Zombies, Run! is a game in that you have virtual goals to accomplish, which will help you further the cause of your virtual persona. But it’s a training app in that to accomplish those goals, you have to get out and run; doing so will let you collect items like supplies, medicine and ammo, which you can then put to use back home at your “base.” The app is designed for all levels of fitness, so you should be able to play whether you’re just getting started with an exercise routine or gearing up for a marathon.

The app provides you with “missions,” which take around 20 to 30 minutes to complete, and which feature radio messages and pre-recorded voice communications that provide feedback on what you’re doing as you run. Don’t worry if you prefer running to music, either; your own custom playlists integrate just fine with the mission audio. In Season 1 (the first content pack), you’ll have 30 unique missions to accomplish, and more seasons (with additional mission packs) are planned as future updates.

Zombies, Run! looks simply but smartly designed, without overly elaborate graphics (you won’t be looking at your screen while you’re playing, after all) and a flexible mission system that works with routes and paces determined by runners, not by the game. It also doesn’t need any special equipment, just an iPhone, and works equally well on the treadmill or on the park path. The app keeps track of your distance, time and calories burned, and you can hear notification of those stats throughout your workout.

This is a clever spin on a category of apps that already pretty much represent a perfect match for the iPhone’s capability set, and adds in a gamification element. Location doesn’t seem to play as integral a role as in something like Shadow Cities or Please Stay Calm, but it could play a more significant role in the final shipping product. The concept of home bases that you can stock with things collected on your run is a good idea for extending the app’s appeal beyond just an exercise session, too.

Having already blown away its funding goal of $12,500 with a week left to go, Zombies, Run! has expanded planned availability to Android for later in 2012, and says it will go after top-tier voice talent for in-game mission recordings. Can’t wait to check this one out when it arrives next February, but for now the video trailer will have to do:

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Although I’ve been supporting Macs since they came out in 1984 (when I was in high school), I haven’t received any “formal” training. It has mostly been learning by doing, reading the occasional book and now of course, TheAppleBlog. Does formal certification really make a difference as a technician? You tell me.

Recently I got into an argument with a vendor that somehow thought a technician who first started repairing Macs sixth months ago trumped my 25 years experience. Did certification make this person a better technician? Having done quite a bit of hiring myself, I’ve too often found that certification only verifies your ability to take a test and may not have bearing in the real world.

Now that the market has changed and everyone seems to be competing for scarce resources, perhaps a certification would be an additional edge? What’s the business strategy for independent Mac technicians wanting more? The answer took a lot of research — even Apple wasn’t able to answer my questions — so learn from my journey.

Credit goes to both Brian Best of BestMacs and Doug Hanley of MacTEK Training, because without them I wouldn’t understand the alphabet soup of ACSP, ACMT, ACTC, ACSA, AASP, ACN and more. Didn’t we all become Mac users to avoid mysterious terms? As many of you know, the ease of the Apple user interface is equalled only by the frustration of trying to understand Apple’s certifications programs. Figuring out this path was much harder than any video game I’ve ever played, but a “game” may be the best metaphor to describe the process.

The Game

You begin the “game” as a general Mac user. The three worlds you’ll generally see in the game are IT, Pro Apps, and Sales. As an IT person maybe you have skills, maybe you don’t. Nothing stops you from simply repairing Macs on your own, unless you do things that specifically void the warranty and you get caught doing so. You do not need permission per se from Apple to work on Macs. Many folks are happy at this level collecting coins one by one, but you can’t proceed any further unless you get a certification — the key that unlocks the next level in the game.

The first certification most go for is Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) which used to be known as an Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist (ACHDS). This certifies your ability to understand the operating system and is earned based on the OS version. Therefore, you are an Apple Certified Support Professional in 10.5 (or soon 10.6). Each OS requires certification, but your certification does not expire. Therefore, if you are a ACHDS in 10.3, you can call yourself certified without understanding 10.5 at all. Your can take the test without training (many do), self-study via materials from Peachpit, or attend an instructor-lead course at an Apple Authorized Training Center (AATC). MacTek is one of those centers. You’ll take the test at a Prometric testing center and pay around $200. The test takes about 90 minutes or so and you get the results immediately.

