Just to keep everyone in the loop. I heard from Jan Piros today and he has given me permission to post his email on the forum. Here is the latest information:

Lew,

 

I just got a recap from engineering and they are testing a DX10 patch now. They have a found a couple of issues and I'll know more closer to the end of this week. In terms of the focus group we are working with a couple of specialized companies to define when and where of these groups. More specifically in line with Liquid users I want to visit a few user groups as an adjunct to show some proto concepts and get some feedback. These two efforts may have some crossover but they are independant. I asked in the forum for UG venues and have a start on a list. If you have a reccomendation of specific venues please let me know.

 

Jan

 

So things on both fronts are progressing. Now you all know as much as we do. I am sure Jan will post here directly as soon as he has more information to announce.

Good News.

Yes, good news. Thanks Lew for the post.

 

Thanks Jan/Lew.

While preparing to build a new PC, it is nice to know that I will soon be able to buy the latest & greatest DX10 card.

WRT to venues for the focus groups, I'm not positive what Jan is looking for, but how about targeting the ALUGs.  I'd be willing to drive 3 hours (each way) and dedicate time to participate in conjunction with the Carolina's ALUG.

Lew,

 I am one of those affected by this, and am using a "lame" card in the meantime. Do you think you can post this in a more p rominent place here at the forums, in order to keep it "at the top"?

That's good. I own a laptop DX10 computer.

They have to include some of us as experts at Liquid if they want NextGen to be at the same track.

If they want it to be an inferior product then we are not needed. 

Can Jan assure us that Europe will not miss out on these focus groups?

After all we are closer to Munich

There are a ton of users in Europe, I can't see you guys being excluded.

These focus groups will be held by specialized companies and will be organized in different locations all over the world, including this additional small US state called Europe...

Most of developments for this new patch and for the next software generation are done from our Munich office. So still with a good "European flavour".

At this time any recomendations / preference toward ATI or NVidia?
The NVidia cards generally were stronger with open GL and were preferred by the Avid line,
whilst ATI was the card of choice for Liquid.

bvregille:

These focus groups will be held by specialized companies and will be organized in different locations all over the world, including this additional small US state called Europe...

Most of developments for this new patch and for the next software generation are done from our Munich office. So still with a good "European flavour".

So, I guess that means the default on install will again be PAL just to confuse us dummies here in NTSC land.

It defaults to PAL because Liquid knows it is a better video standard then NTSC.  It looks at the drop frame, difference between 480 and 486 and the fractional framerate and it figures why would anybody want to deal with something like that.  On top of that it gets freaked out by 4:1:1 color knowing that everything else on the planet either uses 4:2:2 or 4:2:0.  Heck if I was a software program I would run away from NTSC as well. 

Smetvid:

It defaults to PAL because Liquid knows it is a better video standard then NTSC.  It looks at the drop frame, difference between 480 and 486 and the fractional framerate and it figures why would anybody want to deal with something like that.  On top of that it gets freaked out by 4:1:1 color knowing that everything else on the planet either uses 4:2:2 or 4:2:0.  Heck if I was a software program I would run away from NTSC as well. 

Smet,

Well, you know that in computers, more is better, right? So, because NTSC has more frames per second, it is automatically better!

 

There is a certain Munich Liquid developer who's last name starts with W ... one of my favorite things on a friday afternoon was to go and talk to him about DF/NDF issue in the Liquid EDL...He would get so mad that his head would turn the color Red of the old FAST logo...He Hated NTSC with a true passion.
 

moodman:

Smet,

Well, you know that in computers, more is better, right? So, because NTSC has more frames per second, it is automatically better!

 

 

More frame but LESS resolution.  

But LESS flicker.

But MORE colour (4:2:0 vs. 4:1:1)

Yes, about as much more colour as color.

And besides -- PAL saves lots of time.  For example, it will let you watch a 90-minute video in only 86 minutes and 24 seconds! 

bittmann:

And besides -- PAL saves lots of time.  For example, it will let you watch a 90-minute video in only 86 minutes and 24 seconds! 

THAT'S FUNNY!

Good news!

Anyone heard anything? Last week came and went!

I need it too. I must use laptop from time to time.

Let's hope it won't be too late. 

Missing timeframes is not a problem, stuff happens...
Missing them without a little heads-up to the customer is a little less excusable...