Apple has started shipping Final Cut Studio 2 from their online store. This update to Apple's video editing suite was first announced at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) trade event last month.

Final Cut Studio 2 includes Final Cut Pro 6 which features Apple's new ProRes 422 format for uncompressed HD quality at SD file sizes. With Final Cut Pro 6, users will also get the option to work on mixed video formats and frame rates in a single Timeline. It also includes Compressor 3 and DVD Studio Pro 4.2.

The suite also includes Color, a professional color grading and finishing application for ensuring consistent color and creating signature looks, along with Motion 3, which offers an intuitive 3D environment, paint and new behaviors, and Soundtrack Pro 2, which gives users tools for multitrack editing, surround mixing and con-forming sound to picture.

New versions are available at the Apple Store for US$ 1,299. Upgrades are a bit cheaper. The price is US$ 499 if you're upgrading from Final Cut Studio and US$ 699 if you're upgrading from older versions of Final Cut Pro.

We just love them witty Mac Ads, don't you? Well we've got three more of them today, and this one only ups the ante on Apple's attacks against the Windows - particularly Windows Vista - albeit in a wholesome way, still.

The first ad is entitled "Party is Over" and it's got the PC guy complaining about the arrival of the Vista. Supposedly, the launch of Vista is one to celebrate about, but with all the accompanying hassle of having to upgrade and change peripherals and whatnots, it just becomes too tedious to enjoy at the end of the day.

Then we have the "Genius" ad, where they added in the Genius character. She basically personifies the Mac Genius housed in every Apple store that will tell you everything you need to know and more.

The last one, "Choose A Vista", has got to be my favorite among this bunch. PC introduces his 'spin-the-wheel' game for the Vista, since there's six versions of the OS. So, in order for him to choose which upgrade he'll be choosing, he puts it on the fate of the wheel.

Anyhow, why don't you go check out the videos for yourself? That way, you'll better understand why the Mac Ads are such a hit. Maybe you'll be convinced to get yourself a Mac, too.

Check out the Genius and Choose A Vista ads after the jump!

 

Apple TV, a product which enables Widescreen (16:9) enhanced definition or high definition viewing of media from computers with iTunes was announced last year. When it was released March 21 this year, the people who purchased it bemoaned the limited hard drive space (40 GB) and other functions that the Apple TV lacked. Barring any modification to the product, customers were stuck with the one model they released.

Now, rumors on Digg have been surfacing that new versions of the Apple TV are going to be released. This started when one Apple TV Hacks reader eirikso pointed out that the Apple TV is being presented in the same manner as products with multiple versions. If you look carefully at The Apple Store's page for the Apple TV, you will see that it says "select your Apple TV" in the upper left quadrant of the screen. What's there to select when only one model was released? Hmm...

So far there has been no word from Apple whether the rumors are unfounded or if the new version of the product is going to be released. More on this as more news surface.

In the UK, the prices for Apple's fifth-generation (5G) iPods have been lowered. This is good news for people who want to pick up an iPod, but aren't happy with its price tag. Unfortunately, the price drop does not include the iPod Nano and the iPod Shuffle, so if you were planning on picking up either of those two models, you may have to wait a bit longer.

Anyway, the 30GB iPod's price has been lowered to £179 (about US$ 352) from its original £189 (around US$ 372), while the 80GB iPod dropped to £239 (US$ 470) from £259 (US$ 510). It was mentioned that there has been a price drop in Spain as well, with the 30 GB iPod dropping from �279 (US$ 373) to �259 (US $ 346). Some bad news for US consumers though, as the US iPod store has not followed suit, and the 30 GB model is still being sold for US$ 249, while the 80 GB version is still going for US$ 349.

Some have been saying that the price cuts are being done because a new iPod is coming out, while others believe that this decision may have been influenced by the fact that the iPhone (which can also be used to store and play back music) is set to be released soon. In any case, we'll have to wait and see since Apple has not given any official word regarding this recent move of theirs.

 

We're truly not sure what to make of this rumor. Hey, if you've seen it yourself, maybe you should go ahead and tell us. But our source says that recently, a UK Apple store came out with an ad for a Mac Pro Â?Now quad-core or 8-core processing power. Configure yours todayÂ?. By the way, we came up with a story of the possibility of an 8-core Mac Pro last year.