Apple Consultants Network

While certification is the means, the end you may be reaching for is the ability to join the Apple Consultants Network (ACN). Joining the ACN requires any Apple certification, such as the ACSP discussed above, or any number of other certifications (described below, though one source says not all certifications are valid, so beware). Keeping with the video game analogy, the ACN is like an entire new area of the video game you want to explore, but the boss that must be defeated first is Apple, and your weapon is a certification!

After getting a certification you can then apply to join the ACN. The application fee is $60 and the actual fee to join is $395 as a sole proprietor. The full requirements are here. You’ll get lots of benefits such as product discounts as well as the ability to network with other Macintosh consultants. As an ACN, Apple store employees may hand out your card to customers in the store. Now your business can really expand as every Apple store customer is a potential customer for you.

ACN membership is great and many stay at this level of the “game” using the ACN membership as a multiplier for their income. However, you still can’t do hardware repairs under warranty nor order Apple parts. As with the video game, you’re stuck at this level unless you explore further and try to defeat the next boss. Apple always controls the rules. Accept it as part of the game. Fail to accept it and you’ll get slapped back to the beginning of the game quicker than you can click the home button.

Server Administration Certification

From this point, you have a couple directions you can go. You can focus on repair and service, or you can focus on server or advanced software administration (many folks will do both). I will discuss the server administration certifications and the hardware services certifications. You can think of each of these as two separate worlds in the game. You can choose one or the other, or explore them both.

The first level server administration certification is another 4-letter acronym: ACTC: Apple Certified Technical Coordinator. In addition to passing the test for ACSP, you’ll face the Server Essentials test. This extends your workstation abilities to servers. An even higher level of certification within the server realm is an ACSA — Apple Certified Systems Administrator. For the ACSA, you’ll need to pass four tests: Server Essentials, Directory Services, Deployment, and Mobility and Security for 10.6 (or Advanced System Administration for 10.5).

Apple also offers the ACMA (Apple Certified Media Administrator) which includes Server Essentials, Xsan, Final Cut Server and as an option, Support Essentials, Deployment, Directory Services, or Final Cut Level 1. Other certifications are not necessarily IT related and are software-focused. That’s a realm I’m not exploring as we chose the IT track at the beginning of the game.

Hardware Repair Certification

Moving on from server administration to actual Apple hardware repair, the primary certification you will earn is the Apple Certified Macintosh Technician (ACMT), formerly the Apple Certified Portable Technician (ACPT) and Apple Certified Desktop Technician (ACDT). This certification means you are theoretically qualified to do warranty repairs on Apple Macintosh equipment. The skills required for ACMT are those of hardware repair and software troubleshooting. You don’t need an ACSP to be an ACMT, but many people earn both. The educational process for hardware repair is more intense and it’s less likely you’ll pass the test without some training. At this level, you can also go to an AATC and pay about $4,800 for both the hardware and software aspects of the course, or your can purchase self-study materials from Apple called “Apple Care Technician Training” for $299.

Apple Authorized Service Provider

Similar to how passing the ACSP allows you to join the Apple Consultants Network, passing the ACMT allows you to enter the realm of an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP). You may not automatically become one though, and only AASP’s get reimbursement from Apple for warranty work. However, being an ACMT is very helpful if you want to get a job as an AASP. You may also apply to do warranty repairs for your larger organization of over 50 Macs via the Self-Service program. If you want to advance to being able to do warranty repairs for anyone, you’ll face that same boss again, Apple. Note that becoming an ACMT will not necessarily earn you any more money than an ACSA or ACTC. Facing the next boss may be too expensive and too restricting, but if you do want the next level, read on.

