Are you tired of your Windows-based video editing software crashing, or
having multiple software packages bog down your computer? Consider an alternative
OS (Operating System) for your computer. The BeOS is a newer operating system
that can run on both Intel and Macintosh hardware. Known for its "multithreading"
capability (the ability to run more than one program simultaneously), Be
Inc. designed the BeOS with the digital multimedia artist in mind. The BeOS
is in its third major release version, and a fourth version–with improved
hardware support–is due out soon. Of particular interest to the video editing
crowd are two upcoming nonlinear editing packages for the BeOS that Adamation
promises to release soon.
First is PersonalStudio, a storyboard-based nonlinear editing package that
Adamation plans to use to target the home videographer. PersonalStudio will
be priced at under $100 according to Mark Hall, vice-president of Adamation.
Due out the second quarter of 1999, Hall billed studioA as Adamation’s new
flagship video editing product. Priced in the $600-$800 range, Hall said
studioA will provide Adobe Premiere-level editing power on the multimedia-friendly
BeOS. Hall said Adamation would also port these two editing packages to
the Windows and the Macintosh operating systems.
For more information on PersonalStudio and studioA, call Adamation at (510)
452-5252, or visit their Web site at www.adamation.com. For more information
on the BeOS, call (650) 462-4100, or visit Be Inc.’s Web site at www.be.com.
Amiga Rises from the Ashes
After a long winter of discontent for Amiga users, the company that won
the hearts and minds of a generation of video editors is back. Commodore
introduced the Amiga in the 1980s and its powerful video processing capabilities
made it an immediate hit. When Commodore went bankrupt, they sold it to
ESCOM, a German computer firm. ESCOM kept Amiga dormant, isolated on the
other side of the Atlantic, until last year when it sold Amiga to computer
mail-order giant Gateway 2000.
Recently, Amiga announced a new operating system, (version 4.0). The new
OS is primarily a developer’s platform. Amiga announced the developer’s
platform with the hope it would cultivate a network of software developers
to write applications for the fifth version of the OS. Version 5.0 is expected
to operate a new generation of Amiga hardware. If the hype is true, expect
the new Amiga machines, which are promised in December, 1999, to outperform
next year’s Wintel and Macintosh models. Knowing Amiga’s past popularity
with the video editing crowd (especially when combined with the NewTek Toaster/Flyer
editing system), it wouldn’t be a surprise to see some high-powered editing
features included as well.
Hitachi to Make DVD-RAM Camcorder
It won’t be available in the states soon, but the Japanese news agency Nikkei
reported that Hitachi is developing a DVD-RAM camcorder that will be on
the market by the end of 1999. The new camcorders will be able to store
up to one hour of moving images onto a DVD-RAM disc. After an hour, you’ll
need to change discs, or copy the full disc to a computer’s hard drive.
DVD-RAM is the recordable cousin of DVD-ROM, which is found on many new
computers, and DVD-Video, which is slowly becoming the backbone video player
of newer home entertainment systems.
The DVD-RAM camcorder could be a boon for home videographers. If the discs
were compatible with the DVD drives on home computers, it would eliminate
the time-consuming need to "dump" an entire Mini DV tape onto
a computer hard drive or use a FireWire port for editing. Another positive
feature could be that the DVD-RAM camcorder would maintain the small size
of current Mini DV camcorders. The prototype that Hitachi displayed to Nikkei
measured 15x10x4cm.
