Apple Receives Emmy for Video Editing Tool

Apple Computer Inc. has won its second Primetime Emmy Award for engineering in two years, getting recognition for the widespread adoption of its Final Cut Pro video editing tool.

The software retails for about $1,000 and allows users to manipulate content in a number of formats with the ease once available only on machines costing tens of thousands of dollars.

“Before it was mostly a consumer product, but now it’s evolved into a professional product that is used by many networks and is really a cutting-edge choice for editing on a budget,” said Cristy Trembly, co-chair of the engineering awards committee for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Last year, Apple won for its FireWire wireless connectivity system for home networks, which is now an open industry standard.

Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs, who also heads animation technology powerhouse Pixar Inc., said the award validates the Silicon Valley computer firm’s emphasis on media functions in its machines.

“We think computers will be the hub of the digital lifestyle, for consumers and also pros,” Jobs said. “To use a digital camera and an MP3 player, you need a computer. There will be more and more devices like that.”

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Joseph Menn