The source even has a screenshot. Although we can't really confirm if this could actually be true, if an 8-core processor is really going to be released (and advertised at retailer sites at that), the lesson of the story is that it's nice to dream. Apple allegedly removed the ad quickly from the website. We're left wondering why it ever happened in the first place...

Ever been frustrated over conflicting policies? Well, Meghann Marco from The Consumerist thinks that these problems shouldn't even exist.

There seems to be some confusion with the policy when buying items with gift cards. According to one FAQ sheet, there are no limit to the number of cards you can use to purchase from 1-800-MY-APPLE. On the Apple website, there appears to be two separate FAQs available, though both state basically the same thing. As an answer to the question "Can I use multiple gift cards when making a purchase?"

• Yes. You can use up to six cards when making a purchase at a retail Apple Store and up to four cards at the online Apple Store . There is no limit to the numbers of cards you can use when making a purchase through 1-800-MY-APPLE.
• Yes. You can use up to six cards when making a purchase at a retail Apple Store and up to four cards at the online Apple Store or when making a purchase through 1-800-MY-APPLE.

Some customers are already scratching their heads over the gift card limit, and we've yet to see some response from Apple. Let's hope they eventually get it straight. Nobody wants irate customers.

A lot of people have been desperately waiting for news regarding the release date of the Apple TV. Just to keep you on your toes (just kidding), here's a still-to-be-confirmed update on the little doodad's release.

Matt Buchanan of Gizmodo recently posted about his experience in the Soho Apple Store, where he "played the dumb consumer" in order to get some details on the Apple TV's actual ship date. According to Buchanan, store employees pointed towards a February 27 ship date, although an "if we get it then" comment from the very same employees keeps that date from being a lock.

Still, it looks like the Apple TV will definitely be making its way to retail stores sometime by the end of this month or the beginning of March. Keep checking back here at the QJ Apple blog for more updates.

While the medical community is still scrambling to find a cure for AIDS, it doesn't mean you can't fight it. The iPod with the heart of gold, also known as the the iPod nano RED, is Apple's way of helping fight AIDS in Africa. The company pledged to give US$ 10 from the sale of of its special edition Red iPod nano.

Initially, the the iPod nano RED was available only in 4GB (US$ 199). But the company has just released an 8GB version for those of you who want to fight AIDS and store 2,000 songs and 25,000 photos on a digital music player. Aside from a bigger capacity, the iPod nano RED also features:

• Brilliant, 1.5-inch color display
• Up to 24 hours of battery life
• Seamless iTunes integration
• A durable aluminum enclosure
• An eye-catching red color that says you care
  

The iPod nano RED is expected generate millions of dollars for The Global Fund. Apple also plans to donate proceeds from iTunes Red gift card to the organization. The iPod nano RED is available at Apple Store retail locations and the Apple Store online.

If you've heard rumors of a red iPod and just started drooling uncontrollably out of sheer lust, then you can start turning all that pent up emotion into kinetic energy and make a dash for your favorite Apple store. Yes people, the red Nano is a reality.

Looking as red as a cherry and retaining its trademark sleekness, the Special Edition 4GB iPod Nano RED has everything you love about the Nano: it's lightweight, has a 1.5-inch color display, battery life for up to 24 hours, and it only costs $199. Also, $10 from every one of these babies sold goes directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. A very good deal for a very good cause.

Ron Johnson, Senior Vice-President of Retail for Apple Computer, recently gave a talk about the booming success of the Apple stores all around the world. In fact, only just the other day, the millionth customer of the Apple Store at Fifth Avenue walked in (and walked out with a bag of goodies). Johnson had a couple of points about expanding their retail outlets, but the long and short of it is:

• They plan to open 40 new stores this year
• Redesign store layouts
  
• Stores would conduct special events like software tutorial classes
• Average revenue per Apple Store per week is $440,000
• Average of 10,900 visitors per Apple Store per week

These are just some of what he'd mentioned, but all in all, the question is: why are Apple Stores so successful? Johnson states that the key to their retailing success is innovation and the power of enriching the lives of others. And with regards to their plan about redesigning the stores, they are planning to pattern it after the one at Fifth Avenue.

Well, at the rate things are going, especially with regards to the Apple's design philosophy of simplicity and clean white-space, we're bound to experience more of the Apple touch in the new Apple Stores. Let's just all hope that, when these new stores pop up like mushrooms after rain, they have a "millionth customer winner" for each. That'd be fun!