The Software Store

Coherence 4.0 makes Windows programs run and act like Mac applications. Click to enlarge.

Run Mac OS X and Windows side-by-side. Click to enlarge.

Comprehensive internet security and privacy tools. Click to enlarge.

Performance and Innovation Make Parallels #1. Now Includes More than 50 Powerful New Features! Click to enlarge.

Run Windows on Your Mac the Easy Way. Right Alongside Mac OS X.
Parallels Desktop for Mac makes it possible to run Windows XP or Vista, Linux, and more side-by-side with Mac OS X without rebooting. With Parallels' award-winning virtualization technology, you can run Mac OS X and your favorite Windows applications at the same time. You can even drag-and-drop files between desktops! Launch Windows applications like Mac applications--right from your Mac's dock.

Parallels Desktop for Mac 4.0 is the biggest upgrade ever with over 50 new features. It also comes with a complete suite of essential tools you need to run Windows on a Mac. Parallels Desktop now ships with $175 in bonus software including Kaspersky Internet Security, Acronis Disk Director and Acronis True Image.

Lightning-fast performance
Parallels Desktop takes advantage of Intel Core Duo and Core 2 Duo processors and Intel VT-x hardware accelerated virtualization, for near-native speed and rock-solid performance. With support for up to 8 GB RAM, 2TB virtual hard disks and up to 4 CPUs, Parallels Desktop for Mac delivers maximum performance.

Unmatched Compatibility
Enjoy all the benefits of having a Mac and keep running the Windows programs you can't live without. Parallels Desktop for Mac runs thousands of Windows applications and is compatible with your favorite USB devices including mobile phones, printers, scanners and GPS devices. With Parallels Desktop you can run any version of Windows, including Vista and XP, as well as Linux, FreeBSD, even MS-DOS, at the same time as OS X! Parallels also supports running Mac OS X Leopard Server in a virtual machine.

Remotely manage your Parallels virtual machine with our Free iPhone App. Click to enlarge.

Comprehensive Protection and Privacy
Parallels Internet Security by Kaspersky protects your Windows programs from virus and spyware threats and even includes a firewall and anti-spam tools. Parallels Desktop also includes SmartGuard instant "snapshots" which make backup and recovery easier than ever.

Features

• Advanced virtualization engine with lightning-fast performance
• Use Windows on your Mac without rebooting
• Install Windows XP and Vista in 3 easy steps
• New--Coherence 4.0 makes Windows programs run and act like Mac applications
• Run thousands of Windows applications at near native speed
• New--Support for OpenGL and DirectX 9.0 3D graphics software including games
• Drag and drop files between Windows XP, Vista and Mac OS X.
• New--Parallels Energy Saver maximizes notebook battery life
• New--Built-in Windows virus and spyware protection
• Migrate your existing PC to your Mac. Even import Boot Camp partitions and VMware Fusion virtual machines.
• New--Use iPhone to manage virtual machines
• New--Speech recognition support. Use your voice to control major Parallels commands.
• Unmatched Ease of Use

Includes $175 in Essential Windows Software

• Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 protects against virus and spyware threats, plus firewall and antispam. $79.99 value
  
  
• Acronis TrueImage Home backup and recovery software for Windows. $49.99 value
  
  
• Acronis Disk Director Suite disk partitioning software for Windows. $49.95 value

With more than 1 million users worldwide, the award-winning Parallels Desktop for Mac is the #1 Mac System Utility.*

90 Day Money Back Guarantee
If you are not completely satisfied with Parallels Desktop for Mac for any reason, you may return the software directly to Nova Development within 90 days of purchase for your money back.

*No. 1 claim based on NPD Techworld Reports for the period 8/1/06 - 8/31/08. Reviews and awards cited may be for previous versions of Parallels Desktop for Mac. Windows operating system sold separately.

For Web browsing, XP comes with Internet Explorer 6.0. The enhancements in IE 6.0 are mainly of interest to Web developers, and in any case Microsoft makes IE freely available to all Windows users. Although Java is not installed by default, it is not difficult to download a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Windows Messenger, originally a chat client, has evolved into a collaboration tool that allows for video conferencing and application sharing.

The XP user interface is not a radical departure from earlier versions of Windows, but there are a number of small changes that together add up to a significant improvement. The Start menu now automatically features the most frequently used programs at the top of the list, and you can add and remove shortcuts by right-clicking the icon and selecting Pin or Unpin from the pop-up menu. Windows online help is integrated into a Help and Support Center that works like an internal Web site, with searchable help, tutorials, and walk-throughs.

Windows XP Professional includes all the features of Windows XP Home, and adds support for dual processors, encryptable file systems, offline folders, the Remote Desktop as described above, and extra administration features that come into play when connected to a Windows server domain. XP is demanding on hardware, and it would be a mistake to install it on less than Microsoft's recommended minimum requirements. There is also activation to consider, a mildly annoying anti-piracy measure that requires you to obtain a code from Microsoft for full installation, and in the future if you reinstall or make major system changes.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Features

Explore Ether and its 20 new zones, including the overland zone of Innothule. View larger.

