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If you’ve always wanted to try out virtual cameras like the VCam from Intersense, but don’t have the budget to buy big Hollywood equipment, check out this little iOS app called iDevCam that can turn your iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad into a virtual camera.
With iDevCam you can move, rotate or drive cameras or any other kind of object in your scene simply by moving and rotating your iDevice. This app will give you an handheld effect and control like seen in some of the latest feature films like Avatar and Rango but without the need for a multi-million dollar equipment.
The videos look impressive. The app is available now on the app store for only $1.99.
iDevCam Promo 1 from Artur Leao on Vimeo.
via iDevCam | You can do it! VFX.
Graphics apple, ios
The hatred for Apple’s new Final Cut Pro X is deep and well documented for a wide variety of reasons. One of the more frequently mentioned ones is that it can’t import existing projects, essentially eliminating all your existing work and projects. Well, a new version (10.0.3) dropped today, and there’s a new tool from FCP guru Philip Hodgetts called 7tox that can finally import them.
7toX for Final Cut Pro brings your Final Cut Pro 7 projects forward to Final Cut Pro X so you can use Apple’s powerful new professional editing tools to update or finish your older projects. The lightweight application is simple to use, with drag-and-drop support and progress information. 7toX translates important metadata from your Final Cut Pro 7 Project — including bins, clips and sequences — to a new Event in Final Cut Pro X (version 10.0.3) with the highest fidelity of any translation application for Final Cut Pro. In addition, the application provides clear, detailed reporting after every transfer.
He admits it’s not perfect, there’s just too many changes in FCPX to ever make a 100% conversion. However, it’s pretty close and probably about as good as it’s going to get.
The app is available now in the 
for a mere $10.
via 7toX for Final Cut Pro
Graphics apple, final cut
VFX Soldier has a great piece on some of the recent discoveries in the ongoing Apple/Pixar/Lucasfilm investigation from the Justice Department. The allegation is that these three studios (and maybe more) had an illegal agreement to not poach each other’s employees in an attempt to drive wages down. Not only is this illegal, but it’s been a shock to many in the VFX Industry that saw Pixar and Lucasfilm as the ultimate employer in VFX.
Furthermore, consider how remarkable this case has become. Steve Jobs, Pixar, and Lucasfilm. For VFX artists these names are nothing but legends to us and could do no harm. Look at what the Justice Department’s investigation revealed. Behind our backs they colluded to drive wages down.
via Poach-gate Scandal: VFX Idol Steve Jobs Involved « VFX Soldier.
Graphics apple, ilm, legal, lucasfilm, pixar, vfx
EnSight users now have a new tool to try with their Mac Customers: EnLiten EXE’s for Windows can now be run on Mac’s without needing X thanks to a native Mac Application. It’s available now for free from the Mac App Store.
EnLiten is a 3D viewer for scenes created by EnSight. EnSight visualizes data from scientific and engineering simulations such as fluid dynamics, structural analysis, and vehicle crashworthiness and occupant safety.
Mac App Store – EnLiten.
Science apple, cei, ensight, software
CNet UK has a nice little info-video online (Perhaps we need a new word?) chronicling the history of the iPhone from inception to the iPhone 5 (Which wound up being the 4S actually).
Watch out for the number of transistors inside an iPhone 4, which we compare to an early Intel chip. It’ll blow your mind — and help explain why the whole world thinks it’s normal to be able to find out where the nearest good pizza restaurant is while watching the latest Hollywood blockbuster and tweeting about it.
A surprisingly good combination of information & motion graphics here, makes for a fun watch.
via iPhone history animated in our infographic video | CNET UK.
Graphics animation, apple, infographic, iphone, video
With the sudden passing of Apple founder Steve Jobs, the internet has been awash with stories of his great ideas and the many amazing products he brought to life at Apple during his tenure. What has been largely overlooked is his similar guidance of a little computer graphics company named Pixar, brought from a dying division of LucasFilm into the animation powerhouse we all know now.
It’s also clear that without Jobs’ stewardship, Pixar would never have given us RenderMan, either. It would have likely remained an amazing but proprietary render engine owned by the wrong corporate parent. Astonishingly, before Jobs came along, Lucas considered selling to divisions of General Motors and Philips. It was Jobs who encouraged the team to develop and sell its own software (after divesting the limping Pixar hardware business to Viacom). RenderMan sales helped fund Toy Story‘s extended production schedule.
via Studio Daily Blog » Steve Jobs and the Gift of Pixar.
Graphics apple, pixar
If you’re a fan of SmithMicro’s Anime Studio tools, you can now get them in the Mac App Store via direct download. For a mere $29 (a far discount from the usual $49), you can download the app directly to your favorite Mac and start creating your own animated masterpieces.
Anime Studio Animation Software – Official Website.
Graphics anime studio, apple, smithmicro
So Apple’s new OSX Lion is available on the Mac App Store, bringing lots of iOS feature to the desktop operating system and lots of little tweaks and changes. ArsTechnica has a great review full of screenshots.
On first boot, Lion shows you a brand new login screen, draped in the linen texture seen as a background in iOS. Each user is represented by a small circular icon, with small monochromatic icons for “sleep,” “restart,” or “shut down” along the bottom. Along the top are some of the icons and info you’d expect to see on your menu bar once you log in, including battery level, WiFi connection, and date and time. This look is the first clue that Apple is bringing ideas over from iOS to Mac OS X.
In addition, they’ve revved up their Mac Mini hardware to a new version (still at $599) that boasts Sandy Bridge processors, AMD graphics, and Thunderbolt connectors, and does similar for the new MacBook Air. But they didn’t stop there, they also released a new 27-inch display called the “Thunderbolt Display” that supports a Thunderbolt connection (Rather than DVI, Displayport, or HDMI) along with integrated HD “FaceTime” camera.
OSX Lion is . Here’s a collection of reviews:
Personally, I plan on waiting a while before I upgrade to Lion. I don’t particularly agree with the iOS-ification of desktop operating systems and I think it’ll be a hindrance more than anything. Time will tell, so I’m waiting for other folks to take the plunge.
via Mac OS X Lion: a screenshot gallery.
Hardware apple, software
StudioDaily has a great compilation of some of the facts regarding Final Cut Pro X, covering everything they can find online, on Apple’s website, and via personal experience.
It does feel like, at least at this early stage, FCPX is a love it or hate tool. It is an extreme departure from how Final Cut Pro 7 operates on almost every front. It is indeed more like iMovie than FCP7. No matter what you read, the truth is that it will take some time to really shake it out. I was bewildered at first but see some real good lurking within it. I’m currently testing how a music video edit might work and see some nice features that will help me. I also see some silly omissions. Here’s my down-and-dirty attempt to bullet point only the basics you need to know if you’re contemplating FCPX.
via Studio Daily Blog » More Thoughts on Final Cut Pro X.
Graphics apple, final cut
If you’ve always wanted to try out virtual cameras like the VCam from Intersense, but don’t have the budget to buy big Hollywood equipment, check out this little iOS app called iDevCam that can turn your iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad into a virtual camera.
VizWorld.com 
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