Getting to that AASP level is really the final level of the game. You’ll need to have an ACMT on staff and follow stricter requirements than joining the Apple Consultants Network. Generally you’ll need a real store front and not be a one-person operation. Apple grants exceptions (doesn’t every game have cheat codes?), but don’t count on it. Once you have your AASP you can be listed with Apple as a service provider and get reimbursed for warranty repairs.

So I’ve loaded the game and pressed Start. Is certification worth it? What about ACN or AASP? Which training should I go for? Is instructor lead training worth it? Any training vendors willing to sponsor me? What about the self-study programs? Share with me your experiences in the game and let’s develop a definitive guide including “cheat codes.”

Apple-authorized Organizations

ACN (Apple Consultants Network)
What it is: Network on Apple professionals, receives discounts and assistance from Apple, and can be referred from Apple retail stores.
Requirements: Any certification.

AASP (Apple Authorized Service Provider)
What is it: Business that is permitted to do Apple warranty repairs for reimbursement and order parts from Apple.
Requirements: Have an Apple Certified Macintosh Technician on staff, among other requirements.

Certifications

Apple Certified Support Professional: Basic understanding of the client Mac operating system and troubleshooting.

Apple Certified Technical Coordinator: Deeper understanding of the Mac OS, including the Mac OS X Server and Server Essentials.

Apple Certified Systems Administrator: Even greater technical understanding of the Mac OS X Server, including passing tests on Server Essentials, Directory Services, Deployment, and Mobility and Security.

Apple Certified Media Administrator: This is a sister track of the “Apple Certified Systems Administrator” with a focus on the needs of media management, and includes training in XSan or Final Cut.

Apple Certified Macintosh Technician: You can do Apple hardware repairs, both in and out of warranty. Required to start (or get a job with) an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or self-service your large organization.

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If you’ve got a child who’s between the ages of 8 and 12, they’re eligible learn about digital photography, and making movies, music or presentations. Follow this link to sign your little one(s) up for a 3-hour session at the retail location of your choice. They’re operating on a first come, first served basis, so hurry over if you’re interested. Apple does ask that you only sign a child up for a maximum of two sessions, to allow space for others to attend, but otherwise, there’s no restrictions, and they’re free.

You’ll also need to be present for the duration of the class — but that’s not so bad is it? Worst case, maybe you pick up a tip or trick you weren’t aware of before. Equipment in the store will be available for use, but you’re encouraged to bring your own machines and media if you or your child have personal projects they’d rather work on. I’m thinking this is a great opportunity for them to bring in a ‘What I did this summer’ video or slide show, which has been the first back-to-school assignment since time immemorial.

Clearly this is a great way to establish brand buy-in from the next generation of consumers at an early age. But it’s also a fantastic way to help them learn some skills that they may find they would like to pursue as a career well down the road. Either way, if you’ve got a small geek at home (as I do), hurry and sign them up now!

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Meet the Contenders

Since the iPhone apps have some built-in advantages, I chose four programs that work with GPS devices, heart rate monitors or other accessories – such as the Nike + iPod kit – to even the playing field.

Garmin Training Center
Maker: Garmin
Price: Free
Compatibily: OS X 10.4+/Universal
Hardware Support: Garmin GPS

rubiTrack
Maker: toolsfactory
Price: $39.00
Compatibily: OS X 10.5+/Universal
Hardware Support: Garmin GPS, Nike+iPod, Amod GPS

Ascent
Maker: Montebello
Price: $40.00
Compatibily: OS X 10.4+/Universal
Hardware Support: Garmin GPS

TrailRunner
Maker: Berbie
Price: Free
Compatibily: OS X 10.5+/Universal
Hardware Support: Garmin GPS, Nike+iPod/Sportband, iPhone/iPod

NOTE: Real world workout data from Garmin and Nike+ devices were used in testing all four applications.