Special Pewter Bear Figurine Included in Box
A special pewter dire bear figurine is an included bonus with this set. The bear is a new addition to the game, either a pet or mount depending what level you are, and gains experience and levels with you. This collectible pewter replica will look great on your desk as a reminder of your digital friend.

New Worlds and Nostalgic Places to Explore
At the heart of The Shadow Odyssey is a new realm called the Ether, with 20 new zones including a new overland zone, Innothule. Players will enjoy the added pieces of nostalgia with familiar dungeon themes from EverQuest such as Najena, Mistmoore, and The Sebilisian Empire. There are also five new Heritage Quests, and more than 18 goal-based dungeons such as Befallen and Ruins of Guk.

The story unfolds along with the hundreds of new quests and dozens of new creatures. As you fight, you learn a little more about this new world and the challenges that must be overcome in it.

New Mounts, New Deities
Players will now be able to ride new mounts such as a bear and a unicorn. Two new deities have also been introduced into Norrath: Rodcet Nife and Anashti Sul. Players can also now ride airships to travel between distant lands.

A New Group of Erudites Offer New Loot
Along with the new realm and new enemies are new equipment, weapons, armor, and other loot. Players can get them by bartering the void shards earned during your encounters with a mysterious group of Erudites who have powerful new armor and equipment.

Legends of Norrath Online Card Trading Game Included
Legends of Norrath, a strategic online trading card game, is included in The Shadow Odyssey expansion. The card game tells the story thousands of years before the events in The Shadow Odyssey, giving players a chance to learn the realm's history. Players can gain new loot cards for EverQuest II, including rare items, new mounts, cloaks, consumables, and baubles.

All-In-One Compilation Pack Includes Previous Releases
The Shadow Odyssey is an All-In-One expansion pack that includes all previous expansion and adventure packs for EverQuest II. This means that you'll have access to the entire EverQuest II world and have a chance to catch up on any adventures you might have missed.

Reliable, industry-leading protection for everything computer users care about--without sacrificing PC performance. Click to enlarge.

Key Technologies

Antivirus Antispyware Email scanning Antiphishing Rootkit detection Identity protection Web site authentication Network monitoring

Firewall protection Automatic backup and restore 2 GB of secure online storage PC performance tuneups Automatic updates Embedded support Optional Antispam and Parental controls

Comprehensive, automated protection.

Enhanced performance
Provides industry-leading protection without sacrificing performance:

• Fast scan and browse speeds
• Less memory use than the average used by competing products
• PC Security with industry leading virus, spyware and firewall protection

Identity Safe
New--Protects your personal information and your identity when you buy, bank, and browse online:

• Blocks fraudulent Web sites and verifies trusted ones
• Conveniently and securely manages user names and passwords for you
• Phishing Protection guards online attempts to steal your personal information by blocking fraudlent websites and verifies trusted ones.

Backup and restore:

• Protects photos, music, and documents with automated backup
• Supports new backup destinations including Blu-ray Disc, HD-DVD, and iPod
• Automatically detects and backs up your critical files
• Includes 2 GB of secured online storage (with option to purchase additional storage)

Network monitoring:

• Lets you view your wireless network and each device connected to it
• Displays the security status of all the Norton products on your network
• Alerts you when you connect to an unsecured wireless network

Browser Protection
Protects against Web-based drive-by downloads that use vulnerabilities in your browser to insert malware on your PC

Easy protection of your PC and online activities
Norton 360 threat handling, scans, and tuneups are conducted quietly in the background:

• Automatically optimizes and maintains your PC for peak performance
• Automatically cleans up unnecessary Internet clutter and temporary files
• Helps optimize Windows¨ performance by removing unneeded registry files

One-click support
Provides one-click access to expert support right from your Norton product:

• Fast access to expert support through email, live chat, or phone

Protection updates
Includes protection updates and new product features as available throughout the renewable service period 

Ongoing protection
Keeps your computer protected from the latest Internet risks by automatically renewing your subscription at the regular subscription price (plus applicable tax), so you don't have to do it. For more information, click here.

Optional antispam and parental controls
Enables you to download antispam and parental controls via the Norton Add-on Pack

Free Technical Support
NEW! Free tech support delivers the help you need, however you need it.

Which Norton Solution Is Right For Me?

Product Overview See how Quicken Home & Business 2009 can help you save. Quicken Home & Business Overview (1:42)

Watch introductory videos and get step-by-step instructions on how to add your online banking and credit card accounts.

Quicken shows you what's coming in, going out, and most importantly, what's left over each month to spend or save.

