On Tuesday, Apple released Final Cut Pro X, a significant update and complete reworking of its professional video editing software. The application, available exclusively in the Mac App Store, is priced at $299.99 and combines a total UI overhaul with an amazing assortment of time saving new features.

A landmark release in the pro video community, Final Cut Pro X marks the software’s first full 64-bit version–enabling it to take full advantage of the graphics and processing power of modern high end Macs. Speaking on the scope of the software’s release, Phil Schiller offered the following:

bq. “Final Cut Pro X is the biggest advance in Pro video editing since the original Final Cut Pro; we have shown it to many of the world’s best Pro editors, and their jaws have dropped.”

Among the more revolutionary changes in FCPX is the Magnetic Timeline. In a shift away from restrictive traditional timeline-based editing systems, the new Magnetic Timeline enables users to fluidly assemble clips to avoid gaps and keep audio and video tracks in sync. Existing clips automatically move out of the way as new ones are dropped in, and users can group a selection of clips or tracks to re-arrange with ease.

Working in conjunction with the new Magnetic Timeline, Clip Connections and Compound Clips ditch cluttered and unlinked media making it easier to re-organize your project without accidentally leaving important elements behind. Compound Clips visually merge complex multi-layered elements in the timeline to a compact block–making them easy to duplicate or apply to other shots. Compound Clips are easy to expand at anytime should they need to be reworked or individual elements added or removed.

The Inline Precision Editor and Auditions round out the new features making Final Cut Pro X’s timeline the most innovative and usable yet. With the Precision Editor, users can make fine edits to clips in the timeline and skim through entire clips for easy adjustments. The Audition feature allows users to experiment with different versions of clips while automatically keeping the rest of the timeline in sync.

Supplementing the groundbreaking timeline advancements, Final Cut Pro X includes several powerful new media organization tools. Content Auto-Analysis analyzes footage in the background and automatically groups it based on people, type of shot and level of stabilization. Users can take advantage of Range-Based Keywords to fine tune searches by tagging clips with keywords. The aforementioned two features work in unison to deliver quick and accurate search results.

Similar to the ‘Smart’ playlists and albums found in other Apple apps, FCPX introduces Smart Collections–an easy way to organize clips without moving or copying files. Although Content Auto-Analysis predetermines several Smart Collections based on previously mentioned auto-detect categories, users can fine tune their own as well.

Clearly inspired by Apple’s entry level apps–and more recently Aperture 3–FCPX includes a built-in content browser allowing users to browse and import a greater variety of file types than ever before. With improved iTunes support, FCPX is compatible with MP3 and AAC files. Users can also browse and pull visual content from their Aperture and iPhoto libraries with the new Content Libraries system.

Tying all of Final Cut Pro X’s advanced features together is a complete re-write of the software’s back end. With full 64-bit architecture support, Cocoa foundation and Grand Central Dispatch, FCPX is designed specifically for new multi-core Macs. Perhaps the most revolutionary feature–especially for longtime users–is background processing. This inclusion means the infamous render bar is a thing of the past. With Final Cut Pro X, users can edit uninterrupted while their media renders or transcodes in the background.

Final Cut Pro X is a huge advancement for Apple’s premier editing platform. Streamlining performance across the board, the software stands to save existing users considerable amounts of time while introducing many new features accessible to pros and novices alike. As the software is available exclusively in the Mac App Store, users must be running Mac OS X 10.6.7 to download.

*System Requirements:*
* Mac OS X v10.6.7
* 2GB RAM (4GB recommended)
* OpenCL-capable graphics card or Intel Graphics 3000 or later
* 256MB of VRAM
* Display with 1280-by-768 resolution or higher
* 2.4GB of disk space

To learn more, or to purchase Final Cut Pro X in the Mac App Store, click “*here.*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Ffinal-cut-pro%2Fid424389933%3Fmt%3D12%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
For information on the just-released Motion 5 and Compressor 4 updates, “*check out our blog, Barkings!*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/article/motion-5-and-compressor-4-overview/

Have you seen our latest color of the Chill Pill? Summer always reminds me of the sunny beaches in Jamaica and reggae music… so, just in time for the summer beach and travel season, we have the “*Reggae Chill Pill*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/77728/chill-pill-mobile-speakers-reggae/at_kb in tri-color red, yellow and green!

Exclusively for Kibbles & Bytes readers this week we have a special on the Reggae Chill Pill. With every Reggae Chill Pill purchase this week we will give you a FREE USB Dual Port AC Power Adapter ($15 value)–great to charge your Chill Pill, iPhone, iPad and more.

Get out and play some Bob Marley!

Recently, my son was admitted to the hospital for a few days after a nasty dirt biking accident. Luckily, he’s doing fine now, but due to the severity of his injuries, I never left his side for the first 48 hours. During those first few days, he was able to spend a great deal of time sleeping, which gave me the opportunity to catch up on emails and stay somewhat connected to the office.