Garmin: Late to the Gate, Still in the Running

First up is Garmin’s flagship OS X offering. Fitness Center for Mac (GTC) is designed to be the way to get data from your Edge or Forerunner onto your Mac, and both device families offer GPS-tracking and optional heart rate monitoring, with the Edge also featuring cadence & power tracking for cyclists. The sampling from these sensors can be imported, reviewed and displayed in tabluar, graphical and cartographical format. GTC does a good job figuring out which activity (cycling or running) you were engaged in when it auto-classifies your imports.

You can customize user profile settings, including heart rate data and speed zones along with gear details and information on other activities, such as hiking, skiing or kayaking.

Workouts can be reviewed by date or type, and you can schedule, group and categorize them via recorded sessions or from various online sources. Any workout you define or find can also be uploaded to most Garmin devices.

If you have full Garmin map data sets, you can use other Garmin Mac utilities to get them onto your Mac (which will help GTC route maps look a bit nicer).

GTC will import and export TCX (a Garmin-originated XML format describing GPS and “fitness” data) files which many programs and web applications can work with, so you are not locked-in to them by any means.

Striving for Peak Performance with Ascent

While Garmin may be a bit generic, Ascent definitely has the feel of a more seasoned OS X application.

Most of these fitness-tracking programs provide a similarly paned “browser” to access your activities. Ascent kicks up the visual display a bit with map data from either VisualEarth or USGS, both of which have multiple feature display options.

Ascent provides more fields to describe your activities and has an amazing replay mode that will animate your recorded workout, showing key data in a “HUD” as the points move along. While it will sync from your GPS device with ease, the Montebello developers also added a wide assortment of import and export options, including reading data from Polar heart rate monitors, full manual entry of activity information and sending data out to Google Earth for a very spiffy fly-by.

Unfortunately, while the program provides many ways to view and analyze your workouts, you will not be using it to push data to your GPS.

TrailRunner Charts Your Path to Fitness

This once commercial offering is now free and takes a unique approach to tracking your training. As the name indicates, it is geared more for running, but can handle other activities.

If you are truly dedicated to your training program, TrailRunner will be a great digital partner and includes a highly-detailed diary view (that lets you post activities right to your blog) and an “event planner” (for that upcoming marathon).

TrailRunner also has a playback mode, but the most differentiating feature may be the ability to easily share your routes with other athletes and also find new routes (i.e. escape the rut). It also works with iTrail (for you iPhone-wielding fitness geeks) and can store routes notes and route “snapshots” to your photo-enabled iPod, which is especially helpful if you are racing un-tracked or with a non-GPS-enabled device (such as the Nike+ iPod kit).

To get the full feel for TrailRunner, you really need to download it and play with it a while. New features keep popping up as you explore the application and it will definitely have you looking at your workouts in a very different way.

One Step Ahead: rubiTrack Tracks With Style

Despite having a Leopard-only offering, the talented folks over at toolsfactory managed to make the most modern, Mac-like program of the bunch, which is evident right from program launch.

Map data crisp and the view options are abundant. One feature detail that I considered truly innovative was historical weight tracking, making the workout details very accurate over time.

Activities are auto-grouped by category on import and can be manually tweaked. rubiTrack also has “smart groups” (think iTunes Smart Playlists) which can auto-classify by any combination of activity details.

While it lets you review past workouts and activities, you will not be able to schedule a workout routine with this application and you will not be creating tracks to bring back to your training devices.

The Final Analysis

GTC is the least “Mac-like” application out of the four and is not even on equal footing from its PC counterpart. While it is completely functional for basic operations, it is obvious that Garmin wants you to continue to invest in their online offerings and map products to get the most out of your fitness routine. However, if you want to plan new workouts and have seamless integration with your GPS devices, GTC will have a place in your Applications folder.

Ascent was my primary tracking tool prior to rubiTrack (I paid for both programs). I would definitely pay for an upgrade if they keep enhancing both the visual elements and the core feature sets. It is also very geared towards cyclists and I expect enhancements to continue that focus.

