Hunter Hampton
Carbonite Member
I heard through a few people that the Final Cut technology is up for sale. One person said Sony wants it, and another said grass valley. Sounds crazy, I know. Has anyone else heard anything about this?
Apple selling Final Cut Technology?
- Thread starter Hunter Hampton
- Start date
puredrifting
Major Contributor
I would be amazed and flabbergasted if this were actually true. FCS is huge strategic tool for Apple to sell Mac Pros. Without exclusivity on FCP, Apple would lose a lot more than a software suite. Baseless rumors. Just like, "I hear Apple is going to introduce FCP for PCs". Been hearing that since V1.0 back in the day. I doubt it will happen any time soon, if ever.
Dan
Dan
Barry_Green
Moderator
It's been discussed ad nauseum. Nobody KNOWS anything about it, some fervently deny that Apple would ever sell the pro apps.
If Apple was to sell FCP, it'd probably be the best thing that could happen to FCP -- depending on who bought it. If Sony bought it, that'd be the worst thing that could happen to it (as Sony buying Vegas was the worst thing to happen to Vegas). But Grass Valley? That's an idea. Not sure if it's a good one, but it's certainly an interesting one... Ideally I'd like to see it held by an independent software group with no ties to any platform or camcorder manufacturer.
I think Vegas, pre-Sony, was the ideal model: a smallish, lightning-fast development team that could support any and every format, with no restrictions and no parental corporate political games to bow to. Their only responsibility was to us, the users. EDIUS, pre-Grass Valley, was the same way and seems to still be the same way, but I wonder if Grass Valley's ownership will change them. Adobe is independent of manufacturers and OS's, but they're also so big that it takes them forever to respond.
Personally I can't stand Apple's and Sony's "we are the one and only, you will be assimilated" attitude. If FCP got sold to an independent development team who loved the product and loved the editing experience for the end user's benefit (instead of viewing it as a tool to sell Mac hardware and to enforce Quicktime as a universal proprietary playback medium) then I think that'd be the best thing that could happen to FCP.
Undoubtedly, many will disagree.
If Apple was to sell FCP, it'd probably be the best thing that could happen to FCP -- depending on who bought it. If Sony bought it, that'd be the worst thing that could happen to it (as Sony buying Vegas was the worst thing to happen to Vegas). But Grass Valley? That's an idea. Not sure if it's a good one, but it's certainly an interesting one... Ideally I'd like to see it held by an independent software group with no ties to any platform or camcorder manufacturer.
I think Vegas, pre-Sony, was the ideal model: a smallish, lightning-fast development team that could support any and every format, with no restrictions and no parental corporate political games to bow to. Their only responsibility was to us, the users. EDIUS, pre-Grass Valley, was the same way and seems to still be the same way, but I wonder if Grass Valley's ownership will change them. Adobe is independent of manufacturers and OS's, but they're also so big that it takes them forever to respond.
Personally I can't stand Apple's and Sony's "we are the one and only, you will be assimilated" attitude. If FCP got sold to an independent development team who loved the product and loved the editing experience for the end user's benefit (instead of viewing it as a tool to sell Mac hardware and to enforce Quicktime as a universal proprietary playback medium) then I think that'd be the best thing that could happen to FCP.
Undoubtedly, many will disagree.
adkimery
Veteran
Baseless rumor.
But venturing into the realm of hypothetical, if Apple did sell FCP we'd most likely see a huge price increase unless Apple sold it to another company that would use FCP as a high profile loss leader. How many companies can afford to develop/purchase and support so many apps for such a low price?
-A
But venturing into the realm of hypothetical, if Apple did sell FCP we'd most likely see a huge price increase unless Apple sold it to another company that would use FCP as a high profile loss leader. How many companies can afford to develop/purchase and support so many apps for such a low price?
-A
That rumor was floating around for a little while, then, when Apple pulled out of the NAB, the rumor picked up steam. However, it's still a rumor, and I do agree, baseless.
Someone (in a different thread on this subject) pointed out that Apple is now focusing on hardware (iPhone, iPods, Macs, etc...), but the Final Cut franchise is still making them a lot of $$$. So it would be pretty unlikely that Apple would sell off. BUT, with these giant companies, you never really know. I also agree with Barry, that if this unlikely rumor does (one day) come true, it might not be a bad thing.
Someone (in a different thread on this subject) pointed out that Apple is now focusing on hardware (iPhone, iPods, Macs, etc...), but the Final Cut franchise is still making them a lot of $$$. So it would be pretty unlikely that Apple would sell off. BUT, with these giant companies, you never really know. I also agree with Barry, that if this unlikely rumor does (one day) come true, it might not be a bad thing.
adkimery
Veteran
The Pro Apps are getting them press and prestige, which helps sell computers, but I don't think the Pro Apps themselves generate a profit. Color is the most recent example of Apple using the Pro Apps as loss-leaders. A $25k app rolled into an already solid suite of software costing only $1299. What other companies can, and would, do that?
-A
xray
Well-known member
You can buy the Media 100 any day, back in 1997 I did, Media 100 was (like FCP now) a big name in computer editing and together with Lightworks -but more with Avid-, market leader. But then they sold it....today it is a Boris Red company.
Media 100.. anyone?
Apple survived during that period in the graphic industry, the creative people were there base, believers and creators turned the brand cool, like it is today. On that base they marketed Ipods. Apple needs the creative industry as a powerful creative intellectual group behind them. In good times.. and in bad times.
FCP with Color is part of the creative software you need to buy a fast Mac for.
Media 100.. anyone?
Apple survived during that period in the graphic industry, the creative people were there base, believers and creators turned the brand cool, like it is today. On that base they marketed Ipods. Apple needs the creative industry as a powerful creative intellectual group behind them. In good times.. and in bad times.
FCP with Color is part of the creative software you need to buy a fast Mac for.