Apple touts its GarageBand for iPad application as a great way to play and record music without the need to learn scales or time signatures. Musical newbies aren’t the only ones interested in using the $5 app, however. GarageBand for iPad appeals to seasoned musicians, too. And those with significant investments in recording equipment may be wondering which, if any, of their existing gear will work with the portable version of GarageBand. I decided to grab my trusty iPad, my iPad camera connection kit, and powered USB hub and plug in whatever I had around to see what would work.
The iPad Camera Connection Kit includes two adapters that plug into the iPad’s Dock connector. One of the adapters has an SD card slot that allows you to transfer photos and videos from a camera card into iMovie or iPhoto for iPad. The second adapter has a USB 2.0 input that allows you to connect a camera, or other USB peripheral to your iPad–I used one to connect a Flip camcorder.
Adobe has unveiled Muse, a new Web design program that lets print-oriented graphic designers create and publish standards-based websites without having to write code or work within restrictive templates.
The software, which employs Web standards such as HTML 5, CSS3, and JavaScript, is being released as a public beta under the code name, Muse. The program will be available from Adobe's website as a free preview until the first quarter of 2012.
Muse is a freeform tool targeted to graphic designers and artists whose work has thus far appeared only in print, but who want to create interactive websites without having to deal with code.
The following article is excerpted from Digital Arts.
Maxon has launched Cinema 4D Release 13, the next generation of its 3D motion graphics, visual effects, and animation software. The upgrade is due in September, and features new character tools, integrated stereographic capabilities, streamlined multi-artist collaboration and physical rendering.
Quark, developer of the desktop publishing software QuarkXPress, has been acquired by Platinum Equity, a Los Angeles merger and acquisition company, for an undisclosed sum.
Quark, which is privately held, was previously owned by the Ebrahimi family, which bought it from founder Tim Gill in 2000. On August 1, the children of Farhad (Fred) Ebrahimi, who retired in 2005, completed a transaction in which they sold all of their Quark shares for cash, and handed over control of the company to Platinum Equity.
Quark said the purpose of this transaction is to strengthen the company and give it the flexibility and financial facility to fulfill its goal of becoming a category leader in the realm of dynamic and digital publishing.
On Monday Apple released minor updates for its Logic Express and Logic Pro audio recording and editing software.
Both Logic Express 9.1.5 and Logic Pro 9.1.5 address the same issues. Apple says that all instrument and effect plug-ins that use LFO’s synced to the beat now behave correctly; that the Toggle Zoom key command now returns to previous zoom level as expected; and that it provides improved compatibility with Apogee’s Duet 2.
While you shouldn’t expect Adobe’s Edge to replace its Flash standard anytime soon, it will act as a gateway for the company to start using HTML5.
To help guide you through what Adobe Edge will and won’t do, we’ve put together a quick compilation of key facts about Adobe’s newest HTML-based Web animation technology.
A so-called "dot upgrade" of a major software product like Adobe After Effects may imply that it’s not significant enough for you to jump on board until the next full version is released. If you think that, you are dreadfully wrong. After Effects CS5.5 boasts enough major new features and productivity enhancements to rival any full version software release.
Many of its new features and tools bring After Effects up to date with the demands of HD video DSLR post-production workflows. And for the first time, you can save your project as a previous (CS5) version for compatibility with clients and colleagues who have not upgraded.