See what bills have already been paid, what's coming up, and if you have enough left in your accounts to cover them -- all in one convenient place.

Manage both your personal and business finances together in one place
Bring your personal finance and home based business accounts together -- including online banking, credit card, loan, 401(k) and investing accounts. Avoid the hassle of going to multiple web sites. Now you can see it all in one place with just ONE password. Access over 6,000 banks, brokerages and other financial institutions -- including PayPal. (1)

Track business expenses paid for with a personal account
Because Quicken Home & Business tracks both your personal and business finances, it's easy to track business expenses you paid for with a personal account -- i.e., office supplies on a personal credit card or dinner out with a client you paid for with personal cash.

Instantly see how your home based business is doing
The Business tab gives you an overall snapshot of what's coming in for the month, what's going out, and what's left in your accounts. Easily track your business' profit or loss -- check in anytime to see how your home business is growing.

Never miss a bill
See what bills have already been paid, what's coming up and if you have enough left in your accounts to cover them -- all in one convenient place. Set reminders to pay bills on time and instantly check past bills if you need to verify an unusual charge or transaction.

Save money and shop smart
Quicken's new, free service -- Quicken Picks -- helps you make the most of every dollar. Quicken Picks seeks out the best online coupons and discount offers just for you -- on the stuff you care about. And with Quicken Picks, you get cashback on all your purchases, helping you save even more. You can sign up for Quicken Picks anytime within your Quicken 2009 software.

Watch your savings grow
An insightful "My Savings Plan" summarizes your actual spending and compares it to what you planned to spend for the month. Quickly understand what's left over each month for you to invest.

Optimize your complete investment portfolio online
The Quicken.com Investing Portfolio gives you a 360° view across all of your investments -- anytime, from anywhere. Define goals, set targets, and perform thorough analysis of your 401(k), mutual funds, and stock investing with advanced tools and investing reports. Get alerts on your favorite stocks and funds to help you make informed decisions about your portfolio.

Maximize deductions and simplify your taxes
Make sure you capture all your deductions -- including mileage and expenses for specific jobs, or even household expenses that you can partially write off. The business tax deduction summary lets you instantly see your tax deduction status throughout the year to help avoid any April 15th surprises. Easily export your data directly to TurboTax for fast and accurate tax preparation. (2)

Get help and guidance when you need it
In the Setup tab, you can watch introductory videos and get step-by-step instructions on how to add your online banking and credit card accounts. Enjoy guidance and helpful tips on every page to help you stay on top of regular tasks like downloading transactions or scheduling bills. Instantly connect to the Quicken Community.

Enjoy free support when you buy, install or upgrade Quicken
If you need help purchasing, installing or upgrading your new personal finance software, free phone support is available for Quicken Premier 2009 through December 31, 2009. For more information, visit our Help & Support area. (3)

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
If you're not 100% satisfied, return Quicken Home & Business 2009 finance software with your dated receipt within 60 days of purchase for a refund of the purchase price (Return shipping and handling charges are not included). (4)

What's New in 2009

Improved! Never miss a bill
See what bills have already been paid, what's coming up and if you have enough left in your accounts to cover them -- all in one convenient place. Set reminders to pay bills on time and instantly check past bills if you need to verify an unusual charge or transaction.

New! Save money and shop smart
Quicken's new, free service -- Quicken Picks -- helps you make the most of every dollar. Quicken Picks seeks out the best online coupons and discount offers just for you -- on the stuff you care about. And with Quicken Picks, you get cashback on all your purchases, helping you save even more. You can sign up for Quicken Picks anytime within your Quicken 2009 software.

Improved! Optimize your complete investment portfolio online
With a new look and feel and smarter navigation, the new Quicken.com Investing Portfolio gives you a 360° view across all of your investments -- anytime, from anywhere. Define goals, set targets, and perform thorough analysis of your 401(k), stock investments, and mutual funds with advanced tools and investing reports. Get alerts on your favorite stocks and funds to help you make informed decisions about your portfolio.

New! Get help and guidance when you need it
Enjoy guidance and helpful tips on every page to help you stay on top of regular tasks like downloading transactions or scheduling bills. Instantly connect to the Quicken Community.

Improved! Connect to more financial institutions
We are constantly adding new financial institutions to help you better connect to all of your accounts. Quicken Home & Business 2009 personal finance software now offers access to over 6,000 banks, brokerages and other financial institutions -- including PayPal.

What's more, we make it easy to upgrade
Jump right in -- Quicken 20009 easily reads and imports your existing Quicken data.

Join the battle

Featuring a tense storyline, filled with plot twists, the title thrusts players into battle like never before. With amazing special effects, including rim-lighting, depth of field, texture streaming and character self-shadowing, players are enlisted into one of the most photo-realistic gaming experiences imaginable.

