iMovie update embraces iPhone X, Metal graphics engine

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iMovie on iPhone X
No more black bars on either side of iMovie on an iPhone X.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple just updated iMovie for iOS so iPhone X users don’t have to put up with black bars on either edge of their display.

Even better, the new version supports Apple’s Metal API, which means the application now has direct access to a phone’s or tablet’s graphics-processing hardware.

iMovie lets users combine their images and videos into movies. Videos can be clipped, and music can be overplayed on a whole project.

Adding iPhone X support brings only a marginal difference to this multimedia software. On-screen elements now extend to the edges of the display, rather than being cut off before the “notch”. That said, when trying to piece together images and graphics on a 5.8-inch display, every little bit of space helps.

iMovie Metal support

Unlike the other change, building Metal support into iMovie benefits everyone. It increases the speed of rendering with an efficient low-overhead architecture, and provides near-direct access to the graphics processing unit (GPU).

Metal is better known for its role in games, but it can speed up video production too. Apple’s video app is relatively simple, and just for fun, but it can nevertheless benefit from using the best technologies. Like Metal.

Install iMovie 2.2.5 now from the App Store. It’s free to download and use.  

 

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