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iMovie update reveals new Apple video format

In minor update to iMovie, Apple unveils a major new video format it has developed. Dubbed iFrame, it produces much smaller file sizes, while maintaining high quality.

Jim Dalrymple Special to CNET News
Jim Dalrymple has followed Apple and the Mac industry for the last 15 years, first as part of MacCentral and then in various positions at Macworld. Jim also writes about the professional audio market, examining the best ways to record music using a Macintosh. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. He currently runs The Loop.
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Like most companies, Apple periodically releases software updates for its applications, fixing minor issues. However, an iMovie update released on Tuesday revealed a brand new video format the company has been developing.

Apple

Dubbed iFrame, the new video format is based on industry standard technologies like H.264 video and AAC audio. As expected with H.264, iFrame produces much smaller file sizes than traditional video formats, while maintaining its high-quality video. Of course, the smaller file size increases import speed and helps with editing video files.

iMovie 8.0.5 released on Tuesday adds compatibility with camcorders using the iFrame video format. Currently there are two cameras that support iFrame: the Sanyo VPC-HD2000A and the Sanyo VPC-FH1A.

The two cameras were introduced earlier Tuesday and default to shooting video in the new format. iFrame shoots at 960x540. The cameras can also record in high-definition 1080p (1920x1080), as well as high-speed video formats for slow-motion playback, according to Sanyo.

Apple hasn't said how long it has been working on iFrame or if other video camera manufacturers would adopt the format. The company also didn't say when support for the iFrame format would be added to its Final Cut Pro video-editing suite.

The iMovie update can be downloaded from Apple's Web site or from the software update mechanism in Mac OS X.