Apple update supports new Canon, Nikon SLRs

Canon's Rebel T1i

(Credit: CNET)

Apple released a software update Thursday to let its Aperture 2, iPhoto '08, and iPhoto '09 photo-editing software handle raw images from three newer SLRs, Canon's Rebel T1i, Nikon's D5000, and Olympus' E-30.

Higher-end cameras offer raw image formats that provide more flexibility and quality than JPEG, but the raw file formats are proprietary, vary from one camera model to another, and require companies such as Apple and Adobe Systems to release a constant stream of updates. Microsoft relies on camera manufacturers to supply software for Windows that can interpret the raw data, which is taken directly from camera image sensors without in-camera processing.

Camera makers typically supply their own software for handling raw images, but many people prefer their own photo software.

Further detail on Apple's support is available on Apple's raw camera support page.

[ikramerica--2008]

This is not news, is it? Most companies routinely update their photo software for the latest RAW support.

[nickh2]

He gets to put the word "Apple" in the headline.

Click, click.......

[kelmon]

It's useful information if you are thinking of buying (or have already bought) one of these new cameras and want to work with the RAW files on a Macintosh. It might not be useful information to you, so if that is the case then feel free to move onto another article.

[make_or_break]

+1

Not newsworthy enough for a general tech site like CNET.

[viper396]

@make_or_break, have you read some of the junk CNET has posted as news? :)

Some of it is just the author/blogger trying to pass his opinion off as news.

[Razzl]

This exposes another weakness in Apple's boutique/proprietary strategy which I intend to note relentlessly: by surrendering the pc desktop market to Microsoft through overpricing and not marketing their os to third party hardware makers they have limited their market share so drastically that Microsoft reaps the benefit of having companies willing to develop software for its OS for free while Apple is forced pay to do all its own development. There are benefits of scale, and there are penalties for lack of scale. Apple is in the worst of all worlds right now on these points and the rollout of Windows 7 is going to put the Apple scheme under great stress as its market share of pc desktops shrinks back from 7% to 4% (or less) and its stock price begins to take a hit in recognition of that fact...

[make_or_break]

Missed buying Apple when it was down, didn't you?

Are you one of those people whose sole reason for existence is to enjoy hearing yourself think, and sadistically believes that others somehow feel the same about your loopy meanderings as well?

[Pon666]

if you're so damn happy with your Windows OS, then spread your ass cheeks, grab the Windows XP CD, and shove it in. You think the statistics matter? Even if they have 1 % of the market share, their quality in product will always be the same, which is flawless.

[play7]

Apples um.............if you cant bet them join them................smart move.Sorry but apple isnt the best answer for your photo needs...BTW apple isnt not flawless............Oh yes in apple geeks eyes only

[tcampb01]

Adobe bumped their Camera Raw 5.4 update to "Release Candidate" status a little more than a week ago. Photoshop & Lightroom users who don't want to wait for the release can get their hands on the release candidate version already. Visit: http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php?title=Camera_Raw_5.4

Hopefully this means they'll be releasing it as a standard update soon.

[gjl229]

One reason I shoot Pentax. They give me the option to use Adobe's .DNG raw format. And that's what I do.

On the other hand, all these imaging companies support the new cameras fairly quickly after introduction. Always fodder for a press release but only the timing is of any interest to anyone. If you have the software and the new camera, you should already be informed by one or both companies. If you don't have them, there's no news at all.

I used to do this work - turning commonplace press releases into "news". Yawn.