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Apple Final Cut Pro X now available on Mac App Store
At last! Just as promised, Apple's long-awaited Final Cut Pro X is now available on the Mac App Store for just $299.99, meaning keen editors can immediately grab hold of this suite to crack on with some real-time 4K video editing. Of course, this is assuming that you have a 64-bit Mac rig with beastly specs in the first place -- check with Apple to make sure that you're all set to go. Accompanying this major software release are Motion 5 and Compressor 4 kits, both of which will cost you an extra $49.99 each, so make that roughly around $400 for the full monty. Press release after the break, but we guess you folks are already busy trimming clips on that magical Magnetic Timeline, so good luck in next year's Oscars. Update: We spoke to Apple and confirmed that there won't be a boxed version, upgrade pricing, or "Express" version available. Individual users can purchase a single license to use on multiple machines that they own, while business users will need to purchase one license per machine. Volume education pricing is available for purchase by institutions only.
Microsoft's OneVision Video Recognizer can detect, identify, and track your face on video... so smile!
Here's your classic case of "just because you can, doesn't mean you should." Microsoft's Innovation Labs have just demonstrated a OneVision Video Recognizer algorithm that's powerful enough to perform face detection duties on a running video feed. It can recognize and track humanoid visages even while they're moving, accept tags that allow auto-identification of people as they enter the frame, and can ultimately lead to some highly sophisticated video editing and indexing via its automated information gathering. Of course, it's that very ease with which it can keep a watchful eye on everyone that has us feeling uneasy right now, but what are you gonna do? Watch the video after the break, that's what.
HTML5 prettifies fan-made Tron trailer... in real time! (video)
What can HTML5 do for you? Quite a lot, as it happens. A chap by the name of Franz Enzenhofer has put together a real-time effects mixer for a fan-made Tron trailer, which combines HTML5 with a dash of JavaScript and a sprinkling of CSS to demonstrate the awesome potency of open web standards. You can recolor, reposition, rotate, stretch, or skew the video, all while it plays. We've got the unaltered trailer, made earlier this year as a sort of homage to the 1982 picture, for you after the break, but you'll want to hit the source link to start post-processing it with the finest browser-based video editor yet.
Pleco Chinese Dictionary iPhone app now handling real-time image translations
Talk about timely. We've been waiting for months (with bated breath, might we add) for Pleco 2.2 to finally hit Apple's App Store, and after dealing with a few launch day bugs last week, we can finally say it's out and ready to dominate any Chinese homework you've been hastily procrastinating on. The Pleco Chinese Dictionary is now available in the app store at version 2.2.1, supporting both fullscreen handwriting input and live camera-based character recognition. Have a peek at the video past the break if you're still curious as to what this app can do for you, and feel free to toss your experiences with it down in comments below. Here's hoping this is only the first of many languages Pleco decides to tackle -- not that we're much on tossing out subtle hints.
Google Earth live flight tracking keeps anxious airport relatives posted in 3D
We've always enjoyed being able to see the little airplanes on our in-flight entertainment systems making their way to their destinations in real time, but have always wondered, what would it be like if those on the ground could share this small wonder with us? Flightwise has made our airborne fantasy a reality: type in the flight number, click the Google Earth button, and revel in a newfangled, kind of useful meta-stalking technique. Now please excuse us why we try to go flight simulate ourselves into some IRL airplanes.
The Daily Grind: What will you miss about APB?
It's never enjoyable when a game or game company goes belly-up, and MMO fans have had no shortage of depressing news over the years. Whether it was Earth and Beyond, The Matrix Online, Tabula Rasa, or (now) All Points Bulletin, many of our favorite games burned twice as bright but lasted half as long. The case of All Points Bulletin is even more aggravating due to its peerless character creation system, a unique take on music, and a payment model that attempted to blend the best of subscription-based and F2P titles. While we're the first to admit the game had its problems, it also had its charms and will be missed. That leads us to our question of the day, Massively readers. What will you miss about APB?
Realtime Worlds announces the closure of APB [Updated]
Tweet It's an announcement that no MMO fan likes to see, but it hits even harder when it comes from a game with such potential. APB Community Officer Ben Bateman broke the news just a short while ago: "APB has been a fantastic journey, but unfortunately that journey has come to a premature end. Today we are sad to announce that despite everyone's best efforts to keep the service running; APB is coming to a close." The announcement is followed by statements from many members of the APB team, and while there is not a specific shutdown time at the moment, Ben says that the servers are currently up and invites everyone to come say goodbye. We at Massively wish everyone at Realtime Worlds and APB the best of luck in the future. [Thanks Brian for the tip!] [Update: We've learned that the the game is expected to be taken offline within the next 24 hours. We'll keep you posted as the story develops!]
OpenFeint announces PlayTime, real-time multiplayer with voice chat for iOS and Android
Game Center is almost out in consumers' hands, but that hasn't stopped the folks at OpenFeint from pushing forward on their unofficial social network for gamers. PlayTime is a newly-announced feature of the third-party social networking software that will allow players on both iOS and Android to play in real-time with each other, and even use voice chat while doing that. OpenFeint is splitting its multiplayer services into two different paths: "Casual" games will use highscores to offer up multiplayer and even co-op challenges, while "Core" games will actually run real-time multiplayer, in conjunction with a system from a company called Exit Games. Sounds interesting -- the new features are being tested by developers right now, and will be available in OpenFeint sometime later on this year. Game Center will definitely make a big splash in iPhone gaming when it gets released next week, but OpenFeint is still planning on sticking around and innovating where even Apple hasn't yet dared to go. iOS game players will be glad to have both around when all is said and done.
