomorrow maybe? No press conference yesterday=sadness.

Released - RedUser iPhone app - REDUSER.net: "Released - RedUser iPhone app
No more Mobile Safari; absolutely free: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/code-...366359884?mt=8"

Now if they only had a "find relevant posts" option....

EPIC Dynamic Range... - REDUSER.net: "EPIC Dynamic Range...
Today... we tested EPIC dynamic range with the following test systems:

1. DSC DX1-102db v1 OSG chart

2. Stouffer chart

3. Arri DRTC

All tests show 13.5 stops or greater.

For those that missed my post on another thread... EPIC has a REDCODE mathematically lossless compression option (2.5:1) that records to onboard SSD module (not to CF).

Lots of good news going into NAB.

Jim"

Graeme added:

It's not just the overall DR though, it's the character of the noisefloor, the DR, and low noise throughout the range that makes M-X better.

Graeme

A few new things... - REDUSER.net: "A few new things...
Came out of the oven functional today.. can you spot them?"
(Jarred Land)
see link for pics
1.) 64GB CF cards
2.) record button on CF reader
3.) side grip with record and LCD

RED STATION - REDUSER.net: "The RED STATION modular reader system will begin shipping April 14th.

The RED MAG 2.5', RED CF, and BASE STATION are priced at $250 per module and $250 per Base.

Each Module can be used independently or linked together as a system, using E-SATA, FIREWIRE 800/400 or USB2.0."

(Jarred Land posted)

pics on the link

EPIC is alive... - REDUSER.net: "EPIC is alive and shooting incredible images... actually, the best we have ever seen.

Jim"

pictures on the first page and scattered throughout the many, many pages of this thread. Other good tidbits to know: Epic brain weighs 5 pounds, boot time is 12 seconds currently (probably will trim a bit before release - time not weight).

-mike

EPIC Schedule Update... - REDUSER.net: "We expect the Tattoo EPICs to be out in May.

Given our commitment to debug and enable most features before shipping production models, we expect a 2-3 month shakedown of Tattoo which puts Stage 2 delivery somewhere in the neighborhood of July-August. A lot depends on what happens throughout the Tattoo period."

Based on prior estimates vs actual shipping, I'd say odds are improving on whether I can get mine (upgrading from Red #417) in calendar 2010. Hope so, though.

Proxy Module... - REDUSER.net: "Proxy Module...
RED is increasing the workflow flexibility on Epic and Scarlet with Proxy Modules… the first of which is an H.264 Module.

This module encodes a 1080P stream (high quality scale from full frame) and records to Compact Flash in a rear module. The module also offers secure password protected streaming over dedicated WiFi and ethernet to iPhones, iPads, laptops as well as broadcast to the internet.

This will be beneficial for on set viewing, instant dailies, offline editing, easy file transfer to remote locations, dailies review and collaboration services with such companies as Pix, or live broadcasting for realtime media distribution.

The modules will also support full metadata and XML for editorial.

Availability will be September 2010 and the price will be $2500.

Jim"

mike comment - in light of Alexa's native onboard ProRes recording, this bodes well for the possibility of future ProRes or DNxHD modules....

RED FOCUS - REDUSER.net: "Self-Powered illuminated PL Mount Diascope for setting PL Backfocus/ Flange distance on the RED ONE / EPIC / SCARLET cameras.

$1900 Alone, $1500 for new/existing owners of the RED PRO PRIME set."

EPIC News... - REDUSER.net: "5K 2.37:1 is now 120 fps.

Jim
____"

EPIC Reservations Begin... - REDUSER.net: "We are now taking orders for Stage 2 of the EPIC program.

http://epic.red.com

Jim"

Avid native R3D support... - REDUSER.net: "Great news from Avid.

Now you can directly access and edit RED files through AMA, without transcoding (images are scaled to HD frame size). Work directly with RED using the newly improved AMA. With Media Composer 5, AMA (Avid Media Access) has been completely reengineered, so you can work natively with more file-based media formats now and in the future. With the new and improved AMA, you can speed up RED workflows by directly accessing RED files (.R3D) in Media Composer without having to prepare them through MetaFuze (all footage is scaled to HD frame size). Plus, you have access to its full metadata and color management data too."

Panasonic Takes Micro Four Thirds Design To AG-AF100 Pro Camcorder - panasonic AG-AF100 - Gizmodo

Say Tweet Again Twitter T-Shirt - Headline Shirts - Funny t-shirts, graphic tees, and political tshirts

Amen.

Bad 3D Will Be the Death of 3D - 3D - Gizmodo: "if we as an industry choose this 2D to 3D post-production conversion, it's the end. As quickly as it got here, that's how fast it will go away."

-Jeff Katzenberg (the guy begging to get more 3D screens in)

Quantum Dots Could Make Dark, Grainy Cellphone Party Pics Obsolete - Camera phones - Gizmodo: "Placing the quantum dots on top of the electronics means more pixels can be crammed into a given area and less incoming light is lost. Moreover, photodetectors based on quantum dots produce less noisy images, so the picture is sharper even if the number of pixels is not increased."

MacBook Pro updates almost upon us? Screenshot of new model numbers offers hope -- Engadget: "Now, as for a specific launch date, the best we have so far is that April 13th rumor, but with a tips box buzzing with rumors, we're starting almost feel confident in seeing a new MacBook Pro this century."

YouTube - The next 4K digital mag for A�ton Penelope described by JP Beauviala ! [with english subs]

How the AJA Ki Pro Took Repossessed Tapeless | Studio Daily KiPro in action. I really like this gadget in theory - I haven't used one myself yet.

-mike

In-Three on the Workflow Behind 3D Conversions | Studio Daily I'd posted a link to a Gizmodo article that mentioned the most basic way to do it - roto out layers - but Studio Daily article here hopefully goes further into detail (and yeah I haven't read it yet)

-mike

DI in a Day? Proceed With Caution | Studio Daily Oh, GAWD. Now every producer will think DI should only take a day...

TP2_English post conform-y thing...I think

creativeLIVE - A Live Worldwide Creative Classroom

EETimes.com - Quantum film threatens to replace CMOS image chips

YouTube - Arri ALEXA camera - thefilmbook

Out Of The Dark Ages�|�HD User Magazine

Arri Alexa CU on Location Shoot in L.A. on Vimeo

DLP Cinema Enhanced 4K

Christie Introduces New 4K DLP Cinema� Product Line for 2010

Kommer Kleijn: "ArriVision 3D 35 mm film shooting"

Technicolor sets first film-3D deployment

Light Field Photography with a Hand-Held Plenoptic Camera

Deep. Ha.

The 10 Most Expensive iPhone Apps

The Most Expensive iPhone Apps (worth paying for)�|�Edible Apple

IOD calc for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad on the iTunes App Store

InterOcular Distance calculator

YouTube - PIXELS

ProLost - ProLost Blog - iPad for Filmmaking, Day Six�Report