The community-oriented Call of Duty 4 multiplayer gameplay features a robust leveling system, variety of unlockable perks, hot-join and matchmaking, as well as create a class and party capabilities to ensure that players of all skill levels can join in the fun. Additionally over 100 challenges and a host of new game environments and modes deliver unlimited possibilities. Infinity Ward has also included Kill-Cam, a fan favorite feature that they created in Call of Duty 2, which allows for spectator instant replays.

Key Features Authentic Advanced Weaponry - Featuring an available arsenal of more than 70 new and authentic weapons and gear from assault rifles with laser sites, claymore mines, .50 caliber sniper rifles, and M-249 SAW machine guns. Coordinated Assault and Support - Delivering the most visceral action thriller ever, the title covers modern battle from the soldier to the satellite, where the need for air support is crucial to success. The adrenaline rush deployment enlists gamers to fast-rope from tactical helicopters, ride in an armada of attack choppers, utilize jets to remove enemy strongholds and even engage hostiles from thousands of feet above the ground inside a state of the art aerial gunship. Cinematic Quality Graphics and Sound - Featuring stunning next-generation graphics, players will be drawn into the cinematic intensity of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Combine the lifelike graphics and the realistic battle chatter with the Call of Duty award-winning sound design and players will face battle as they never have before. Unparalleled Depth to Multiplayer - The highly-anticipated multiplayer builds from the success of Call of Duty 2 deliver a persistent online experience for greater community action.

All Ghillied Up View larger image From Land, Sea, or Air View larger image

System Requirements:

Powerful video editing for DV, HDV, and AVCHD. Advance your moviemaking skills with Final Cut Express 4.

More Powerful Video Editing for DV, HDV, and AVCHD
Capture clips from your camcorder over a single FireWire or USB cable, then use the new Open Format Timeline in Final Cut Express 4 to edit together DV, HDV, and AVCHD material, even if they have different frame rates. Fine-tune your choices with professional ripple, roll, slip, and slide editing functions, either in the Timeline or a dedicated Trim window. And when it comes time to add effects, Dynamic RT lets you instantly preview effects, filters, transitions, and multistream composites in real time without rendering.

A Workflow That Grows with You
Final Cut Express is designed to provide a simple, straightforward workflow. Capturing video, editing clips, and adding transitions or effects are all a click away in the intuitive, drag-and-drop interface. In addition, you can customize the interface by setting window configurations, adding shortcut buttons, and resizing track sizes and asset thumbnails to fit your preferences and streamline your workflow.

Expanded Creative Capabilities
Adding professional finishing touches to your video is possible through fine control of more than 200 transitions, filters, and effects. Combined with compositing, titling, and keyframing, they give you the ability to create visually rich, dynamic video projects. Get ready to expand your creative options too, because Final Cut Express 4 supports third party FxPlug filters and effects, the same plug-in architecture used by Final Cut Studio. And audio is not forgotten, as Final Cut Express provides 99 audio tracks with powerful sound editing tools and more than a dozen audio filters.

With the bundled LiveType 2, you can add sophisticated, HD-quality, animated text and motion graphics to videos quickly and easily. LiveType includes animated LiveFonts, over 200 preconfigured text effects, and a variety of customizable templates, backgrounds, textures, and objects that can be added to any Final Cut Express project.

More Than One Way to Show Off
Make sure everyone gets to see your finished project. Whether your final product will be output to videotape or QuickTime for distribution over the web, iPhone or iPod, you're sure to find that Final Cut Express delivers the power, quality, and features that make it the ideal choice for advanced moviemaking.

With Final Cut Express 4, you can Log and Transfer AVCHD video files quickly and easily to your Intel processor-based Mac over USB.

Selected New Features

Use Movies Captured from AVCHD Camcorders
With Final Cut Express 4, you can Log and Transfer AVCHD video files quickly and easily to your Intel processor-based Mac over USB. The Log and Transfer window allows you to review and select specific clips you want to transfer, saving you time and hard drive space. Once the clips are transferred to Apple's Intermediate Codec on your hard drive, you can start frame-accurate editing in real time, complete with multilayer video, text, or graphic compositing. Want to check your handiwork? Preview it full screen whenever you'd like using your primary or secondary display.

Mix Different Formats in a Timeline
Whether you have DV, HDV, or AVCHD content, the new Open Format Timeline in Final Cut Express 4 lets you mix and match clips, even if they use different frame sizes and frame rates. Freely edit a combination of HDV, AVCHD, and DV, including NTSC and PAL, all in real time using the same industry-leading editing and trimming tools found in Final Cut Pro. Set your sequence to an HD resolution and DV clips will be scaled to fit automatically; conversely, if your sequence is set to DV resolution, HD clips can be cropped or letterboxed for a perfect fit.

