If you're on the email newsletter list with MacroSystem US you likely received the MSUS Newsletter today. Here is a reprint of the main piece of news that was announced by MacroSystem US (my thoughts below the article)
As of the fourth quarter, MacroSystem AG in Germany, will no longer support or sell any of the Smart Edit products. Because of this we will soon discontinue selling Smart Edit software. Our support, however, will continue for these products.
This is for machines running Smart Edit software, including the Avio, Kron, Claro, Solitare, Renommee, Gymnos, and Prestige machines.
Because of this change, we are having one final huge software sale. All Smart Edit software will be discounted by 55% at the retail level. This offer isn't to be combined with any other specials or discounts.
For this final sale, we're also going to offer the Complete Software Package (excludes OS and CB Paint) for $1599 retail.
This sale is from today until November 13th.
The annual fall software sale will begin shortly thereafter, and will be specifically for Bogart machines.
This is an announcement we pretty much knew was coming... the company has not manufactured or sold a new Casablanca video editor that runs on the Smart Edit OS (Operating System) since 2002. And though there was some belief (and comment from a company official a year ago) that we might/would see one more version of Smart Edit upgrades (that would have been Smart Edit 10)... the writing on the wall in the past few months was not so optimistic in that direction.
I guess to me the big 'shock' is seeing the announcement in black and white. After November 2011 - the company will not sell any software for Smart Edit Casablanca units.
I understand the company's decision - there are a number of folks out and about still using a Casablanca running Smart Edit 6. The company has not likely made any or much revenue on these units for years. A consumer electronics company - whether we like it or not - survives by making money, and keeping making money.
And truth be told - the video cameras, camcorders, pocket cameras and smart phones that shoot video are moving with formats and technology that the technology inside Smart Edit cannot keep up with any longer (see my webinar here for more on that topic).
As I mentioned there are a number of folks still using older Casablanca editors running Smart Edit. I wonder if this announcement will cause some to consider whether it is time to upgrade to Casablanca Bogart... or to a different platform altogether. I am not trying to start something here but I received an email last evening from a long-time colleague.
She indicated her Kron running Smart Edit 7 is getting slower and she really needs to consider the ability to use the newer video formats, but is a new grandmother and looking to slow down her video business -- so she is not ready to spend $3,000-4,000. She asked about alternatives like on a Mac or Windows PC computer. I expect she is not alone in her dilemma (I will be holding a webinar later this Fall where I share an overview of affordable video editing solutions -- from Casablanca through iMovie11, Final Cut Pro X, Vegas Movie Studio 11 and Adobe Premiere Elements).
The good news to take away from this announcement by MacroSystem US is that they will continue to provide Tech Support for the Smart Edit units. This remains smart and some comfort for those who choose to continue to edit in the realm of the Smart Edit OS.
Next week I will publish a time line of sorts honoring what I consider to be some of the most note-able dates in the history of Casablanca Smart Edit.
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