For those of you who were disappointed when Apple completely revamped its flagship video editing software Final Cut Pro and released the somewhat controversial and feature-poor Final Cut Pro X, it seems the company has listened to your complaints. Well, at least some of them.

This week Apple released an update to Final Cut Pro X, bringing the app to version 10.0.3. The latest update adds several features that will most likely please editors including new advanced chroma keying, support for XML 1.1 and beta broadcast monitoring for Thunderbolt devices and PCIe cards.

However, the most significant addition seems to be the software’s new multicam editing feature. This feature enables editors to sync up to 64 angles of video and photos in one timeline “automagically.” Or, if you want to get technical, the software uses time of day, timecode, markers, or audio waveforms to sync. Although, we think “automagically” sounds cooler.

The Final Cut Pro v10.0.3 update is available now and is free for all existing Final Cut Pro X users. New users can purchase the software from Apple’s Mac App Store for $299.99 after a 30-day free trial.

Check out the full press release from Apple after the jump.

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It didn’t do it as fast as the iTunes store did for IOS apps but still, this milestone is pretty impressive. What am I talking about? Well, according to Apple, its Mac App Store has has now served more than 100 million downloads to eager customers who appreciate not having to buy a boxed product.

”In just three years the App Store changed how people get mobile apps, and now the Mac App Store is changing the traditional PC software industry,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, in a statement. “With more than 100 million downloads in less than a year, the Mac App Store is the largest and fastest growing PC software store in the world.”

See, pretty impressive. With numbers like these you have to wonder what exactly Apple has made from this? Like the iOS store, you can bet the company gets a percentage and, if rumors are to be believed, a pretty decent one.

Not bad Apple, not bad. At least we don’t have to worry about you going out of business like we used to back in the 90s. Let’s keep it that way, okay?

Click through for the full press release from Apple about this milestone.

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Well, that didn’t take very long, did it? Today Apple released an update to its operating system for Macs which brings it to version 10.7.1. The 10.7.1 update is recommended for all users running OS X Lion and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability and compatibility of your Mac, including fixes that:

• Address an issue that may cause the system to become unresponsive when playing a video in Safari
• Resolve an issue that may cause system audio to stop working when using HDMI or optical audio out
• Improve the reliability of Wi-Fi connections
• Resolve an issue that prevents transfer of your data, settings, and compatible applications to a new Mac running OS X Lion

For detailed information on this update, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4764.

We’re going to try it right now on a few of The Flickcast’s Macs. We’ll let you know if we run into any issues. Meantime, if you take the plunge, let us know how it goes in the comments.

I don’t know about you out there at other companies but we here at The Flickcast are a diverse group located in several different locations across the U.S., Canada and more. One of the ways we keep in touch and get things done is with the great innovation called Skype.

We’ve been using it for quite some time and are pleased to report that it has been updated to version 5.3 for Mac OS X. The update adds support for Apple’s latest OS X Lion operating system as well as HD video chat. Users will now be able to send and receive HD-quality video using their built-in Mac webcams or other HD-capable cameras external cameras. Nice.

According to Skype, HD will work best for those with internet connections that can maintain at least 1.5Mbps upload/download throughput. So those of you on dialup are out of luck. And really, why are you still on dialup anyway? Time to move on. The software is compatible with with OS X Leopard and later versions of Apple’s OS.

As expected, Apple today updated it’s best selling laptop, the MacBook Air, and its smallest Mac, the Mac Mini. In addition, the company released the latest version of its operating system, known as Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, for devices that are not iPhones, iPads or iPods.

The MacBook Airs now feature Intel i5 or i7 processors as well as better storage options, a Thunderbolt port and a backlit keyboard. The Mac Minis also feature i5 or i7, Thunderbolt and similar new specs bringing them in the line with the rest of Apple’s current hardware.

Here’s the specs on the new Mac computers:

• Mac mini Base model: 2.3GHz CPU with 2GB of RAM, and 500GB of storage
• Mac mini: 2.5GHz CPU with 4GB of RAM, and, 500GB of storage
• Mac mini server: 2.0GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, and two 500GB hard drives
• MacBook Air 11″: Base model: 1.6GHz CPU, 2GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage
• MacBook Air 11″: 1.6GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage
• MacBook Air 11″: Built to order model: 1.8GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage
• MacBook Air 13″: Base model: 1.7GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage
• MacBook Air 13″: 1.7GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, 256GB of storage
• MacBook Air 13″: Built to order: 1.8GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, 256GB of storage

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It’s gold baby! That’s right, the next version of Apple’s flagship operating system for Macs has just gone Gold and been seeded to developers.

The next version, known as OS X 10.7 Lion, is now at build number 11A511 and the download is available immediately on Apple’s developer website. Of course, that’s only if you’ve paid your $99.00 to be an Apple OS X developer. If not, no Lion for you — at least not yet.

Due to this being the GM and barring any major glitches with it, we should expect it to be the final version before the update is released in the wild for everyone.

That launch will be sometime next month with the update being available in Apple’s Mac App store. It will cost $29.00, which seems pretty reasonable.

With today’s update to Apple’s Mac OS X software (aka Snow Leopard), it just may be the last one we ever see. With OS X 10.7 (aka Lion) set to ship in the next few months, Snow Leopard may end up finishing its life at version 10.6.8, which is the update number released today.

