There’s a lot of guessing going on by bloggers today about what tomorrow’s iPhone event in Cupertino will reveal. There are several reasons to be particularly interested in tomorrow’s announcement. iPhone events in the past have occured in June, this year’s delayed announcement has three extra months of drama. This event will be a chance for Apple’s new CEO Tim Cook to step out of Steve Jobs’ shadow and instill confidence in consumers about the companies direction without Jobs at the helm.
What you can expect from the new iPhone.
There are endless rumors online about the new iPhone. Here are a few safe bets:
1. Better screen and cameras — Several Android phones outshine the iPhone with a larger screen and incredible camera resolution. Some are reporting the new iPhone to have an 8-megapixel camera and full 1080p recording.
2. Better performance — A bigger screen and better camera will demand more battery power. Look for a boost in battery performance and faster speeds with the A5 processor.
3. Waiting in line for it — Because these events typically happen in June, the demand for a new iPhone is particularly high. There’s no official word yet about when the phone will be available.
What will this mean for video production?
As incredibly powerful cameras become ubiquitous, there’s signifant potential impact on professional video production companies. Think back to the first camera phone you ever had — the technology has come a long way in the past 5 years. As mobile hardware has improved, so has the software. The mobile version of iMovie allows users to edit video on the go in a simple and effective interface. iPhone 5 users will have an incredible camera in their pocket, and the ability to create movie magic wherever they go.
While there is potential for every person with an iPhone to become an amateur movie maker, they don’t compete much with a professional video production company.
To illustrate, I’ll borrow a quote I used in a previous post:
“A photographer went to a socialite party in New York. As he entered the front door, the host said ‘I love your pictures – they’re wonderful; you must have a fantastic camera.’ He said nothing until dinner was finished, then: ‘That was a wonderful dinner; you must have a terrific stove.‘” — Sam Haskins
The equipment doesn’t make the project, the people behind the equipment do. Production companies should find ways to utilize this newly equipped mass audience to help with current clients and projects. New abilities for video crowdsourcing are suddenly available, as are new social media opportunities. Finding creative ways to harness these abilities could make incredibly powerful and memorable video campaigns for clients.
