Professional

Analyst: 'Premium' iPad 2 coming

Apple has begun production on an incremental upgrade for the iPad 2, presenting the possibility of the first instance of mainstream and high-end iPad models, according to an analyst.

"Apple is...expected to roll out a premium version of iPad 2--a higher resolution screen, front-/rear- facing HD cameras--in the current quarter," Ashok Kumar, an analyst at Rodman & Renshaw, wrote in a research note today. This follows similar reports about a high-end iPad in the works.

"It looks like Hon Hai is going into production with this new SKU," he said in a phone interview, citing supply chain sources.

Because Apple won't "sunset" the current iPad 2, just announced in March, it will be a model that "probably appeals to the publishing vertical and some other select segments," he said.

Wayne Lam, an analyst at IHS-iSuppli, said in an interview today it's "definitely within the realm of possibility. The true third-generation iPad would be on a yearly [timetable]. That said, I wouldn't preclude anything they could do incrementally."

Lam continued. "Anything modular that's in the device can be easily upgradeable. For example, the 3G module. Potentially they can upgrade to a 4G module. And the display. If it contains the same footprint, size, power requirements and if the OS supports higher resolution, [it's possible]," he said. iOS 5, due this fall, would need to support the upgrades, he said.

The cost of a better display is a concern, however, unless the iPad is a premium product targeted at certain professional segments, he said, echoing Kumar's comments. "To add incrementally more cost to it may be a challenge unless they market it as a professional version," he said. … Read more

Reviewed: Final Cut Pro X

As many probably know, Final Cut Pro X--Apple's professional video-editing software--was recently released to mixed reviews.

For our CNET review of Apple's Final Cut Pro X, we decided to try something different. Normally our Download.com staff reviews software from a consumer perspective. This time, we called in a pro user from our offices in New York. Our very own Wilson G. Tang is a CNET and CBS producer, who has directed, shot, and edited award-winning pieces. He also hosts a daily technology and culture show on CNET called The 404. As a video and film professional, he … Read more

Microsoft VP hints at Windows 8 release in fall '12

Windows 8 is scheduled to launch in fall 2012, according to hints dropped by one of the company's corporate vice presidents.

Speaking last week at an event at Microsoft's campus in Mountain View, Calif., Dan'l Lewin, Microsoft corporate vice president for Strategic and Emerging Business Development, laid out the likely scenario for Windows 8, from initial beta to final release, according to TechRadar and other sources.

Asking people to look into the crystal ball and assume that "what happened in the past is a reasonable indicator of what our forward looking timelines will be and just … Read more

My E3 travel test: iLuv's leather iPad 2 keyboard case

Can iPads replace laptops in mission-critical, hot-and-sweaty environments? My colleague Dan Ackerman gave it a go at last year's E3, and I'm giving it a try as I head to L.A. this year with a keyboard-case twist, using iLuv's new leather folio. (I'll also have a laptop backup plan.)

The Professional Case with Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad 2 doesn't have a catchy name, but this type of case isn't about looking sleek … Read more

Shoot video like a pro

The hardware and HD capabilities behind the iPhone's video camera are impressive, but its built-in controls for shooting video are frustratingly primitive for more-experienced filmmakers, and the iPhone isn't always smart about handling factors like exposure and white balance. Filmic Pro gives your camera a new front-end for shooting higher-quality video, with professional tools for controlling exposure, focal point, and more.

Filmic Pro offers an interface that is clean and simple, and all of its controls run along the bottom of screen, making it perfect for keeping a steady thumb grip on your camera. On the left, you … Read more

LinkedIn for Android

LinkedIn for Android is a free front-end app for the popular professional networking site. While the app certainly doesn't offer as much functionality as the full site, it does offer one-touch access to a few of LinkedIn's most frequently used tools.

The interface is clean and should look familiar to current users of the LinkedIn service. The home screen allows you to view and post status updates, access messages, manage connections and invitations, and of course, search through LinkedIn's huge network of professional users. There's also a nifty Reconnect button that lets you sift through users … Read more

IT pros would take salary cut to telecommute

A significant number of IT professionals say they'd take a salary cut for the chance to work from home full time, according to a survey from techie job site Dice.

Thirty-five percent of 937 IT pros surveyed in mid-March said they would accept up to a 10 percent pay cut to telecommute in light of soaring gas prices,

A 10 percent slice in the average technology professional's salary would translate into $7,800 less earned per year, according to Dice.

Thirty-six percent responded no, insisting on the same pay for the same work. Another 9 percent said they … Read more

Canon firmware update eases 3D shooting with XF300 series pro camcorders

In advance of next week's NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) show, Canon announced the intent to ship a summer firmware update for its XF300 and XF305 pro camcorders, thus bringing them into parity with the cheaper XF100 series.

The update will deliver the same 3D Shooting Assist features: the ability to use the image stabilizer to shift the optics for alignment across camcorders and a Focal Length Guide for calibrated zooming. It also adds up/down/left/right image inversion to the Scan Reverse function. Even if you don't shoot 3D there's reason to update: the firmware … Read more

Jack White is no fan of digital audio

I devoured Tape Op magazine's interview with Jack White III (the White Stripes), mostly because the man is as obsessed with sound quality as I am. The interview was conducted by Tape Op's editor, Larry Crane, but it sounds more like a freewheeling conversation than an interview. Crane founded the magazine 15 years ago, and it now has a circulation of 55,000 print copies.

White never takes the easy way with his music and recording, and prefers analog tape machines, "I like the constriction of 8-track. I like knowing in the back of my head that … Read more

Lexar ships 128GB SDXC memory card

If Lexar's recently reviewed 128GB Echo MX thumbdrive makes you wonder when you'll have something like the same capacity for your camera, the answer is here.

Lexar announced today that it is now shipping the first 128GB Professional Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC) memory card.

First announced at CES 2011, the new SDXC memory card comes in two capacities, 128GB and 64GB, and offers speeds of up to 133x (about 20MBps). This means the new card enables you to take multiple hi-def photos continuously or record extended-length 1080p HD videos without having to stop and swap the memory … Read more