May 14-16 Warsaw Road Show ^{18:06 May 7}

On May 14-16 we’re planning to visit a number of Postproduction/VFX facilities in Warsaw, with live product demonstration and presentations.

We would like to show Cerebro to the Polish VFX/ Post production crowd. Because their feedback’s will be very valuable for us and for further product development.

And our local reseller will help us in Poland, so that we will be able to find the right words with the customers,

Please mail to Konstantin Kharitonov (khar@cinesoft.ru), and we will drop-in to your place too!

By the way, in the first-half of June we will have a whole European Road-show! Stay tuned for more updates!

Cerebro’s new pricing Policy ^{23:30 May 3}

Before there were an entirely pleasant news. Present news, probably are less pleasant. But they are not deadly.

Starting from June 01, 2012 new tariff plans will be applied:

• Home - 9 usd per user per month,
• Studio – 29 usd per user per month,
• Factory – 59 usd per user per month,
• Corporation – 89 usd per user per month.

20 % discount for a year subscription, – certainly will remain!

Detailed conditions and services will be published close to first of June.

Apparently from the  list above, our tariffs not only received new names, but also became simpler, more clear, “linear”, without everyone’s “but” and “if”. And also they have been raised in comparison with the current ones, just a little.

The reason why we raised our prices, because we had to take into account inflation and after all the previous tariff revision was 2 years ago. Basically, all this time we have avoided praising raise, but the current market conditions forced us to do it, after all. We hope, you will understand us.

However, to our current corporate clients we apply the moratorium on our new tariffs:

• For tariffs Studio – 3 month (till 01.09.2012),
• For Business and Corporate tariffs – 6 months (till 01.12.2012).

This moratorium is active during the dates shown above, on the purchase of new accounts or in order to extend the current accounts, thus the license time of acquired accounts does not matter: you can use old prices and buy those licenses in an advance, for lets say 10 years, if it seems to the justifiable.

The same moratorium is active to our potential customers that are close to become ones; if you will be able to sign a contract and start testing before the May 31, then the contract will use old tariffs.

Such policy change will not affect our program «Road to the young», this offer will continue to be on the present terms.

A general conclusion:

• Most of our current clients will not see any changes this year.
• For those who would like to become our clients, again they will not see any changes too, but they would have to make it till 31^st of May 2012.

Python API + Mirada with FFmpeg ^{23:00 May 3}

A new Cerebro Serpens (Constellation of the Snake ) version has been released in order to change the old Cerebro Astro version that you were working with since 2010. The reason we call it Serpens: Serpens version if to compare with Astro version, will be a Software development Kit on the Python API base.

Software Development Kit

SDK allows to develop custom functions for the system that were not available in the standard version, also to automate interaction between Cerebro and another Software, that is used (we will not be afraid this word) in the pipeline in your studio.

SDK consists of two global parts: Client API and Server API.

With the Help of «Client» API you can add points to the main menu, to the context menu – in the navigator and also to the forum. It is necessary to notice that API is realized on a so-called « trigger approach», or «system of events». That means with the help of client API you can launch various scripts in a response to the user actions or the system events, and thus make routine operations even more automatic, for example: to provide data transmission between several systems, or to conduct new control functions – to supervise correctness of the name of spread files, file types, etc.

Server API- Is used as a database access. In an automatic mode it allows to create/edit records to the database, for example: tasks and messages, and also it allow spreading files and links.

More detailed documentation about SDK is still in progress, but some sections are already available to inquisitive “Python-coders”. Follow our updates on our website in the “Support” section. New articles about SDK are updated almost daily, and we hope that the final documentation will be finished approximately by the May 15.

New Replication Server

In order to increase our system’s general reliability, we have launched an additional Cerebro’s replication server. That means, if the main server will not respond, users will be automatically switched onto the reserve server, and they will be able to continue their work at no problem. Replication server provides data synchronization in the real time, therefore switching between the servers will not be noticeable for users.