TrailRunner is a must have for the avid runner. It does rely on many helper apps (including GTC) to import data. The blogging feature is something I wish more fitness apps thought to include. TrailRunner also has the most diverse maps and is perfect for those who wish to be part of a community of folks interested in fitness.

At the end of a ride, however, rubiTrack is the application that I fire up first. If you are just getting into a fitness routine and want some positive, visual reinforcement this will be a very easy program to get started with and will definitely help motivate you to constantly do better.

Despite all four applications being “made for Mac”, none of them auto-sync weather details and none of the ones with workout scheduling capabilities integrate with iCal. Even with those missing features, you now have no excuse to shake off that tryptophan haze and shed some of that holiday poundage. If you do receive Garmin or Nike+ gear for the upcoming gift-giving season, definitely give these programs a workout.

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The game belongs to the Brothers in Arms franchise, which began with Gearbox Software’s 2005 title Road to Hill 30. The Brothers in Arms series is set in WWII, and console and PC versions feature first-person shooter gameplay mechanics. Hour of Heroes, developed, by gameloft, who also brought the series to the Nintendo DS, is a third-person over-the-shoulder shooter and finally escapes the single-track, limited character control found in similar games like Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

You can move about freely in the world of Hour of Heroes, though thankfully tilt control is not used for this purpose. Instead, a control disc appears on the lower left side of the game screen (the game is played in landscape mode, as you can see in the screenshots). Sliding your left thumb around this control disc allows you to move your character through the environment. Touching the screen anywhere where there is no interface button provides aiming and look control. Buttons along the side and at the top allow you to fire, interact with objects and vehicles, and change weapons. You can also reload and control grenade tosses using tilt, and zoom with your scope using multi-touch gestures. It’s one of the most complete, intuitive, and well thought out control schemes available on any iPhone/iPod touch game.

The intro movie is a tad misleading, when it comes to in-game graphics. It looks more like a trailer for one of the Brothers in Arms console titles than an introduction to Hour of Heroes. Still, in-game graphics compare favorably to most iPhone titles. Sound is well done too, and although there is no audio track for story dialogue, a few stock phrases sprinkled throughout the action go a long way towards enhancing the game’s atmosphere.

I was surprised at how easy the game was to pick up and play. The tutorial level gives you a really good introduction to the controls, and to your character’s abilities. And I got to blow stuff up right away! By the time the second level began, I felt like a seasoned pro, and possibly for the first time with an iPhone game, I was focused more on the game itself than on the medium.

If you’re looking for an example of what the iPhone and iPod touch are really capable of as gaming devices, especially insofar as they can appeal to core as well as casual gamers, look no further than Brothers in Arms: Hour of Heroes. You can get it now in the App Store for $9.99.

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Wednesday saw an interesting development in the academic world when Yale’s Dean of the School of Management announced he was departing for greener orchards. Specifically, Joel Podolny will be helping start Apple University, with a target time frame of early 2009.

Don’t get your application package together just yet, as the nature of what exactly is meant by “university” in this case remains unclear. Neither Apple nor Podolny are disclosing details of his engagement for the time being, in a typical move by the notoriously tight-lipped Cupertino.

There are a number of possibilities as to the nature of Apple U, ranging from the fantastic to the mundane. Let’s look at some of the ideas floating around  and see if we can’t drill down to some likely theories.

First there’s the possibility that the “educational initiatives” mentioned in Yale University President Richard C. Levin’s letter announcing the departure do not indicate something so grand as an actual school. Apple University could refer simply to Apple’s University marketing and sales programs, i.e. Apple (for the) University. If we’d heard the term “Apple Enterprise,” for instance, there’d be no confusion. Higher education market share for the computer company may be high, but their representation, in terms of being the platform of choice for the institution itself (i.e. faculty and administration), is still an area with plenty of growth opportunity.