Expand Your Effects for Visually Rich Looking Movies
Final Cut Express comes with more than 200 transitions, filters, and effects including over 50 new FxPlug plug-ins. These include standard effects like dissolves, wipes, and blurs to more stylized FxPlug effects like Light Rays, Line Art and Insect Eye. When you need even more creative options, expand your effects palette using optional third-party FxPlug effects, the same plug-in architecture used by Final Cut Studio. Many FxPlug effects use your graphics card for accelerated rendering--so the better your graphics card, the faster your FxPlug rendering.

Bring Your iMovie '08 projects into Final Cut Express 4
Moving from iMovie '08 to Final Cut Express is easy: iMovie projects can be exported directly to Final Cut Express--with all of their cuts and dissolve transitions intact. All you do is open the Final Cut XML document and start using the advanced functions of Final Cut Express to enhance your iMovie '08 projects.

Powerful Editing with Final Cut Express
Final Cut Express puts professional-style editing controls in your hands, allowing you to drag clips directly to a track or use the overlay controls in the Canvas. And because editing in Final Cut Express is nondestructive, you can experiment with changes without modifying your source footage. The editing palette contains tools to cut and modify clips in the Timeline: Cut clips into two pieces, change the duration of a clip, change the duration of two clips simultaneously, move In and Out points, reselect a new range of frames within a clip, and resize or extend an edit.

Managing windows is also flexible and easy, so you can tailor the workspace to suit your needs.

Trimming is used to fine-tune a sequence by adding or subtracting frames from the In or Out point of a clip.

Use color correction to create contrast or special effects.

When working with large projects or sequences that contain repetitive effects, filters, and motion, it is often convenient to copy and paste the attributes from one clip to another.

Make Professional Edits
Once you've captured some or all of the clips that will go into your finished movie, it's time to begin editing. You will find a way to edit that is comfortable for you; Final Cut Express is extremely flexible. When you have assembled an edited sequence, you can trim your edits and modify your sequence in several ways as well.

• Using visual controls in the interface
• Directly manipulating your clips using the mouse in the Timeline
• Using keyboard shortcuts

True nondestructive, nonlinear editing
Final Cut Express 4 provides true nonlinear editing capabilities for the DV, HDV, and AVCHD formats. All editing is nondestructive to the original footage on your hard drive. Clips in Final Cut Express are merely pointers to the original source material, so any deletion or duplication of clips in the project, trimming changes, effects, or other alterations you make do not affect the source files themselves.

Editing tools at work
Professional-style editing means frame-accurate control over trimming your clips, more flexibility in making edits in the Timeline, and unlimited editing creativity. The editing tools in the palette include the following:

• Razor blade. Cuts a single clip into two pieces. This can be useful for quickly rearranging pieces of your sequence, deleting a section of a clip, applying an effect to a specific part of a clip, or moving a piece of a clip to the same location on another track.
• Ripple edit. Changes the duration of a clip. It moves the location of either the Out point preceding or the In point following an edit point. The duration of the clip to the left or the right of the edit point is shortened or lengthened to fit the new edit point without changing the location of the edit in the sequence.
• Roll edit. Changes both the selected clip and an adjacent clip. This type of edit adjusts the location of an edit point shared by two clips; the Out point of the first clip and the In point of the second clip are moved or rolled. This changes the location of the edit in the sequence as well as the duration of each clip. Roll edits are useful when you want to match the action of one clip with the action of another and need to find the right intersecting frames.
• Slip edit. Moves the In and Out points of a clip simultaneously while maintaining its duration and position in the edited sequence. Surrounding clips are not affected, just the range of frames in the clip. This is useful for adjusting footage you've edited into your sequence without moving it in the Timeline.
• Slide edit. Moves an entire clip along with the edit points to its left and right. The duration of the clip being moved stays the same, but the clips to the left and right of it change duration.
• Resize edit. Extends or shortens a clip by moving the In or Out point.
• Extend edit. Allows you to move an edit point between two clips quickly. This edit moves an edit point to the position of the playhead in the Timeline.

Refine Your Edits with Trimming
After you have made your initial edits and assembled your footage in the Timeline, you can refine your sequence. Trimming is used to fine-tune a sequence by adding or subtracting frames from the In or Out point of a clip. These small adjustments to your initial edits help to create smoother edits.

Trim Edit window
This window provides very precise control while trimming. It displays both sides of an edit--the outgoing clip before the edit point and the incoming clip that appears after it--allowing you to adjust your edit with frame-level accuracy. You can also use this window to trim a group of edits in multiple tracks at once (only one edit per track).

Dynamic and asymmetric trimming
Final Cut Express includes dynamic trimming in the enhanced Trim Edit window. When dynamic trimming is on, keyboard controls allow you to trim on the fly. Move the playhead using the J, K, and L keys to find new Out and In points for the selected edit point. If dynamic trimming is turned on in the General tab of the User Preferences window, the selected edit point moves to the new position of the playhead whenever you stop. In addition, Final Cut Express supports asymmetric trimming--an advanced technique that gives you a fast way to trim multiple clips in opposite directions.

