AWN Headline News

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that prosecutors may use computer animation to illustrate their murder case, but the animation has to be relevant and must authentically depict the crime scene, reports THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER.

On April 25, 2006, the court said that the animation was handled properly in the case of Michael Serge, 60, a retired Scranton police detective who shot and killed his estranged wife. Serge claimed that she had attacked him with a knife and was too intoxicated to have intended to kill her. He is now serving a life sentence.

Apple unveiled its new 17-inch MacBook Pro notebook computer featuring the Intel Core Duo processor and an all new system architecture that delivers up to five times the performance of the PowerBook G4. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro features an aluminum enclosure just one inch thin, weighs only 6.8 pounds, includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go and the Front Row media experience with Apple Remote. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro also features a MagSafe Power Adapter, invented by Apple especially for mobile users.

Boris FX unveiled the next generation of its award-wining Boris Red at NAB 2006. Boris Red is an integrated 3D compositing, titling and effects solution that provides integrated broadcast-quality features directly inside nonlinear editing systems. Version 4.0 introduces hundreds of new features, including more than 40 new filters, 16-bit color support and a sophisticated new paint engine.

Avid Technology Inc. announced version 5.5 of Avid Studio Toolkit, which delivers significant enhancements to a set of tightly integrated, industry-leading software applications, including Avid 3D, Avid FX, and Avid DVD by Sonic. Ideal for any content creator using Avid Xpress Pro software as well as any system in the new Media Composer family. Avid Studio Toolkit delivers new creative toolsets and user interfaces for Avid FX and Avid 3D, as well as enhanced authoring options, including support for the Blu-ray Disc format.

Sony Pictures Home Ent. released FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN on DVD and UMD, April 25, 2006. With direction and character designs from Tetsuya Nomura, the creator of the FINAL FANTASY VII, VIII & X games, this 100-minute feature includes the voices of Steve Burton (THE LAST CASTLE, TAKEN), Rachel Leigh Cook (JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS) and Mena Suvari (AMERICAN BEAUTY). The two-disc Special Edition will sell for $26.96.

At NAB, AMD demonstrated growing momentum for AMD64 technology adoption in broadcast and digital media pipelines for the production, management and distribution of digital media content.

Cartoon Network and VIZ Media announced a joint venture called Toonami Jetstream, a new broadband service that will provide on-demand, full-length streaming episodes of a number of hit anime and action series, including NARUTO and SAMURAI JACK. In addition, users will also be able to watch full-length episodes of series like HIKARU NO GO, MÄR and THE PRINCE OF TENNIS that are not offered on U.S. broadcast or basic cable television. In this joint venture, Cartoon Network and VIZ Media will jointly manage and administer acquisitions and programming.