Apple introduces iLife '08

As expected, Apple's given its iLife software suite a refresh in the form of iLife '08, which Jobs calls the "biggest jump since we introduced it." A bold claim to be sure, but you'll soon be able to judge for yourself, as the whole lot's available today for $79 (and, of course, bundled with all new Macs). Here's the breakdown app by app:

iPhoto: New to iPhoto this around is "Events," which promises to let you more easily organize your photo albums, and the .Mac Web Gallery, which'll let you publish and share your photos on the web, with other folks also able to contribute to it. What's more, you'll also be able to send photos to the gallery directly from your iPhone, and sync up your iPhone with photos already in the gallery.

iMovie: Described as a "whole new app," iMovie looks to have taken on some increasingly iPhoto-like characteristics, with it now now being touted as "one library for all your video." It'll let you work in resolutions "higher res than DVD" and, as with iPhoto, you'll be able to share those videos on your .Mac Web Gallery. It'll also encode and upload directly to YouTube and, of course, tailor videos for your iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV.

Click on through for details on the rest of the apps.

iWeb: Getting a somewhat smaller upgrade is Apple's website builder, which now boasts including built-in support for GoogleMaps and Google's AdSense, along with something called "live web widgets," whichll let you copy any "web snippet" and paste it onto your site. You'll also get some new options for putting together photo pages, some new themes, and support for personal domains.

iDVD: Not a whole lot new here, it seems, but you will get "pro encoding" and some new themes, which promise "really high production values."

GarageBand: Among the updates to GarageBand this time 'round are multi-take recording, and what Apple's calling "Magic GarageBand," which will give you a fairly wide range of genres that "musicians and non-musicians alike" can play around with, including blues, rock, jazz, country, reggae, funk, latin, and others.

[Mile @ Aug 7th 2007 1:34PM]

Hurry! More iLife info! Lunch is almost over!

[Froggy @ Aug 7th 2007 2:00PM]

YAWN!!!! **

__

** above yawn applies to all Apple related announcements.

[thom @ Aug 7th 2007 2:06PM]

then stop reading the stories

[froggy @ Aug 8th 2007 9:48AM]

awwww... apple fanboys... so stupid, but so cute.

[Jermanowsky @ Aug 10th 2007 11:51AM]

Well, guess you must be one of those sympathetic, successful Zune fanboy...
Hope you are intelligent enough to know I'm being sarcastic.

[Froggy @ Aug 10th 2007 1:19PM]

No, I'm no Zune fanboy. Simply bored with what Apple and his Jobness had to offer this time around. thus the YAWN, rather then a rant on how this product or that OS is better then Apple's offering.

and I'm standing by my previous comment... YAWN!

[Liam Billington @ Aug 7th 2007 2:01PM]

Um I think mediocre Apple hardware is a tad interesting as I like the aesthetics of some products.

However, the software is just crud. I would only buy a mac to stick XP or Vista on it.

[Smittie @ Aug 7th 2007 2:18PM]

The entire computer industry is talking about how disappointed they are with Vista.

[mlody11 @ Aug 7th 2007 3:02PM]

Thats because when compared to XP, Vista isn't exactly so ooooo and aaaaa.

XP is better than any OS just because of the amount of software out there for it and not because its "better" than OS X or any other OS for that matter.

But iLife is yawn...

[James @ Aug 7th 2007 3:32PM]

For most every project aside from professional ones, Jobs has done the absolute right thing (except for the .mac cost!), provide a fabulously integrated suite of applications that make it EASY EASY EASY to enhance your life. Vista, shmista! It's a pile of garbage wrapped around more garbage compared the actual THINKING that has gone into generations of Mac software. But I'm not here to complain (nor install Vista, hah!).

Thanks to iLife '0x my family has benefited from beautiful photo books, DVD's of talent shows, edited movies with sound effects, titles, music... And many more opportunities, because for an extremely low cost of entry (your precious time spent), you CAN produce something personal and beautiful, without crashing, without rebooting, with grace and style. You can get something done, nab the DVD at the last minute, race to your destination and wow family and friends how you made their day. Sure you can't do everything... But when you're making home movies or photobooks, does it really matter? It's the content that's most important, not the framework. People are ALWAYS asking "How did you do that? It's amazing." It's because you can get DONE with iLife an OS X.

There is absolutely no way this would have been accomplished on a PC (the laptop I'm on 90% of my time). After coming out of hibernation (since the equivalent of Mac's "Sleep" called "Stand By" generally fails losing all your work and sucking lots of battery the whole time anyways), and waiting 10 minutes because the hard disk is thrashing and some poorly written driver is leaking memory all over the place, or the 500 virus checkers are conflicting and you're closing popup boxes confirming the crap you have to so that when something you don't want comes along you can not confirm it, or the pile of non-friendly applications you're using are both contending for your disks or cameras or dvd players, finally you spend an hour watching your DVD burn only for it to say it failed, or ran out of hard disk space, or the buffer overran... And so you go to your destination DVDless, late, and extremely miserable.