When the call came in to get to the hospital, I grabbed my iPad 2. While Evan slept, I was able to read and respond to emails, look at color proofs from printers and design concepts from Kali. Many times, I’ll use my iPhone when I’m in transit to do this, but it can’t hold a candle to the iPad. The large display makes reading correspondence so much easier, and when viewing design files, the color is accurate, crisp and clear.

In terms of apps, I keep it simple: “*PDF Reader Pro,*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fpdf-reader-pro-edition-for%2Fid364502063%3Fmt%3D8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 “*Whiteboard*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fwhiteboard%2Fid436822275%3Fmt%3D8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 (so I can do some rough concepting), “*Pages,*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fpages%2Fid361309726%3Fmt%3D8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 “*Numbers*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fnumbers%2Fid361304891%3Fmt%3D8%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 and the calculator. It’s really all I need to do my job away from the office. In the hospital, Evan and I would take turns drawing pictures with Whiteboard to help pass the time, and it certainly contributed to some much needed laughs. He used my iPad often to watch YouTube videos, update his Facebook and visit his favorite dirt biking sites. It turned out to be his favorite form of entertainment, even beating out XBox 360!

Needless to say, I am 100% sold on the iPad–and so is Evan. After he used it in the hospital, he begged and pleaded for one for his 14th birthday. Well, his birthday was two weeks ago, and let’s just say his old laptop is now collecting dust in the closet. He never goes anywhere without it–just like his Mom.

To shop iPad, come in to any of “*our retail locations.*”:http://www.smalldog.com/retail
To shop iPad accessories, “*click here.*”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/x/iPad_Accessories

*START SOAPBOX*

As our legislators fight over the deficit and some look at the increasing costs of providing health care to the poor and elderly, we should be taking a look at the enormous wasted resources we allocate to fight wars and maintain our military bases all over the world. I think we have our priorities mixed up. Our national security is not enhanced by maintaining large expensive military bases in Korea, Japan, Germany and a half dozen other countries.

The wars that left us holding the bag in those countries have been over for decades. It is high time to bring those troops home, close those bases and save the billions of dollars that we desperately need to repair our infrastructure, reduce our dependence upon foreign oil and to provide quality health care. And we can use the savings to help balance the budget and trim the debt.

Why don’t we look at defense spending with a critical eye? Why are we fighting three wars that seemingly have no end? Two of these wars that have been fought for over a decade and have costs that are reaching over a trillion dollars. I do not know why we are still fighting in Iraq, I do not know why we are still fighting in Afghanistan, and regardless of what the President says, we are fighting another war in Libya that has no end in sight.

Why can’t we do what Vermont’s late Senator Aiken said during the Vietnam war–“just declare victory and bring the troops home”?

While deficit hawks look everywhere for places to cut, defense spending always seems to be off-limits. Some of that is due to the widespread impact of what President Eisenhower first warned is a growing military-industrial complex. This means that every state and every district has defense contractors, military bases or other connections that make it seemingly politically impossible to make steep cuts in our defense budget to help balance the overall budget.

I am not an isolationist by any means, but I do not know what we are doing building up others’ infrastructures, schools, bridges and roads when we have so many critical needs in our own country.

We need to get our priorities in line with our needs and expectations. We have cities to rebuild, renewable energy development to support, a critical health care disaster looming and we are wasting our resources on misguided, ongoing wars.

*END SOAPBOX*

Want to share your thoughts? “*Leave a comment!*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/article/budget-deficits-our-national-priorities

MacBook Air is the lightest, most powerful computer around. Take advantage of the nice weather and take your work outside (without losing functionality)!

This week, we’re offering Kibbles & Bytes readers a “*13-inch MacBook Air*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/77204/at_kb (with 256GB solid state storage, no less) bundle with sleeve and AppleCare for $40 off regular cost!

Our “*Hammerhead Leather Envelope for MacBook Air*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/77831/hammerhead-13in-macbook-air-leather-envelope/at_kb is made of top-grade leather that is both lightweight and durable. Nobody wants to add bulk to their MacBook Air, so it’s a perfect solution to keep it protected without the extra weight. “*AppleCare*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/78292/applecare-protection-plan-macbook-macbook-air-macbook-pro-13in/at_kb will keep you and your portable wonderstation protected for three years–wherever you go!

I am about to head to the airport to head down to Asheville to visit our friends at Charlotte Street Computers, to Atlanta to visit PeachMac and then off to Nashville to visit MacAuthority.

If you are ever in these cities and need Mac service or parts or Hammerhead products (hey, buy your Macs at Small Dog!), be sure to check these great Apple Specialists out. All three are top quality companies with highly qualified people that will show you how customer service is done down in the south!

The days may be getting shorter, but I hope you enjoy this summer weekend! Thank you for reading Kibbles & Bytes!

Your Kibbles & Bytes Team,
Don, Ben, Jan & Kali