iMovie '08 (7.0.x) Special Report: Import issues: AVCHD, Keynote

Some users report problems with importing certain filetypes into iMovie '08 -- particularly Keynote presentations.

One reader writes:

"iMovie 08 is not able to import videos made from keynote. I have exported keynote presenstation into all three formats DV, mpeg4 and .mov. When I try to import into imovie they are all greyed out, luckily I downloaded imovie HD 06 , when I try to import the exact same files, they are not greyed out and I have no problems."

Meanwhile users report that AVCHD videos are scaled down during input, making the purported support of this format much less useful.

"Sony Camcorder users are sucked into iMovie '08 with Apple's claim that it does AVCHD. In fact, it almost does AVCHD videos, but it dumbs them down to SD, Standard TV size and resolution: Max resolution is 960 x 540 - less than a standard, non-HD TV set. Apple should announce 'up front' that it doesn't do HD as produced by "AVCHD" camcorders - not to do so is un-Apple like.

"I am using a Sony HDR-SR1 camcoder. I want to record and display AVCHD video which calls for an approximation of HD (TV) 1440 x 1080 or 720. Clearly my monitor (Apple 30 "cinema") display and computer Mac Pro should be able to handle images of this size. I bought iLife 08 because it claims to make AVCHD possible in OS X. Yet I find that error messages are displayed claiming that HD is not available in OS X 10.4 (I'm using 10.4.10). In addition iLife apparently is unable even to pass off AVCHD downloads to iDVD or other DVD makers in sizes greater than "large" 960 x 540."

Index:

• Displays wrong help version, fix
• Import issues: AVCHD, Keynote
• Crashes and kernel panics, fixes
• Knowledge Base articles
• Performance problems on G5 Macs
• Poor export quality; update to iMove 7.0.1
• Third-party plug-ins not compatible

Resources