Note: Such data synchronization is available only on SaaS-plans. Local system clients still must manage their backup data on their own.

Generally, if you want a real reliability for free- welcome to the «cloud»!

New iOS Client version.

It happened! The beta-version of a long-awaited «Cerebro for iPad/iPhone 2.0» has finally being finished and soon it will be released. Currently, the app is being sent to the App Store. We hope that in 2-3 weeks it will be available to all the happy Apple (iPad and iPhone) owners.

A new iOS-client, compare to the old one, provides full compatibility with the new Cerebro Serpens databases.

Besides, in the new version the interface has been updated so that it improves the user experience when tracking your projects on an iPad.

New Mirada

Besides SDK, new version of Cerebro also includes an updated version of a Mirada player. Besides a standard Quick Time API, FFmpeg libraries, that considerably expands the list of supported codecs and containers. Thus the user can choose what library to use for playing one of these formats.

In general, from now on your favorite h.264 will run more smoothly and more precisely. Of course MiradaPro supports FFmpeg.

And that’s not all!

Aside the described innovations above, we brought some more extra options, which in the essence are described in one word «Convenience! ».

First, it is a new license activation principle in locally established systems. If in the previous versions  our system administrator had to «to climb under a cowl» and to replace a certain special file in a certain special place, now it can be imported simply directly from the Cerebro interface. New interface displays   much more information now when you manage your licenses, than it was available earlier – for example, the maximum number of users, validity periods of each license, etc.

Second, new Cargador.  It is able to switch automatically from a local cache of files to the network storage and back – depending on, whether the network storage at the moment of login is available. Imagine that you have a laptop that periodically moves with you from your house to your office and back.  While “Old” Cargador at first would download to your laptop those files which are in the network storage, but are absent in your local cache. While «new» Cargador instead of wasting time on downloading- it will simply automatically connect you directly to the file server, straight away you will be able to work with them, while saving time and space on your hard disc. However, if you are more comfortable with the “Old Cargador” and you don’t want to change anything, then it is possible to switch this function off.

And third, we have improved our search system. Now as criteria for search it is possible to set not only available parameters, but also the absent ones. For example, it is possible to look for tasks not only with the put-down tag, but also tasks where tag is not set.

The new Cerebro Serpent is already available for those users that use Saas-Demo version and SaaS-Private Studio. But users that use local versions (Business and Corporate) will have their shipment after «May holidays», starting from May 15; a process of getting demands form system administrators.

More information about release here

Sincerely and have a pleasant «May holidays»!

(По-русски) Дизайн – Конференция 2012 ^{13:41 March 27}

Sorry, this entry is only available in Russian

(По-русски) Конференция в рамках выставки CPS – 14 марта ^{12:04 March 11}

Sorry, this entry is only available in Russian

London Road Show February 21-23 ^{10:00 January 30}

Yes, we knew once it would happen.

The time has come – we’re going to London!

On February 21-23 we’re planning to visit a number of VFX and animation facilities in London, Bristol with live demonstrations and presentations.

What’s on the menu this time?

• Cerebro, for sure. We’d like to show it to the UK VFX crowd and their feedback will be really precious for further product development.
• Mirada. We realize that not all of you, guys, may need the whole Cerebro bundle because the mature VFX facilities you work for must have been developed or adopted some kind of project tracker. OK, let’s pump it up with Mirada then! We’re launching it as a standalone product line right after the show.
• Cargador. Don’t you think that good ol’ FTP is getting a bit… obsolete? Yes, we assume that the English would rather call it “established” or “traditional” but still… Would you mind not to get your files corrupted on transmission or accessed by those whom they don’t concern ever again? Take Cargador and make those issues a history!

Want to take part in the show?

Check in by e-mailing to Konstantin Kharitonov (khar@cinesoft.ru) and we’ll drop into your place, too!

Cheers and… hope to see you soon!

