Adobe courts video professionals in wake of uproar over Apple's Final Cut Pro X
Apple released the "revolutionary" $299 Final Cut Pro X on the Mac App Store last week and quickly found itself the target of criticism. Though response to the software has been mixed, video professionals have been especially vocal about crucial features from Final Cut Pro 7 missing in the upgrade.
"I can't believe what apple did with FCPX," one reviewer wrote on the Mac App Store, comparing the release to Microsoft's roundly criticized Windows Vista operating system update. "This is no longer a professional application... this is just an upgrade of iMovie!!"
The Cupertino, Calif., company has also drawn ire from customers by reportedly designating earlier versions of Final Cut Studio, Express and Server as "end of life." An online petition calling for Apple to either reinstate Final Cut Studio 3, restore Final Cut Pro and downgrade Final Cut Pro X to a "prosumer" product or sell the FCP 7 source code has drawn more than 4,500 signatures.
Dissatisfied customers have reported receiving refunds and surprisingly candid emails from Apple representatives as the company attempts to avoid a public relations debacle. Final Cut Pro X project managers also attempted to defuse the situation by speaking with technology journalist David Pogue to clear up some misunderstandings regarding supposed missing features in the release.
With negative publicity over Final Cut Pro X reaching a near fever pitch, Adobe is attempting to drum up support for its competing Premiere Pro. Public relations representatives for the company have called attention to documents assisting users in switching from Final Cut Pro to Premiere Pro, as well as testimonials from industry professionals using the company's products.
During the preview event for Final Cut Pro in April, Apple boasted 2 million users with a 94 percent satisfaction rate. That satisfaction rate has likely dropped significantly since the release of FCP X, as the application currently has an average rating of 2 1/2 stars with 599 1 star ratings out of a total of 1348.
Apple also claimed the Final Cut Pro user base is growing twice as fast as its competitors, with Adobe and Avid "in a race for second place." By comparison, Adobe touts 22 percent year over year growth in Adobe pro video sales and 45 percent growth on the Mac. The company boasted 2.3 million Adobe Premiere Pro seats in 2010.
120 Comments
I was thinking about this today.
Going from FCP7 to FCPX is a major change, literally asking everyone to relearn a new editing program. It is not FCP, it is simply a new program. Had another company put this out, it would likely fail. Adobe Premiere is more similar to FCP7 than FCPX is.. and having been a FCP user for many years, if I had to choose one right now, I would go to Adobe. Their production suite is now a better solution than FCPX. Even if they add some of the features back, I really think Apple has screwed themselves.
Called iKeys Pro X. Being touted as revolutionary, the new keyboard discards the inefficient and archaic QWERTY key arrangement in exchange for a new arrangement designed by Apple. Apple is dedicated to extending the keyboards connectivity, as currently the keyboard doesn't connect to any hardware. Nor will it work with any previously written documents. Sales off all other keyboards have declared end-of-life by Apple and are as of today, withdrawn from stores. The resulting furor from professional writers pushed Apple product managers to contact a noted blogger on children's toys and explain through her how the iKeys Pro X's supposedly missing features are actually hidden in the keyboard or are planned improvements. By Sept 2011, Apple plans to reintroduce the letter "R".
Next, Apple plans introduce their own car. It's called the Trabant.
I was thinking about this today.
Going from FCP7 to FCPX is a major change, literally asking everyone to relearn a new editing program. It is not FCP, it is simply a new program. Had another company put this out, it would likely fail. Adobe Premiere is more similar to FCP7 than FCPX is.. and having been a FCP user for many years, if I had to choose one right now, I would go to Adobe. Their production suite is now a better solution than FCPX. Even if they add some of the features back, I really think Apple has screwed themselves.
Shh... You'll soon be called an "Apple-basher" and "whiner"... Some on these forums will even tell you, "Go ahead, use Adobe Premiere, good riddance to you".
I don't think Steve Jobs can fire anyone for this. This is not a problem of execution, this is one of faulty decisions made about product features and positioning. And my understanding is Steve Jobs and only Steve Jobs makes that call.
Called iKeys Pro X. Being touted as revolutionary, the new keyboard discards the inefficient and archaic QWERTY key arrangement in exchange for a new arrangement designed by Apple. Apple is dedicated to extending the keyboards connectivity, as currently the keyboard doesn't connect to any hardware. Nor will it work with any previously written documents. Sales off all other keyboards have declared end-of-life by Apple and are as of today, withdrawn from stores. The resulting furor from customers pushed Apple product managers to contacted a noted blogger on the price of tea in China, and explain to her how some of missing features are actually hidden in the keyboard and or planned improvements. By Sept 2011, Apple plans to reintroduce the letter "R".
Brilliant first post! I'll take the liberty of quoting it in the other Final Cut Pro X thread.