Apple Turns iMovie Upside Down. Literally.
Macworld's Jeff Carlson has a first look at the new iMovie.
It's unfortunate to see that some features of the previous version -- which, in all actuality, was not a previous version at all but a separate product that's been discontinued -- are gone, but they do at least allow you to download the old iMovie for free.
Still, the Macalope agrees with Jobs' assessment that it was simply too hard for amateurs to easily and quickly make movies to upload to the web -- to get that instant gratification -- with the former application known as iMovie. There's little excuse for remaking a product and stripping out features, except for if no one was using it because it was too complicated. And, indeed, this has been the horned one's experience with it. Not that he couldn't figure it out, but that the mere thought of going to the trouble required has meant that his MiniDV tapes go straight from the camera to a box in the office and never see the light of day again.
Perhaps there are some iMovie junkies who will really be upset by this, but sadly they're just not the target market for the app. Upgrade to Final Cut Pro, Apple will say. Grandma needs to slap together that film of her kitty playing the piano.
Mythical beast and rumormonger extraordinaire, the Macalope writes about all things Apple for the CNET Blog Network. Read more at The Macalope: An Apple blog. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
But I agree on at least one point: Apple made this move to a stripped-down iMovie in order to make people buy more pro products. (And more powerfull machines).
CARS instead. This is a good thing, btw.
As for the topic at hand, I too never really bothered with the original iMovie. I'm
sure it is useful, but it didn't feel right for some reason. iMovie Turbo X seems
more like my kinda app. I think they did well in replacing it.
the 500MB for apps and 16GB for extras in FCE) makes FCE/FCP unsuitable
replacements for iMovie.
The difference between iMovie '06 and FCE/FCP is not the same as going from
iPhoto to Aperture. The system requirements alone make them all but useless
for portable users unless they want to lug around one or more scratch disks
(see disk space reqt's above).
They need to improve '08 or dumb down Express because there is a definite
gap now that is absolutely not filled by the current incarnation of FCE. FCE is
a great program, but baby step from iMovie '06 it is not.
Don't agree? Go try to do a Ken Burns effect on a photo in FCE and tell me
how much like iMovie it is when you are done (current FCE users need not
apply).
aloopes. It felt sluggish (even on a new box) and was un-Apple-like in its
clumsy UI/navigation. Yeah, I'm sure I could get used to it (I got "used" to
InDesign - a UI nightmare) with regular use, but I didn't see a whole lot of
payoff for that time invested.
Here's hoping 08 is improved in that regard. In fact, I really, re-hilly hoping
all of iLife 08 is improved. See, I, unlike everyone else on the planet, have
never been much of a fan, GarageBand notwithstanding. I hear the new iPhoto
is much better. I hope so, as I could use what it offers; just not with the
problems the 06 version has.
Oh Lordy...I'm off on a ratangent again (rant/tangent)...
the $300 you spend for it is also getting software that's been more optimized
for running well (which is critical in video editing). Starting with iMovie 3, the
program was either really sluggish or hit-and-miss (depending on version),
and even similarly configured machines could see varying performance. I'm
hoping iMovie '08 is solid in performance (so far it is, but I haven't had time
to really hammer it). I'm sure that increasing the system requirements (G5 or
better) is a factor.
Right now there are a lot of people upset at the new direction, because
they're the ones who've been using iMovie for years and waiting 18 months
for something better to come along. Once more people start really using it,
I'm curious to see if attitudes begin to change.
I'd also want to know if His Hoofness ends up in fact editing some of those
movies that ended up in the box. (How does he even eject the tapes in the
first place with those things? Baffling.) You have my address.
I'm afraid to try the new one.
Can I have a doggy treat now?
used iLife 04 & 06 it always seemed that the iMovie UI was a little at odds
with the 'flavour' of OS X and the other Apple apps ... somehow it seemed
that, while it didn't 'not work', you couldn't say that 'it just works'.
It was certainly *possible* to make long and/or complex films with iMovie but
it was an uphill slog all the way and very time-consuming.
I haven't tried the new iMovie *yet* but, like the Macalope, I have a drawer full
of miniDV tapes that are tugging at my conscience.
So I'm thinking ... any product that gets *that* much 'face time' during a
Stevenote has got to be capable of restoring a sense of childlike wonder,
hasn't it? :-)
Keep blogging, Macalope! Of all the mythical creatures on Teh Interweb,
The Horned One is by far the smartest/furriest/funniest* one around.
(*Macalope to delete if applicable).
- iMovie too complicated ?
- by evropierre August 26, 2007 9:56 AM PDT
- I edited a tape into a 15 minutes film 18 months ago, and it was the first time
- Reply to this comment
-
(8 Comments)i was trying to do something like that. All it took me was to bring my
notebook and my camcorder with me (with the right cable), and something
like two hours to famililarise with the controls.
I found iMovie VERY easy to use, very intuitive, and i was very impressed by
the detailed controls over the editing, specila effects and adding music. THen
once everything is at it should be, you send the movie to idvd and burn it !
I must confess i also had hte opportunity to play a little with Apple's
professional solution, and did not understand how it works, i must put more
effort in it (or read the f... manual).
But with what i read about iMovie 8, i can tell you that i am not ready to
replace the previous version, which i find an extraordinary value for the
quantity of controls it allows on editing, all for a nearly non-existant learning
curve.
My two cents,
Pierre