Tell me this hasn't happened: When it comes to actually getting something new, creative, fun and media rich DONE and DONE QUICKLY, Macs generally succeed... PC's burn your ass...

When I want to check the weather, I open the Mac. When I want to check movies, I open the Mac, when I want to snap a quick frame of a stopmotion video each day of my wife's growing belly, I open my mac. And within seconds, I'm done. I've accomplished my task. I'm on to other things... Just try standby on a PC... I dare you... I don't know one person who hasn't said that it hasn't hung them out to dry. I consider myself lucky when standby comes back when the PC somehow decides that's what it wants to do by accident. When I need to work and I'm going to be doing the same thing I always do, using the same programs I always use, and I'm not going to try anything creative, or try to "think different", I use the PC. It still sucks, but at least it shouldn't botch up...

So you see, one of the reasons I spend 90% of my time on a PC is because the Mac doesn't waste my time when I'm trying to be creative with every day stuff. I get in, I create, I get out. Done. I shudder at the thought of doing that in the heterogeneous, non sharing, non-friendly "hodge"podge of programs built on a house of cards operating system that is windows...

iLife *anything* augments your life... 06, 08, big whoop. It's all golden when you just wanna share, and you don't want to risk donating another whole weekend to reformatting your windows machine after trying to install three different shareware programs because some codec didn't work right and you need to convert some file, and you spent three hours looking for the right shareware after searching forums for why it wasn't working just to burn that extra cute DVD for you mom and dad's anniversary... Please.

Who's with me on this?

[Feep @ Aug 7th 2007 4:44PM]

Sounds like you have no idea how to use a PC. XP is ridiculously stable these days. Regardless, OSX and its accompanying software are quite friendly, easy-to-use, and all those other wonderful things you described. It's great for a lot of people. But their Luddite-like behavior of restricting the operating system to their own overpriced, almost completely non-upgradeable hardware is unacceptable to me. OSX also has far less software support than the ubiquitous XP, and since I like having almost every program in existence WORK on my machine, I'll stick with Windows. I enjoy gaming. I'll stick with Windows. I can hand-build a computer that's more powerful than their highest-end (1 GB) model for less than FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS...I'll stick with Windows.

Don't get me wrong, I'd dual-boot OSX all the time if they'd let me. But they don't. So screw them.

[michael @ Aug 7th 2007 4:45PM]

@James:

Ok, I can see why you love it and all, and I do too.

But other programs and some of Vista's multimedia apps. aren't 'garbage' or 'trash. That's just so wrong. It doesn't take a heavy amount of skills to figure out how to make photos and movies look good with programs that aren't iLife. I use iLife, and I admit, it does some things, better in some spots, but it isn't all that. It's basically a cut down version of other Apple programs, but still mighty expensive.

Plus what's this rebooting and crashing 'all the time' that you talk about? I've used several programs on a wide variety of Windows and PC's and not all of them are like that. Sleep and stand by do not go all crazy, and 500 virus checkers? Seriously, I bought one good AV program, and it does the job.

And what confirmation pop-up boxes that come up? On Vista, it's only the first few days that it's so annoying. You eventually don't see it that often and get used to that.

All of that sounds like you've got a crappy computer. Not because it's Microsoft or Windows or it's not Mac and not OS X.

I bet if you actually bought a high-end/mid-range computer (and I'm not talking about your usual Dell's, HP's, and Gateway's), got one nice AV program, and even Vista (which doesn't run so bad on these machines), then you've really got no problems.

I think this is another case where a Mac fanboy goes into exaggeration and half-truths' phase. You sound like a marketing machine from Apple. I'm also a Mac user too, but you're like completely twisting words and making false interpretations of things going on both sides.

I think you're purposely putting mis-info. to make it sound wrong. I use a top-of-the-line Sony Vaio and nothing's gone wrong. That's why I feel so bad for the people who actually listen to your info. It's just not half-ways true. It gets me angry when consumers aren't smart, and they have to 'automatically' assume Macs are painless, when they buy a cheap computer with zero AV on it.

It's really sad, how people like to do this.

[Nubaeus @ Aug 7th 2007 5:45PM]

@James


Because everything important in life is the picture/video capabilitiy that Macs and *gasp* Windows have.

I'd really like to see a better argument for Mac besides "Windows crashes ALLL the time" "I ALWAYS get BSOD" "Photos and movies are like SOOO much better on a Mac"

[ark_v2 @ Aug 8th 2007 12:56AM]

I've been thinking about all this complaints (which I do myself), but aren't we, as people who have some knowledge above the average consumer, just asking too much from Apple and Microsoft? They are not magicians, afterall, they need money to do their tricks too...

[Alexis Woods @ Aug 10th 2007 10:09AM]

Let me just add a few points ok on my PC and dont say i dont know how to use one i have a degree in it.