Cinesoft Partner Shortlisted For VES Awards 2012. ^{01:50 January 11}

The 10th Annual VES Awards will take place on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, LA, USA. The nominees for awards in 23 categories are announced, and we are pleased to congratulate our partners in Kiev, POSTMODERN company, nominated for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series with The Bomber project.

As far as we know, this is the first time in history when a CIS-based company is nominated for a VES Award.

So here are the particular people we are proud of:

• Igor Gotsulyak
• Dmitriy Kolesnik
• Egor Olesov
• Dmitriy Ovcharenko

We wish that these names already written in the short list, were also written in that cherished envelope, which will be solemnly opened on stage on February 7!

We keep our fingers crossed, guys!

The complete list of nominees is here.

The Visual Effects Society (VES) is the entertainment industry’s only organization representing the full breadth of visual effects practitioners including artists, animators, technologists, model makers, educators, studio leaders, supervisors, PR/marketing specialists and producers in all areas of entertainment from film, television and commercials to music videos and games. Consisting of a diverse group of more than 2,400 members in 20 countries, the VES wants to enrich and educate its own members and members of the entertainment community at large through a multitude of domestic and international events, screenings and programs.

Postmodern is one of the largest postproduction facilities in Ukraine. The portfolio of the studio consists of more than 2,000 commercials, 20 feature films and 100 music videos. Postmodern is a Cinesoft software distribution partner since 2011.

New Visibility Policy and other stuff ^{, 201100:51 December 27, 2011}

New Visibility Policy For Groups And Users

A new visibility policy takes effect in the current version. Visibility determines if a user is allowed to see other groups / users in various interface elements and whom he/she would see in particular. Visibility is configured on a separate Administrator panel tab – «Who Sees Whom».

Visibility options are the following: the user may see everybody in the universe, or the user may see definite groups only, or the user may not see anybody in the universe.

Visibility options for a user profile can be set up during its creation process as well.

Previous visibility policy was the following: only group-mates were allowed to see each other, i.e. the users had to belong to one and the same group for that. Now this rule is abandoned and group membership doesn’t affect visibility: it is not necessary to be included in a group to see its members and, vice versa, group-mates do not see each other until allowed by Administrator.

New visibility policy release will not affect current visibility settings for existing users though it is recommended to update Cerebro to manage visibility for new users.

Project Templates

You can select one of the existing projects to use it as a template for a new project. Select the project to be a template and select its content and settings you wish to transfer to the new project.

New Wizards

Several new wizards are added to help create new items in Cerebro, such as projects, users, groups etc. The wizards make it easier to create and configure those items. As a rule, a wizard guides you through several quick steps to specify all parameters for an item being created.

The item’s most essential properties are configured on the first step while minor properties are laid back to other steps. So it is obligatory to complete the first step only while the rest steps may be postponed or skipped.

New Administrator Window

The main feature – new Administrator panel works much faster. And some minor improvements were added, such as item renaming by double-click.

User Invitation

Invitation function is back! Its interface can be found here: Administrator -> Users. After the invitation is accepted by the user you get a notification in Cerebro and can set up the user profile parameters to take him/her on board right away!

New Task Alerts

Cerebro sends out e-mail notifications on different events to whom they concern. A new type of event is added – New Task Created. E-mail notification settings are configured here: Main Menu -> Profile.

Personal Data

A user can choose whether to open his/her personal data (e-mail, phone number etc.) to colleagues or not. This option is set up in user profile (Main Menu -> Profile).

Forum Text Zoom

A new feature – text zoom in/out is added to forum threads. Zoom is changed by the buttons in the upper forum panel. Besides, Shrink/Expand All Messages buttons are added onto this panel.

Bugs Fixed

• Report cannot be created by user with peculiar access rights;
• Incorrect task naming if created by file(s) drag-n-drop onto Navigator panel;
• Session could be lost in database;
• Cerebro crash while working with user statistics.

More information here