Year: 2023

 Behind the scenes at Scary Fast: Apple’s keynote event shot on iPhone and edited on Mac

Apple Inc November 1, 2023 0

October 31, 2023

PHOTOS

Behind the scenes at Scary Fast: Apple’s keynote event shot on iPhone and edited on Mac

On Monday, October 30, at Apple’s Scary Fast special event unveiling the all-new MacBook Pro with the M3 family of chips and 24-inch iMac with M3, there was an unseen star of the show working behind the scenes. All of the presenters, locations, and drone footage in the event were filmed using iPhone 15 Pro Max, the preferred smartphone for creative pros and filmmakers. Led by documentary film director Brian Oakes, known for the award-winning Jim: The James Foley Story and Living with Lincoln, Scary Fast put iPhone 15 Pro Max right in the middle of the action.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max camera system offers the best video in a smartphone, with its quality rivaling those of professional video cameras. iPhone 15 Pro Max enables creatives to capture in ProRes up to 4K60 fps to an external drive with Apple Log encoding, which allows even more detail to be preserved for post-production color grading. iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are also the first smartphones in the world to support the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES), a global standard for color workflows.

“We were able to get the same complex shots with iPhone 15 Pro Max,” says Oakes. “Everything is there to be an extension of someone’s vision or personality. The image quality of iPhone definitely democratizes the access.”

The production was advised by Apple’s Jon Carr, a Pro Workflow video specialist whose credits include Top Gun: Maverick and Terminator: Dark Fate, and Jeff Wozniak, who has worked on productions including Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Avatar, and Iron Man 2. “This year, iPhone 15 Pro Max was supercharged with the ability to record ProRes to an external drive, and Apple Log, our flavor of a format that all of the very high-end digital cameras shoot,” says Wozniak.

“It’s pretty amazing how you can put this in the hands of someone who’s a professional director and they don’t have to change their equipment — they don’t have to change any of the things that they always do,” adds Carr.

Capturing footage with multiple iPhone 15 Pro Max devices, the team utilized the integration between iPhone 15 Pro, the Blackmagic Camera app, and Tentacle Sync, showcasing the true power of the Apple ecosystem. Connected via Bluetooth, Tentacle Sync drives timecode and enables all devices on set — including Macs and preview screens — to be synced throughout the production. Beastgrip accessories, including cages and rigs, were also used during the production.

Here’s how Scary Fast came to life behind the scenes.

iPhone 15 Pro Max with the new USB-C connector brings a huge leap in data transfer with speeds of up to 10Gbps with a compatible USB 3 cable. This supports new workflows like ProRes video recording directly to an external SSD drive, allowing the crew to review footage in near real time and make adjustments on the fly. In post, editors can also take advantage of the higher dynamic range enabled with Apple Log, bringing even more control and flexibility into color grading.

Shot under the cover of night at Apple Park, Scary Fast showcased the improvements in low-light video performance on iPhone 15 Pro Max. With ProRes Log encoding, iPhone 15 Pro Max has even more high and low light range than previous models, resulting overall in better dynamic range and better flexibility for color grading in post-production. “When I first got the footage from iPhone 15 Pro Max, I was immediately pleasantly surprised,” says Stefan Sonnenfeld, Company 3’s CEO, who colored the presentation and has worked on projects including Stranger Things, The Equalizer 3, and Fast X. “The quality of the image on iPhone 15 Pro Max is incredible, and it’s there. And I know because I’ve done it and I’ve seen it, and we’re doing this project with it.”

Using the Blackmagic Camera app designed exclusively for iOS users, the crew was able to leverage the same interface as Blackmagic Design’s award-winning digital film cameras, which provided the same tools used in feature films, television shows, and documentaries. Available now for free on the App Store, the app adds digital film camera controls to iPhone and supports Apple Log encoding on iPhone 15 Pro Max. “We’ve done a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes working with a great third-party developer, Blackmagic Design, that has created an incredible app that allows us to have huge amounts of monitors and crew, and everybody working how they traditionally would,” says Carr.

On the set, the crew employed traditional filming techniques — even the use of drones — seamlessly with iPhone 15 Pro Max to capture the scenes and showcase the new MacBook Pro. “There’s cranes, there’s dollies, there’s all the toys that you want as a filmmaker, and everybody’s moving and has their job to do, and it’s just a very exciting and lively environment,” says Oakes.

Reflecting on the incredible versatility and ease of use of iPhone, Sonnenfeld says, “I think what I love about the iPhone is it enables everybody who uses it to have access to incredible amounts of information, and with a really intuitive operating system, so that whether it’s myself or my 7-year-old, anybody can pick it up and pretty much use it right away.”