Add Transitions and Effects
Final Cut Express gives you a suite of powerful tools for adding cool effects. And since you can use third-party FxPlug filter effects, your creative options are unlimited as well. Add a transition between clips. Use the Color Corrector to fix and match clips or to create a dramatic look. Control all effects and motion parameters with keyframes for professional looks and precise timing.

See it now with real-time effects
With the real-time engine in Final Cut Express, you get superb results quickly, without rendering. RT Extreme is an enhanced multistream, real-time effects architecture that lets you view your projects without rendering as you experiment with effects, transitions, composition, and filters. Final Cut Express 4 includes Dynamic RT, which adjusts resolution and frame rate on the fly for maximum real-time performance, letting you set it and forget it.

RT Extreme leverages the strengths of Mac OS X and the Intel or PowerPC processor to support a scalable number of video streams and real-time effects: The number of available video streams and real-time effects increases as processor speeds increase. Real-time video transitions and filters appear in bold in the Effects tab and in the Effects menu to indicate that they will play back in real time. The RT Extreme pop-up menu in the Timeline gives you several options for effects processing. You can choose between various modes that deliver either maximum simultaneous streams and real-time effects or guaranteed playback without dropped frames.

• Safe. In Safe mode, Final Cut Express provides guaranteed playback of real-time effects. The number of streams and effects is based on the capabilities of your system.
• Unlimited. In Unlimited mode, Final Cut Express uses every bit of processing power available, allowing you to stack up multiple streams of video. When Unlimited is selected, you can use nearly all of the more than 200 effects, filters, and transitions in real time.
• Dynamic RT. In Unlimited RT mode, you can choose the Dynamic setting for Playback Video Quality, Playback Frame Rate, or both. In Dynamic mode, resolution and frame rate are adjusted automatically, on the fly, so you always get the optimal real-time performance at the maximum quality possible. For example, Final Cut Express will play back your project at Full Frame Rate unless it recognizes a section of the Timeline that requires a lower frame rate for real-time playback. It will adjust for that section, then automatically return to Full Frame Rate once the section is done. Dynamic RT lets you set it and forget it, confident that you are always leveraging the maximum real-time performance of your CPU.

Smooth out your transitions
A transition is a visual effect used to change from one clip in your edited sequence to the next. Transitions, especially dissolves, generally give the viewer an impression of a change in time or location. Final Cut Express comes with a variety of transitions from which to choose, including cross-dissolve, page peel, cube spin, and gradient wipe.

Use color to create better images
The color correction filters in Final Cut Express provide precise control over the look of every clip. You can adjust the color balance, hue, saturation, black levels, mids, and white levels on individual clips. Check flesh tones and other key elements for consistency and accuracy in color. Evaluate and manipulate the brightness and color levels of clips in preparation for output to tape. All the tools needed to analyze and color-correct clips are included.

You can use the two-way color corrector to adjust the angle of hue and overall balance of an image. This filter can be combined with Image Control filters as well as Matte and Key filters. The assortment of filters makes Final Cut Express exceptionally powerful and flexible for corrective finishing work. The Color Corrector has numeric controls as well as visual user interfaces. All parameters can be changed over time through the use of keyframes. Both interfaces have Limit Effect controls, allowing you to isolate color correction operations to specific areas of an image based on chrominance, luminance, saturation, or any combination. There are a number of reasons to use the color correction filters included with Final Cut Express:

• Ensuring that a project's key elements look the way they should. The color correction tools let you make whatever adjustments are necessary to ensure that the colors and the flesh tones of people in the final edited piece look the way they did in reality.
• Balancing all the shots in a scene to match. With careful color correction, all of the clips in a scene can be balanced to match one another so that they look as if they happened at the same time and in the same place, with the same lighting.
• Correcting errors in color balance and exposure. The color correction filters provide an exceptional degree of control over the color balance and exposure of clips, allowing you to perfect your adjustments.
• Achieving a "look." With color correction, you have control over whether your video has rich, saturated colors or a more muted look. Such subtle modifications can alter the perception of the scene being played, changing its mood.
• Creating contrast or special effects. Using color correction, you can subtly accentuate differences. You can also create more extreme effects, such as manipulating the colors of an exposure to achieve a day-for-night look. You can even keyframe color changes over time; for example, gradually changing a clip from sepia-toned to full color.

FxPlug filters and effects
Final Cut Express comes with more than 200 transitions, filters, and effects, including over 50 new FxPlug plug-ins that use GPU-accelerated rendering. Bundled filters and effects range from standard items like dissolves, wipes, and blurs to more stylized FxPlug effects like Light Rays, Line Art, and Insect Eye. When you need even more creative options, Final Cut Express lets you expand your effects palette with optional third-party FxPlug support, the same plug-in architecture used by Final Cut Studio.