Then there’s your pie-in-the-sky speculation, like the idea that Apple could be starting their own educational institution. This possibility actually has some legs, considering similar programs started up by other companies, like McDonald’s own Hamburger University, as Gizmodo points out. Animation Studio, Pixar, boasts a similar program, providing a template within easy reach of Steve Jobs, who sits on the company’s board of directors. Add to this the fact that Podolny is leaving Yale, not Scranton Community College, and it actually seems like not that bad of a bet. To add even more fuel to the fire, recall that only a few scant weeks ago Apple began a legal dispute with a Victoria, B.C.-based school over logo trademark infringement. The school’s main argument against the complaint was that it was an educational institution and consumer confusion was therefore impossible. In retrospect, this could’ve been a preemptive strike on Apple’s part.

An Apple school could vary in purpose. It might be an internal-only, staff/management training and indoctrination program, like the rigorous process of becoming a Subway Sandwich Artist. It might also be an attempt to get a piece of the burgeoning developer education market, which would help continue to expand the growing pool of applications available on OS X and the iPhone platform. Were it a distance education program, Apple could truly jump-start their uptake in business and commercial use, since accreditation and certification would be far more accessible to a much broader audience.

For now, though, we’ll just have to wait and see what Apple has in store for us in the Winter semester. I don’t know about you, but I’m requesting an copy of my official college transcripts and some recommendation letters from former profs, just in case.

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Apple’s Pro Lab Description

“During these free, four-part, eight-hour courses, you’ll meet fellow aspiring creative pros and learn solution-based workflows from our team of expert trainers. Learn how Aperture can revolutionize your photography workflow, how Final Cut Pro can help you edit your first independent feature or Logic can make it easier to write, record or edit your own music. At the end of the series, you’ll be able to share what you’ve learned with friends and family.”

Experience: The Beginning

I took the Final Cut Pro Pro Lab. This was my first experience with the West 14th Street Store. Upon asking where the Pro Labs were held, I was directed to the third floor. I did not know what to expect. The SoHo store houses an auditorium to teach its classes. The West 14th Street facility is completely different. There was a silver and white cardboard sign with the words “Pro Labs” held up by a thin metal pole on top of a table with six 17 inch MacBook Pros. This was the facility for the Pro Labs.

I introduced myself to the instructor, Johnathan. He is a tall, bald, bearded fellow in his twenties. I asked about the contents of the Pro Lab course and he told me everything I wanted to know. It appeared as if I would not learn anything new about Final Cut until several weeks into the course. At first, I was disappointed that we would be working on MacBook Pros instead of Mac Pros and the content of the course would not cover advanced topics for two weeks. This disappointment dissipated over the course of the labs.

The labs are limited to six people per month. Sign up is available at an Apple site. There is also a wait list available. At the lab, I was told that the wait list was pretty much worthless unless a person notifies the Apple Store in advance that they will not be attending. If someone no-shows, then that spot goes unfilled. I was placed on the wait list for several months before getting into the Pro Lab. I even resorted to making the sign up page my home page so I could get into the class.ﾠ

The People

My class was started off with five relatively young people. The class went through attendance fluctuations from as much as five to as little as two. Someone even suggested that the store incentive the completion of a Pro Lab with a discount on Final Cut Studio software. The instructor thought it was a good idea. However, I still think there is something odd about incentivizing a free course — though, I would not turn down a discount for some expensive software.

The class was made up of people with varying backgrounds. One individual worked for a local news station and had experience with many other types of video production software, but was interested in learning about Final Cut. Effectively, the course was a bit of remapping of keyboard shortcuts and differently named features standard in many video editing packages. Another was a director who had created several music videos that aired on MTV using iMovie ’06 and wanted to move to the next step. Only one person had no experience with video editing and appeared to be there because she had nothing better to do.

