GoPro’s latest Hero9 action camera has much more 5K video for shooting those iconicaction sports videos in mind, thanks to a new front facing camera and the ability to use it as a webcam. But there’s also a new ultra wide lens mod that means one thing … interchangable lenses are finally coming to the Hero line.
with updates to Apple Watch and iPad, I’ll be live blogging today’s Time Flies event at Twitter.com/gate_check.
2020 is the year everyone goes online. “Zoom” is a household verb, and everyone is learning how to look better on camera. It’s also the year that every conference and trade show becomes a virtual event with live streaming keynotes, sessions, and even virtual showrooms. And Adobe is no different, this year, opening up their annual MAX event for free registration.
Normally costing upwards of a thousand dollars to attend, this year’s Adobe Max virtual conference will give attendees free access to over 56 different sessions, with access to instructor files and presentation downloads.
Keynote speakers this year include Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay, John Wick actor Keanu Reeves, and photographer Annie Leibovitz. Look for a complete list of speakers in September.
Personally, I’m really looking forward to the Adobe Sneaks session, giving us a peak of the blue sky projects they’re working on for the future!
Registration is free and now open through the Adobe Max webpage.
There wasn’t a lot for filmmakers to get excited over in today’s Apple Keynote. 85% of it was about software tweaks thats I would call “fins.” It’s those refinements you get in to “toc” of the tic-toc development cycle. And then there was a big news of Apple Silicon, the Cupertino designed processor which will begin driving the Apple platform starting next year. Here’s my thoughts …
If you want to know all the details, I live tweeted the keynote and you can check out the feed to the right, or read it on twitter at @gate_check.
iOS14, iPadOS14 and macOS Big Sur. All three operating systems continue their gradual move towards integration, and someday soon, there will be one OS to rule them all.
iOS14 has some nifty new improvements including finally embracing widgets. Only about eight years after Android. But it’s a welcome change which also gives users customizable size options and finally putting them on the home page.
But the best change may be something called “AppClips,” little pieces of apps that you can run via NFC or QR CODE to operates apps one a one time basis without having to download the entire thing. So you rent a bike, activate with AppClips from a special scan, pay with Apple Pay and you’re peddling away without having to sign up for any account. very cool.
iPadOS adds Scribble, which through apple pencil improves handwriting recognition to replace your written text with typeface. It’ll also translate rudimentary drawings into shapes. Great for making those bar napkin sketches looking more professional.
Apple has also reworked an incoming call notification into a compact notification that doesn’t cover the entire page.
watchOS7 makes custom watch faces shareable and will also have widgets.
Hardware wise, AirPods Pro gets an upgrade with spatial audio. Essentially Dolby Atmos in your ears.
But the big thing is Apple finally making the move away from Intel with their own in house processors called Apple Silicon. And they are upgrading Rosetta 2 to do the translating on any non native apps so users can keep using their favorite apps.
Honestly it may be a transition that nobody asked for. While they referenced the move from PowerPC to Intel and how the multi year transition will be as seamless with Rosetta. Only time will tell if professionals want to make that leap without Apple forcing it on them. Even if Adobe is all in.
New desktop products may feature ARM processors
Monday is the start of Apple’s annual worldwide developers conference (WWDC). This year, due to the CoVid19 outbreak, the conference is virtual, but that’s not stopping Apple from announcing new products.
Follow me on Twitter Monday at @gate_check, as I live blog all the action.
Check out IndyMogul’s latest video on the top ten filmmaking myths:
If you’ve been a good citizen of the EU and have been practicing “social distancing,” it’s clear you will have a lot of time on your hands. Most people are doing what most people do. No, not that (although look for another Baby Boom in December). I’m talking about binge watching on Netflix. And so many viewers in Europe are watching the streaming service right now, that the company is having to consider dialing back the bit rates in order to shoulder the load. Are you ready for a return to SD?
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings made the announcement after advising EU Commissioner Theirry Breton that cutting back of bit-rates by as much as 25% for the next 30 days would be necessary, in order reduce the traffic to Netflix’ European networks in order to “maintain a good quality service” to customers. A report by Vodafone indicated that a 50% spike in streaming internet traffic was causing network overload, leading to congestion and buffering. Only by cutting bitrates in order to stream less data would ensure there would be enough bandwidth for subscribers to watch their streaming favorites.
Hastings also warned that the bitrate cutback could cause more pixelation, and resolution that would look more like standard definition video from ten years ago. The cutback is expected to last for the duration of the outbreak, or at least 30 days, whichever comes first.
So far, here in the US, there hasn’t been a call for similar measures, although the FCC has granted emergency access to more wireless spectrum for companies like T-Mobile and Verizon, in order to meet the increased demand of internet services.
However, if the outbreak lasts longer than 30 days, and some reports are indicating we could be looking at an 18 month ordeal before the pandemic has been eradicated, internet companies and ISPs may have to institute strict bit rate and bandwidth caps in order to make sure there is enough internet for those who wouldn’t normally be home from day to day.
But I’ll be honest. That’s a load of hokum. Internet Bandwidth isn’t like land. You can always make more. More servers equals more bandwidth, and many companies use a scalable bandwidth business model in order to cope with spikes in traffic. I would think that if you can handle a spike for any length of time, you can handle it ongoing for longer periods. The question is, would they?
by James DeRuvo
Well, they tried really hard to assure the professional public NAB would still be on next month, but once Adobe cancelled their presentations and there was an uproar over a no handshake policy, the handwriting was on the wall. NAB2020 has been officially cancelled.
by James DeRuvo
Indiewire is reporting that the annual pop culture film, music and computer festival South By Southwest (SXSW) has been cancelled due to the Covid19/Corona virus outbreak. Could NAB be far behind?
SXSW follows other conferences including Google IO, Adobe Summit, CP+,and Mobile World Congress, all of which cancelled their annual gatherings over fears of attendees becoming exposed during travel. Adobe has said, however, that their annual Summit will be an online virtual experience this year.
There is even talk that the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo will also be cancelled. The Games have only been cancelled one other time in its history, and that was in 1940, due to World War II. Ironically, those Games were also set to take place on Tokyo.
The announcement fresh off the heels of companies like Netflix, Starz, Lionsgate, Apple, Amazon and Warner Media all pulling out of SXSW in recent days. With the festival scheduled to begin March 13, organizers really had little choice but to call it quits for 2020.
As for NAB, the trade show association put out a statement signaling that the show will go on, but that it would be monitoring the overall situation as the conference approaches.
While the NAB stands firm in its commitment to hold the convention as planned, the health and safety of attendees and participants are NAB’s top priority. To that end, NAB is dedicated to providing rapid responses and assistance in support of the global NAB Show community’s participation plans.
NAB also pointed out that some manufacturers and attendees may have little choice but cancel due to US travel restrictions.
Video hardware company AJA has already pulled out, citing Corona virus fears, and if Adobe scuttled the physical summit they hold every year in Las Vegas in favor of a safer online event, you have to wonder if they may not make the trip as well.
I have a hunch more will follow suit as the time to travel to NAB draws near.
by James DeRuvo
The day after the Oscars (don’t get me started on Parasite upsetting 1917 for best picture), brings some great news for film fans as the top five studios have re-upped a deal with Kodak to exclusively supply 35mm film to the industry. Hurray!