Copy, paste, and remove attributes
When working with large projects or sequences that contain repetitive effects, filters, and motion, it is often convenient to copy and paste the attributes from one clip to another (or others). Similarly, you can remove attributes from a clip or clips. You can paste keyframes as is or scale them to fit the duration of the clip on which they are being pasted. The following attributes can be copied, pasted, or removed from any clip.

Compositing and Titles
Final Cut Express provides powerful tools to manipulate, animate, or combine images. You can achieve impressive results by layering video clips or graphics files, such as multilayered Adobe Photoshop files, to create rich visual images and animations. You can also create outstanding titles with filters, effects, and compositing.

By combining two or more video tracks, also called compositing, you can create excitement with sophisticated special effects and visually rich imagery.

Final Cut Express supports a virtually unlimited number of video, text, and graphics layers.

All parameters of an object--such as size, rotation, corner distortion, and any applied effects--are also controllable using keyframes.

LiveType 2 is a full-featured, professional-quality titling application that allows you to create dynamic, animated titles quickly and easily.

Use Multiple Video Layers
Using multiple video layers is one of the simplest and fastest ways to add a professional look to your projects. By combining two or more video tracks, also called compositing, you can create excitement with sophisticated special effects and visually rich imagery. Using the virtually unlimited number of video tracks, make dynamic, composited video--like picture-in-picture, split-screen, and video collages. A sequence can be nested as a clip in another sequence, and any changes in a nested sequence ripple through all sequences that contain it. Edited sequences are fully changeable and can be nested for reuse again and again in multiple Timelines.

Seeing your effects and compositions in real time instead of waiting for them to render lets you experiment more and spend less time editing. The RT Extreme engine intelligently scales to the capabilities of your hardware, providing dramatically more real-time effects, transitions, and video layers--even when you are using HD footage or editing on a laptop computer. Dynamic RT adjusts frame rate and resolution on the fly, so you always get the maximum real-time performance.

Professional compositing results
Final Cut Express supports a virtually unlimited number of video, text, and graphics layers. You can import Adobe Photoshop files directly into Final Cut Express either as a flattened image or with all layers maintained on separate tracks. You can then combine your Photoshop graphics with video, apply animation and effects to the layers, and add additional titles and animated elements from LiveType.

Complete control of all effects, including motion
All video layers in Final Cut Express can have motion attributes added to them for dynamic compositing. Bezier and numeric controls enable you to change the position of layers, create motion paths with or without a curve, and adjust the acceleration of objects along a path, ensuring smooth, highly sophisticated results. To create motion for an object or video layer, you create a keyframe by clicking the Add Keyframe button, move to a new point on the Timeline, and then drag the object to a new location. A path is automatically drawn. Changing the spacing of the points along the path adjusts the acceleration of the item. Adjustments are made right on the path itself, providing direct feedback on how the animation will work. All parameters of an object--such as size, rotation, corner distortion, and any applied effects--are also controllable using keyframes.

Speak with Titles
Titling provides a finishing touch, and Final Cut Express has all the tools necessary to create beautiful titles, using the built-in tools or the bundled LiveType application. Keyframe and animate titles like any other object. Make text crawl, scroll, or appear in the lower third of the screen. You can even create animated type on effects or spin text in 3D space using the Boris 3D title generator.

LiveType
LiveType 2 is a full-featured, professional-quality titling application that allows you to create dynamic, animated titles quickly and easily. With LiveFonts--fonts with their own animated behaviors--plus full support for all system fonts and a way to create new effects, LiveType is simple enough for the first-time user and powerful enough for the professional.

LiveType comes with integrated LiveFonts, as well as easily adapted project templates, customizable keyframed effects, and a library of animated content. It also includes alpha channel support, dynamic individual character control, and frame-accurate registration with Final Cut Express projects. Professionally designed templates get your project off to a fast start (you can build and save your own templates as well).

LiveType templates combine the various elements available in the application, including LiveFonts, system fonts, and animated textures and objects, into ready-touse, customizable projects for your video.

LiveFonts
Developed specifically for video and designed by professional animators, LiveFonts let you type out sophisticated animated font styles as easily as you'd type out a system font. And because they're created with an alpha channel, LiveFonts key right over video.

Royalty-free content
LiveType comes with broadcast-quality animated textures and objects that you can use in your projects, allowing even nonanimators to produce professional-level content right out of the box. The textures can be used full screen, matted inside text or objects, or scaled down for use in lower thirds.

Customizable effects
Effects in LiveType are like digital building blocks--modular behaviors that include movement, transformation, and timing parameters. The more than 200 prebuilt effects that come with LiveType give you the power to add fades, zooms, rotations, and motion that ripple through your letters, and you can create your own styles by adjusting these effects in the LiveType interface. You can also use LiveType to create effects dynamically on the fly and even save them for use in future projects. Its unique approach to keyframe animation makes creating effects quick and easy.