This update addresses the following:

• Enhance the Mac App Store to get your Mac ready to upgrade to Mac OS X Lion

• Resolve an issue that may cause Preview to unexpectedly quit

• Improve support for IPv6

• Improve VPN reliability

• Identify and remove known variants of Mac Defender

The combo updater for 10.6.8 is available from Apple and is 1.01 GB. You can also get the delta updater by going to Software Update on your individual Mac.

For more information about the update, head on over to Apple’s website.

It was just a matter of time but according to reports, Apple has completed negotiations with all four of the major record labels including Warner Music Group, EMI Music Group, Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment and signed contracts to enable their upcoming cloud music service to go forward. Contracts with the music publishers is reportedly set to follow on Friday.

The new service, which will be called iCloud, will be offered for a free period initially to people who buy music from Apple’s iTunes digital download store. This will allow users to upload and store their music and then be able to play it from a Web browser or Internet-connected Apple device such as an iPhone or iPad.

Even though the service will start out free, the company plans to eventually charge a subscription fee, about $25 a year, for it. Apple would also sell advertising around its iCloud service. So, $25 bucks and advertising? Kinda lame Apple.

Of course, the service is initially to store uses music on the cloud but you can clearly see Apple’s intent here is to eventually offer storage of TV, Movie and other digital content as well. After all, why stop at music when the real money to be made is with other tyopes of content?

With the service set to debut soon some questions have to be asked including how much storage will be included and how easy will it be to upload your iTunes library should you choose to do it. I don’t know about you but my iTunes is very large and it would take a long time to upload. With a large library like that I can’t quite see the utility of this service, especially when I can already sync my music and more to my iPhone and iPad.

I guess we’ll see how well it works, or doesn’t, soon enough.

In direct competition with Apple’s own App Store Amazon announced late yesterday the launch of its online store for Mac OS X applications. The store, which features downloads of over 200 different software titles and 51 different games, will go head to head with Apple’s own offering.

Programs such as Microsoft Office, Intuit’s QuickBooks and games such as Dragon Age: Origins and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare are currently available. Customers can quickly purchase and download applications using their Amazon accounts, download the software and get to work. No need to wait for a box to arrive at your doorstep.

In addition, purchases are automatically backed-up in case customers need to reinstall the apps at a later date. This is a nice feature and saves customers from having to hassle with downloading again and also with backing up lots of software installers.

According to the online sales giant the “Mac Download store features an install-less download process where the customer gets just the product without any unwanted extras, making for faster and easier purchases. Plus, downloads are conveniently backed up in your Games and Software Library where you can download an unlimited number of times for personal use.”

In a not surprising move Apple has finally relented and admitted that there is actually a potential problem with the so called “Mac Defender” malware and has offered a fix on its support website. In case you haven’t been keeping up, Mac users have recently been targeted by a phishing scam that falsely claimed their computers were infected with a virus.

When redirected to an illegitimate website to deal with the “virus”, users were instructed to install “Mac Defender,” which was malware disguised as an antivirus application. Until recently, Apple had reportedly told its AppleCare support team to deny the problem exists and  “not remove or uninstall any malware” found on any computer.

But now the company has apparently changed its mind and decided to not ignore the problem and hope it goes away. Reportedly, between 60,000 and 125,000 customers had contacted Apple for solutions to this issue.

Maybe that’s why Apple decided it was time to acknowledge the problem publicly. We’ll probably never really know the whole story.

As with a lot of malware, this particular one relies on the user in order to be installed on a computer. Let this be yet another lesson, don’t believe everything you see on your computer and don’t just install something because something says you need it. Think about it first.

Click through for the removal steps as posted by Apple plus a video showing you what the malware looks like. Any Mac users out there have this problem? Let us know in the comments.

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As expected, today Apple updated its lineup of all-in-on iMac desktops with faster processors and improved graphics cards. In addition, the new iMacs now feature the Thunderbolt I/O port first introduced in the most recent MacBook Pro updates as well as the new Sandy Bridge chipset.

The new, improved, iMac comes in two 21.5-inch and three 27-inch models. Here’s the specs:

iMac 21.5″

• CPU: 2.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 or 2.7 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5
• RAM: 4GB (2 x 2 GB)
• HDD: 500 GB or 1 TB hard drive
• GPU: AMD Radeon HD 6750M or AMD Radeon HD 6770M
• Other: Single Thunderbolt port, FaceTime HD camera, aluminum and glass design, IPS LED-backlit high resolution display, Mini DisplayPort, One FireWire 800 port, Four USB 2.0 ports, SDXC card slot, Slot-loading 8x • SuperDrive, Audio in/out, Gigabit Ethernet, IR receiver, 802.11 a/b/g n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and an Apple wireless keyboard with a Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad.
• Price: Starting at $1,199

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During the NAB show in Las Vegas yesterday Apple revealed the next generation of its Final Cut Pro editing software to the masses and while some may always fear change, in this case it looks like change is something to be embraced and celebrated.

According to Apple, the new FCP is “as revolutionary as the original Final Cut released back in ’99.” Sounds good, Take a look at some of the specs:

• Now 64-bit (about time)
• New UI
• Resolution independent playback system
• Handles up to 4K (good for you HD fans)
• Uses Grand Central Dispatch to utilize up to 8 cores (makes for fast workflow)
• Fully color-managed (ColorSync)
• Media ready for editing immediately (stabilization, audio and shutter correction, shot detection and preliminary color balancing automatically applied during ingest)
• Timecode-based keywording within clips
• iMovie-esque “smart collections” of clips, audio based on metadata, people in shot, etc.

Apple says Final Cut Pro X will be available in June for $299. That’s a really good price and we can’t wait to get our hands on it.