Digital audio and video tools maker Avid Technology Inc, which last year was accused of dropping support for Apple Computer Inc’s software after pressure from Microsoft Corp, now says the Macintosh plays a key part in its product strategy and has formed a new Macintosh Development Group. Avid, which made its fortune on the Mac before shifting to Windows NT, says it is now working with Apple on input/export utilities designed to link its Avid Open Media Framework with Apple’s QuickTime 4. OMF is based on Microsoft Corp’s AAF multimedia authoring file format.
Last year, as part of the Microsoft antitrust trial in Washington, Apple’s Avadis Tevanian Jr claimed that Microsoft Corp – which has a 9.4% stake in Avid – had put pressure on Tewksbury, Massachusetts-based Avid to rip QuickTime out of its video editing tools. He went on to claim that the efforts had obviously succeeded, as Avid partnered with Microsoft for the introduction of its AAF multimedia authoring file format. Avid refused to comment on the accusations at the time, pointing out that the company had strategic agreements with both companies.
Now Avid says the new utility will enable better media sharing between the two systems. Avid is also offering price reductions of up to 50% on its Broadcast Video Board systems, discounts on upgrades, and plans to support the Macintosh with its next generation of products, Avid Media Composer Millennium Edition, due out in the middle of next year. Avid says it will also bring its Meridien video subsystem, currently NT only, over to the Mac, and will make it available as an upgrade to Avid Xpress users in September.
Just in case users have second thoughts about Apple, however, Avid says that any owner of Macintosh-based Media Composer XL systems will be given the option to convert to the equivalent Windows NT-based system for $12,000, as long as it’s within a year of purchase. á