Timing is everything
With LiveType, animation is easier than ever before. Each keyframe in an effect contains all the parameters for that moment in time, eliminating the time-consuming hassle of long keyframe stacks. And since LiveType treats every character of the word as a separate layer, powerful timing features such as sequencing give you the creative freedom to move single characters in a text block with individual timing elements, so you're not limited to blocks of text that fly around the screen as one image. The wireframe preview lets you see your work in real time.

Flexible and compatible
You can import clips from Final Cut Express complete with markers, so it's easy to synchronize your titles to important video and audio transitions in your video projects. LiveType also imports and exports all QuickTime-supported file formats, including Adobe Photoshop, JPEG, TIFF, and PICT.

A wide range of options
Final Cut Express supports direct Timeline file placement of LiveType projects, for a smooth and easy workflow. LiveType can create a QuickTime movie that you can import into your Final Cut Express bin like any other file, and creates files with or without an alpha channel, making them available to your Final Cut Express projects.

In addition, LiveType allows you to set up your own project size and resolution, so you can work in a custom setting of your choosing. It also supports all of your system fonts, including PostScript and TrueType fonts, making it possible to create an even wider spectrum of titling effects.

Audio
With Final Cut Express, you can edit, enhance, and adjust a video's audio tracks. Final Cut Express can mix up to 99 tracks and play back up to eight audio tracks in real time. You can add multiple tracks of music, sound effects, or voiceover quickly and easily.

Capture audio directly to the Timeline from a built-in or external microphone with the Voice Over tool.

Real-Time Audio Filters
Audio filters can be adjusted in real time as the track is playing, so you can hear your work in progress. This helps you experiment more and exercise more creative control over your projects. Final Cut Express includes a number of filters for adjusting your audio clips to be as strong, clear, and noise-free as possible. Filters can also be used to blend the clips in your audio mix to prevent the sound quality or tone of a particular clip from standing out.

• Soft normalize filter. This nondestructive filter scans the audio for the peak (loudest) sample level, then applies a gain filter that brings the peak to the level you request. This is ideal for achieving consistency in your audio soundtracks.
• Equalization filters. Use equalization filters to correct unnatural-sounding audio recordings by adjusting specific frequencies. For example, if your audio was recorded in a room that accentuates treble or bass, you can reduce those frequencies.
• Compressor/limiter and expansion filters. These filters allow you to adjust an audio clip's dynamic range after it has been captured. The compressor/limiter filter lets you adjust the dynamic range of an audio clip so that the loudest part of the clip is compressed to within a specified range of the softest part of the clip. The expansion filter raises parts of a clip that are too low.
• Hum remover. The hum remover lets you get rid of "cycle hum" (a low buzzing) that may have been introduced into your audio recording by power lines crossing your cables or by a shorted ground wire.
• Vocal DeEsser. This filter is essentially a specialized equalizer that reduces the "ess" sounds produced by a speaker with pronounced s's or a microphone that accentuates high frequencies.
• Vocal DePopper. The Vocal DePopper lets you attenuate the harsh "p" sounds that result from puffs of breath bursting into the microphone.
• Echo and reverb filters. These "effects" filters help you match foreground audio clips to the background in which they appear.
• Noise gate. The noise gate eliminates all sound below a specified volume threshold.

Precise Controls
There's no fumbling when trying to edit audio with Final Cut Express. Subframe audio editing down to 1/100 of a frame gives precise control over audio edits. Dynamic audio level meters provide instant visual information on the range of an audio track as it plays, and audio pan controls make it easy to work with stereo tracks during playback. In the Timeline, solo and mute controls allow you to isolate individual audio tracks. And no re-rendering is required when muted tracks are reactivated, so you save an incredible amount of time as well.

Voice Over Tool
Capture audio directly to the Timeline from a built-in or external microphone with the Voice Over tool. Create quick scratch tracks or voiceover work while editing a project. The Voice Over tool provides a countdown cue, and records before start and after stop to provide the recorded sound with handles.

Finding Your Audience
You've used Final Cut Express to put the finishing touches on your movie. You're done with editing, compositing, and color corrections. You've added effects, transitions, and titles, and you've created professional audio tracks. Now you have several options for sharing your finished project.

Print to Video
The Print to Video command sends your project out to videotape. This is useful when you want to record back to DV, create backup copies of your video project or connect your device to your home or other theater system for direct playback.

Create a DVD
Create named chapter markers in your video project. Use these markers to divide your video into navigable chapters in iDVD. Final Cut Express includes a workflow document that outlines the simple one-step process of bringing your movie into iDVD.

Export Video for the Web
Export projects using a wide range of QuickTime-supported codecs, including MPEG-4, for distribution via email or the web.