Panasonic and Apple announce collaboration

Panasonic and Apple have announced they are collaborating on two important technologies for the professional video industry: the addition of FireWire to upcoming Panasonic DVCPRO50 and High Definition tape decks; and support for Panasonic's new AG-DVX100 24P Mini-DV camcorder in a future version of Final Cut Pro, Apple's professional non-linear editing application.
Stuart English, Vice President of Marketing, Panasonic Broadcast said:" Panasonic's DVCPRO and High Definition tools are leading the industry in technology innovation, and we're pleased that we share a similar vision for the professional video market with one of the most innovative hardware and software companies in the world."
FireWire, also known as industry standard IEEE 1394, is an Apple-invented technology that provides high-speed serial input/output for connecting devices such as digital camcorders to desktop and portable computers.
Panasonic will be adding FireWire to upcoming DVCPRO 50/25 switchable VTRs and new HD VTRs, making them the world's first tape decks to support full ITU-601 digital 4:2:2 quality video and High Definition video over FireWire. The addition of FireWire to the VTRs eliminates the need to add a specialized PCI capture card in the computer, as well as the need to decompress the video prior to transfer.
David Moody, Apple's Senior Director of Applications Marketing, said:" Apple and Panasonic are bringing affordable, cinematic-quality tools to visual storytellers everywhere with Final Cut Pro and Panasonic's new Mini-DV camcorder working together to support progressive scan 24 fps DV."
Panasonic's new AG-DVX100 24P DV Cinema(tm) camcorder was announced at NAB, and Apple have committed to supporting it in a future version of Final Cut Pro. This integration will allow video professionals to acquire, digitally transfer via high speed FireWire, and edit content in Final Cut Pro at the camcorder's native 24 frames per second, 480 line progressive-scan resolution.
The AG-DVX100 is the world's first mini-DV format camcorder to capture 24-frames-per-second digital video, which more closely approximates the look of film. The AG-DVX100 is equipped with three, newly-developed 1/3" 410,000-pixel progressive- scan CCDs that allow the camcorder to capture high-sensitivity images in both standard 60-field-per-second interlace scan (NTSC) and 24-frames-per-second progressive scan.
The AG-DVX100 received Videography Magazine's Vidy Award and Video Systems
Magazine's "Pick Hit" Award at NAB2002.
For more information on Panasonic professional video products, please visit: www.panasonic.com/broadcast
(KMcA)