Press Contacts

Renee Felton

Apple

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Apple Media Helpline

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 Eight new games coming to Apple Arcade

Apple Inc November 1, 2023 1

November 1, 2023

UPDATE

Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition, Football Manager 2024 Touch, Sonic Dream Team, and Puzzle & Dragons Story among eight exciting games coming soon to Apple Arcade

Top Arcade titles Hello Kitty Island Adventure and NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition launching new updates this month

This holiday season, Apple Arcade is building on its award-winning catalog with eight new games for families and friends to enjoy together, including Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition, Football Manager 2024 Touch, Sonic Dream Team, and Puzzle & Dragons Story, along with more than 50 updates to existing titles on the service.

“We’ve added nearly 60 new games to Apple Arcade this year, and subscribers and their families have been loving the breadth and depth of the catalog with hits like Hello Kitty Island Adventure, NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition, TMNT Splintered Fate, Cypher 007, and so many others,” said Alex Rofman, Apple’s senior director of Apple Arcade. “To wrap up a great year of new games for Arcade players, we’ve saved some of the best for last and will be launching Football Manager 2024 Touch, Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition, Sonic Dream Team, and Puzzle & Dragons Story.

With a new game launching each week in November, subscribers can continue on their journey of creating a soccer club dynasty in Football Manager 2024 Touch; master Knotwords+, a unique brainteaser and logic puzzle game from celebrated indie developer Zach Gage; dive further into the mysterious depths of Downwell+; and experience a heartwarming culinary journey in Delicious - Miracle of Life+.

Players are also invited to step into a world filled with Disney magic in Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition; join Sonic and friends as they unravel a bizarre world of dreams in Sonic Dream Team; embark on an epic fantasy puzzle RPG adventure in Puzzle & Dragons Story, an all-new spinoff of the globally popular mobile game with more than 90 million downloads; and seek fortune and glory during the oil rush in 19th century North America in Turmoil+. All four of these awesome games will be available on December 5, just in time for the holidays.

Popular Arcade titles are also releasing fun new updates this month. Jump into Hello Kitty Island Adventure, which is getting its next major update on November 17. The Give & Gather Celebration arrives on the Island, along with its newest resident, My Sweet Piano. Deliver and receive unique presents from Hello Kitty and Friends all season long, and help My Melody welcome her old friend to the group. Players can also select an all-new avatar type, level up multiplayer friendships, and even journey to the Heart of Friendship Island.

For basketball fans, the new season is in full swing. On November 23, NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition is getting its first update. City Edition uniforms will be added, and players will be able to hit the court with eight more Greatest Players athletes, including “The Answer” himself, Allen Iverson.

Additional games getting fun new updates in November and December include Sneaky Sasquatch, Cut the Rope 3, Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go; Japanese Rural Life Adventure, and The Oregon Trail, among others.

New games available this month, in order of release, include:

Knotwords+ (Zach Gage): November 3

From indie game developer Zach Gage, the developer behind other Apple Arcade titles like Card of Darkness, Good Sudoku+, and Flipflop Solitaire+, Knotwords+ is a minimal and elegant logic puzzle with words. The rules are simple: Arrange the letters in each section so every word is complete, horizontally and vertically. Each puzzle may seem difficult at first, but gets easier as the player progresses, with each step guiding them naturally toward the solution.

Football Manager 2024 Touch (SEGA & Sports Interactive): November 6

The world’s greatest soccer management simulation returns to Apple Arcade for a new season. Sports Interactive once again brings its unparalleled realism of its beautiful game to players around the globe on all of their favorite Apple devices. Chase instant glory with one of the world’s best clubs, and with the arrival of the new Save Game Compatibility feature, all existing Football Manager 2023 Touch players on Apple Arcade will be able to continue their careers in Football Manager 2024 Touch.

New for this season, players can improve their performance with enhanced training; impact the action at both ends of the pitch with a refreshed Set Piece Creator powered by their backroom team; define the type of boss they want to be with new Manager Principles; make their voice heard with a new system for making requests to their owners; and have the best possible experience on iPhone with a new skin for smaller devices to help provide smoother navigation across the game. Progress never stops, with players being able to look forward to new tools that will empower them to elevate their team’s performance and shape a title-winning culture on the football world stage.

Downwell+ (Devolver Digital): November 17

Downwell+ is a curious game about a young boy venturing down a well in search of untold treasures with only his gunboots to protect him. Designed for mobile from the ground up, Downwell+ is presented with intuitive and elegant controls that allow for action-packed gameplay using just three buttons. Players make their way down into the darkness filled with creepy creatures and mysterious secrets to collect the spectacular red gems scattered about the rocks. Step into precariously placed shops and buy some helpful items, or level up between levels to battle well-dwelling monsters and uncover hidden caves filled with riches and relics. With procedurally generated levels, no two trips down the well are ever the same.

Delicious - Miracle of Life+ (GameHouse): November 24

This time management cooking game invites players to join expectant mother Emily and her growing family as she navigates the challenges of pregnancy, while managing a bustling kitchen for her cooking video blog and preparing for the arrival of her new baby. With 60 engaging levels and 30 bonus challenges, players will immerse themselves in Emily’s world, exploring various locations and meeting a charming cast of characters. Design the perfect nursery, share in Emily’s ups and downs, and experience the miracle of life.

Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition (Gameloft): December 5

Explore a world filled with magic in Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition, a captivating blend of life simulation and adventure game featuring fan-favorite Disney and Pixar friends. Players will uncover enchanting stories alongside beloved characters, while working to restore Dreamlight Valley from the grips of the Forgetting: a mysterious force that has descended on the Valley. Traverse diverse realms, each with their own challenges and puzzles, and forge friendships with iconic characters like WALL•E, Belle, Goofy, and many more. With customizable landscapes and thousands of decorative options, players can create their dream neighborhood in this constantly evolving world of wonder and creativity.

Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition also includes the expansion pass, Disney Dreamlight Valley: A Rift In Time, which includes a new storyline with secrets and treasures to uncover that have been lost in time. On Eternity Isle, a land far away from Dreamlight Valley, players will meet new Disney and Pixar friends and yield the power of a mysterious royal tool — the Hourglass — as they unravel the schemes of the nefarious Jafar.

Sonic Dream Team (SEGA): December 5

The Sonic franchise, which has seen more than 1.6 billion games sold and downloaded worldwide, is releasing a new adventure, Sonic Dream Team, coming exclusively to Apple Arcade. The thrilling new 3D action platformer follows the evil Doctor Eggman who has discovered The Reverie — an ancient device with the power to manifest dreams in the real world. Join Sonic and friends as they navigate twisted dreamscapes, rescue their friends, and put a stop to Doctor Eggman’s quest for world domination. In the game, players will take command of six dynamic playable characters: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy Rose, Cream, and Rouge, each with unique abilities that match their own flair and personality. Sonic Dream Team joins other hit SEGA titles on Arcade — Sonic Racing, Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go, and Football Manager 2023 Touch.

Puzzle & Dragons Story (GungHo Online Entertainment): December 5

The newest installment in the immensely popular and definitive puzzle RPG series takes players on a new epic fantasy adventure with Puzzle & Dragons Story, exclusively on Apple Arcade. The game combines match-three puzzles with creature-collecting RPG gameplay, where players will recruit allies, improve their teams, and conquer dungeons. Intuitive puzzle play will be familiar to fans but also draw in newcomers as they simply match orbs of the same color vertically or horizontally, chaining together exhilarating combos for higher awards. Matching and erasing orbs commands the player’s allies to attack enemy creatures, with skilled puzzle play and exhilarating combos that unleash even more powerful attacks. Players will also gather materials by defeating creatures in dungeons, allowing them to create and improve new allied team members. They’ll spend resources to improve their creatures and select their favorites to form unique teams. New dungeons and creatures will be added frequently as players further explore a vast and mysterious land.

Turmoil+ (Gamious): December 5

Turmoil+ offers players a visually charming, tongue-in-cheek take on the simulation game genre inspired by the 19th century oil rush in North America. As aspiring oil entrepreneurs, players must navigate cutthroat competition, strategically lease land, drill for oil, and maximize profits through shrewd business deals. With a rich campaign mode, a town full of colorful characters, dozens of upgrades, and procedurally generated levels, Turmoil+ is a wild ride through the oil boom era.

Pricing and Availability

Apple Arcade is available for $6.99 (U.S.) per month with a one-month free trial. Customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV receive three months of Apple Arcade for free.¹

Apple Arcade is part of Apple One’s Individual ($19.95 U.S.), Family ($25.95 U.S.), and Premier ($37.95 U.S.) monthly plans, with a one-month free trial.²

Arcade Originals are playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. App Store Greats are available on iPhone and iPad.

An Apple Arcade subscription gives a family of up to six unlimited access to all the games in its catalog.

Availability for the 200+ titles across devices varies based on hardware and software compatibility. Some content may not be available in all areas.

This offer is available to new subscribers only. One subscription covers one Family Sharing group. The offer is good for three months after eligible device activation. The plan automatically renews until canceled. Restrictions and other terms apply.
The Apple One free trial includes only services that are not currently used through a free trial or a subscription. The plan automatically renews after the trial until canceled. Restrictions and other terms apply.

Press Contacts

Peter Nguyen

Apple

pete_nguyen@apple.com

Jennifer Tam

Apple

jennifer_tam@apple.com

Apple Media Helpline

media.help@apple.com

BBC Launches Emergency Radio Service in Gaza

Dan Uff November 1, 2023 0

Web site Deadline is reporting that the BBC has launched a new Emergency Radio Service from inside Gaza to help inform its residence on where to go for food, water, and emergency services during the ongoing conflict.

According to the article:

The BBC has launched an emergency radio service for Gaza.

BBC News Arabic will go live from Friday with the station, broadcasting one program per day on medium wave at 3 p.m. GMT (7 a.m. PT) before adding another the following week at 5 a.m. GMT (10 p.m. PT).

Produced out of London and Cairo, the emergency station will “provide listeners in Gaza with the latest information and developments as well as safety advice on where to access shelter, food and water supplies,” according to the BBC.