Pleco 2.2 Chinese Dictionary uses iPhone camera to translate text in real time (video)
Can't say we've heard of the Pleco Chinese Dictionary app prior to today even though it's been around for two full version releases. Of course, we've seen plenty of Google Goggle-like smartphone apps that can snap pictures and then convert the image to text using optical character recognition (OCR) -- something that can be incredibly useful when important stacks of business cards. Pleco 2.2, however, is one of the first apps we've seen that can translate text in real time using the live image presented on your phone's camera display. The new feature, targeted for release in September, requires iOS 4 and should work with either the iPhone 4 or older 3GS. Sure, you might not need this app every day, but it might just be the difference between ordering chop suey or a thousand-year old egg garnished with a side of stinky tofu. See it in action after the break.
Rumor: Realtime Worlds lays off MyWorld team, reduces APB team size
APB developer Realtime Worlds may be laying off the entire Project: MyWorld team, according to reports from VG247 and Develop, with sources also alleging the dissolution of RTW entirely. One source apparently told VG247 that "The MyWorld team has been completely laid off. As many as 60 may have gone, but there's a rumor they may be trying to sell the team as a smaller entity." VG247 also alleges that "the Scottish developer is seeking to sell on APB entirely." In early July, RTW announced forthcoming "redundancies" at its Dundee studio, specifically referencing a "second, unannounced project" -- now known to be Project: MyWorld. In a statement offered to Joystiq this morning, RTW echoed that earlier announcement: "Further to the press release issued on the 7th July announcing the post-launch restructure for APB and expected redundancies, the 30-day consultation period with the affected staff has ended. The supporting infrastructure for a game inevitably changes once released, and those staff that couldn't be redeployed to new projects in the Art, Audio, Coding, Design, Production, and QA departments have regrettably been made redundant. APB continues to be our primary development focus, and we remain fully committed to the game and its players." No specific numbers were given. Realtime Worlds refused to comment on rumors of a full-studio closure or the possibility of APB being sold off. If you're an employee of RTW with more information, we'd love to hear from you.
New video takes you to San Paro for a closer look at APB
This morning marks the official headstart for those All Points Bulletin players who pre-ordered, and if you haven't had the chance to check out Realtime Worlds' upcoming action MMO for yourself, then this video is for you. It gives us a great look at the setup of social districts and action districts, and even goes so far to explain how their system attempts to keep the gameplay balanced between the criminals and enforcers in each district. Also included in the video is a look at the character creator, which is entirely too awesome in our opinion, and chunks of gun-toting gameplay footage. Whether or not this will entice more people who were on the fence about All Points Bulletin to give it a shot (no pun intended) will remain to be seen. The game certainly doesn't seem to be having too many problems grabbing headlines, although not all of it would be seen as positive. Nonetheless, the video offers an interesting look into an upcoming MMO. Check the video behind the break if you're curious for more.
Google Voice is now your real-time pusher (on Android)
Once upon a time, Google undercut its own infant OS by offering rival platforms some of the best features of Android. Those days are long gone, and once again -- as much as we love Google Maps Navigation -- the poster child for only-on-Android functionality (in the US) is Google Voice. That's because as of this week, the Android version supports push notification of incoming messages in real time, as well as a neat interface for your reply (as evidenced by the above pic). Feel free to tease your iPhone and Pre-addicted friends, people; multitasking or no, they're not going to get a heads-up of incoming voicemail transcriptions with plain ol' HTML5.
Video: Google Earth animated with real time human and vehicular traffic
Mmm, real time dynamic maps of the Earth. It seems nowadays that supervillainy just isn't as hard as it used to be. Back in the days of Hugo Drax, you had to be a filthy rich eccentric to ever get to spy on the whole world, whereas today all you need is Google Earth and some Georgia Institute of Technology students. Using motion capture data and the veritable litany of CCTV cameras people have surrounded themselves with, the team have succeeded in mapping and animating the real time movements of cars, people and clouds. A proper unveiling is coming up at a symposium next month, by which point they might have added weather patterns, birds and river motions to that list, but for now you can enjoy the video demo after the break. [Via Engadget Polish]
Realtime Worlds: APB's release 'not that far away'
Been eagerly awaiting news about Realtime Worlds' console MMO All Points Bulletin ever since they showed a tech demo during GDC? Well, good news for those patiently waiting, because Realtime Worlds' studio manager Colin Macdonald has just hinted that progress is being made and that a release isn't that far off. "Things have been going really, really well" Macdonald told videogaming247, admitting that development is "still going to take a little while, but we're not talking about that far away now."Good thing too, because we were beginning to think that APB was slipping away into the magically mystical category of vaporware. A place no game wants to be.[Via Eurogamer]
Screenshot gives glimpse into Crackdown's future
Yeah, you like that? You like that image? You know what that is? ... No, we don't either. Well, we know it's from upcoming Crackdown-loadable content. But we were actually hoping you could shed some more light on it. "Agent G," a staffer for developer Realtime Worlds, let the image slip on the official forums for the game, saying it was a look at a new game type and a new sort of vehicle that would be available "soon." The mysterious image depicts what appears to be four dune buggies jockeying for position. We've previously learned that Realtime has created competitive modes and racing would seem to be a good fit. It's not exactly the aircraft the developer has hinted at (unless that aerial buggy is some sort of oddly-designed helicopter) but we'll take it. Anyway, those are our thoughts. Do you Crackheads have any theories?[via Gamespot]