I did not get to know the other student very well, but she appeared to have experience in editing and explained the uses of the tools. When we went over the Trim Edit Window, I asked “When would you use this tool?” she had the answer in real life terms. “You would use this when you were doing quick editing of dialogue between two people.” “Oh.” Myself, I had attended several Final Cut workshops at the SoHo Apple Store and sought to solve problems I had run into in the past. Everyone got along quite well and no one student dominated the lab.

Hardware

Each student was provided with a 17-inch MacBook Pro attached to a Firewire 800 external drive for each class of the course. At the end of class, the instructor would collect the hardware and place it into a lockable rolling cart. We nicknamed it the “$20,000 Cart” because it contained more than just the laptops. I was told that the computers we used were the latest models. I did not get the specs for the notebooks. I am the owner of a 15-inch Intel Core Duo MacBook Pro, so this was a new experience. Not having to lug around my MacBook Pro was pleasant since it does not handle Final Cut Pro as well as the new machines.

The Classes

How do these pro labs operate? Take your seat at your MacBook Pro. At one end of the table is the instructor, at the other end is an Apple Cinema Display showing a Keynote presentation. We ran through numerous topics over the span of the course: Day 1 – Basics of Video, Project Set-up and Importing; Day 2 – Basic Editing; Day 3 – Filters, Effects and Titling; and Day 4 – Keyframing, Audio & Output.

When I started out at this lab, I thought I would not get any new information for awhile. I was incorrect. Obviously, there was some overlap as to the material covered between the Final Cut Pro Pro Lab and the Final Cut Workshops. Since Final Cut is so dense, I learned some new things starting on Day 1.

Each class started off in a friendly manner. Since the class was so small, our instructor got to know each of us quite well. After an exchange of pleasantries, we would start by turning to view the Keynote presentation. Keynote was used to illustrate abstract concepts easily such as resolutions, aspect ratios, and keyframing. These Keynotes are not given to the students, but you are free to take as many notes as you want.

While the instructor was going over material, you could either follow along by trying to keep up on your MacBook Pro or just take notes. After we were introduced to some material, we would be given an “Activity.” An “Activity” is an assignment to apply the material to footage. We were given access to 1080P HD material from a documentary. We would learn how to put together clips in the Timeline, put in transitions, or effects. Experimenting was encouraged. At one point, I found a feature in Final Cut and asked the instructor about it. The instructor, a guy with considerable experience with Final Cut, did not know about the feature. This just goes to show you that Final Cut is very feature dense.

Comparing a Workshop with the Pro Lab

The SoHo store offers weekly workshops in Final Cut Pro. The workshops are a great way to get a basic handle on Final Cut Pro’s interface and some advanced features. The Pro Labs go well beyond the material covered at the workshops. Additionally, due to the nature of the lab, it was much easier to ask questions and learn hands-on. Workshops last about an hour, but the Pro Labs give you twice that amount of time. There was plenty of time to learn by doing during the Pro Labs.

The workshops are much more rushed and are more like a lecture class. There are few questions by the audience. Real life error messages are dealt with very quickly in the Pro Lab. Should you run into a problem, all you have to do is ask your instructor and he will come over and help you out. However, the workshops cover more of Final Cut Studio’s programs. The Pro Lab was focused on Final Cut Pro and we did not leave that particular application for the eight hours. The workshops also sometimes push the product — “This is why you should buy Final Cut Pro! 6 applications for only $1300. You couldn’t get this kind of suite years ago!” Sometimes it feels like an advertisement. Not so with the Pro Lab.ﾠ

Conclusion

Was it worth it? The Pro Labs are definitely worth the time. Final Cut Pro has so many features that it is hard to master without some instruction. Every class, I learned something new. Final Cut training can costs hundreds of dollars. The Pro Lab is free and is a great money saver. The labs are limited in their capacity and subject matter. If you cannot make a workshop or lab, Apple also offers “One to One,” a service of training that costs $99 for a year where you can get trained for one hour per week in whatever application you would like. If you want to learn Final Cut for a bargain and there is an Apple Store offering Pro Labs, definitely check out the course. You’ll learn some very valuable information.

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