1. MY pc can get the following Virusess a lot more than my mac.
2. My boot up time on my mac i much faster because all the programs its not using are compressed and only expand when you start to use them.
3. FINAL CUT PRO better than any other video editing software on the market.
4. Leopard full 64 bit suppport and if you have seen the demo thats much faster for my rendering times.
5. High quality High spec components.
6. My mac can do anything your PC can and more.
7. Soundtrack pro the best music software ever and so easy to use.
8. I takes me mins rather than hours to get a new mac up and running Plug in turn on import and im done.
9. Nearly every piece of hardware now works with my mac without needing to install drivers or software.
10. Got my Digital SLR Plugged it in and it imported the photos for me.
11. Ok so your going to tell me that your PC plays games better wrong again. Any game released on a mac and PC runs better on the MAC.
12. If macs are shit why are most games companies now making games for MAC.
13. MY MAC OS is finished when its released.
14. My browser on my mac has never been hijacked.
15. MY mac was able to do 802.11n before pc manufacturers knew what it was.
16 simplicity my mac is as simple or complex as i make it. ]
17. Leopard there will be a higher uptake on leopard than vista fact.
18. On the plus side Vista runs faster on my mac than my same specked PC. Hang on doesnt that mean that my mac is faster than my PC.
19. Render times under 64 bit are faster than under 32 thats a fact that means that all architects will be using a mac to render there projects.
20 They just work and look good.
21 I have been using a mac for 4 years and have not had to do one single reinstall
.

[Alexis Woods @ Aug 10th 2007 10:22AM]

Also you obviously never used a mac and probably just play games on your PC if you think the software is crud its because you cant use it.

[Jim Goldstein @ Aug 7th 2007 2:13PM]

Nothing too earth shaking on the iLife news.

Also that photo should be seen as an embarrassment to your organization. You'd have been better off running this entry without a photo. How hard is it to set your camera appropriately for low light photography? Apparently too hard for Engadget photographers. This photo looks more like the most recent Sasquatch sighting than it does a product announcement.

[Jim Goldstein @ Aug 7th 2007 6:50PM]

The box shot is a nice improvement. I was going to recommend that.
next time... I have camera and will travel. no reason not to get a decent shot for these announcements.

[Darnell @ Aug 7th 2007 2:17PM]

I've been waiting for the latest iMovie and iLife. Very interesting and should be worth the $100 or so dollars.

[Darnell @ Aug 7th 2007 2:18PM]

Hey! Wait a minute! What about Leopard?

[Mile @ Aug 7th 2007 3:59PM]

Too late!

[Smittie @ Aug 7th 2007 2:17PM]

If they are not announcing that photos can be stored on .Mac for free then whatever else they add doesn't matter. Flickr and a host of other photo sharing sites are either free or some nominal cost per year for UNLIMITED space. Why would anyone pay Apple for that which they can get for free some place else? Flickr defines photo sharing on the web. It's not like we have to take an also-ran to get it for free.

Smittie

[James @ Aug 7th 2007 3:32PM]

Great point! I was reading the article hoping it was free too as I have a sudden need to easily post photographs and videos for friends and families and the idea of using .Mac is unacceptable. I was looking at flickr, twango, picasa, etc... At the very least, iPhoto should be able to work with Picasa photo albums since Apple's already in tight with Google!

[tugger @ Aug 7th 2007 5:05PM]

I used all the other 'free' sites until a friend bought me .mac. Suddenly all those little pain-in-the-arse 'click here' then 'click there' problems just dissapeared, the hosting is flawless, downtime negligable, the webmail is the best in the business (or at least as good as googlemail). It's a bit like suddenly driving on smooth tarmac, it just feels nice!
Ok, it's not entirely worth the money, but when the year is up I'm going to have a serious think about being nice to my friend.

[Smittie @ Aug 15th 2007 2:59PM]

Uh, OK. I thought I was a Mac fan-boy but even I'm not all that impressed with .Mac. I basically pay the .Mac subscription so that I can have the vanity email addresses. .Mac webmail pales in comparison to GMail in my opinion. Most other aspects of .Mac leave it far behind other Web 2.0 offerings.

[Christopher @ Aug 7th 2007 2:19PM]

I just bought a Macbook pro, now i need to buy this new updated software.

What a joke!

[Sleestack @ Aug 7th 2007 2:40PM]

That suite was from 2006. I don't think you should complain.

[Christopher @ Aug 7th 2007 2:53PM]

I just bought it, I think there is room to complain.

[john @ Aug 7th 2007 3:16PM]

You should have done your research. It was widely knows that Apple would be releasing a new version of iLife at this event.

[Sleestack @ Aug 7th 2007 3:17PM]

First, does your Macbook Pro work any worse for you today than it did yesterday? No. Second, the application you are complaining about is a freebie from Apple thrown in when you buy a new Mac. As an owner of a no longer new Mac, you get to buy iLife just like me and everybody else who wants to upgrade. Finally, if having the latest version of iLife for free is so important to you, why did you buy before an Apple event where new products were slated to be announced? I can understand feeling disappointed, but it's not Apple's fault.

[Raj Vashi @ Aug 7th 2007 6:25PM]

^^ doesn't know what a .torrent file is.

[Rob @ Aug 8th 2007 9:48AM]

I just ordered iLife to go with my 3 week old MacBook Pro.

And do you hear me crying? No. Why? 'Cause I'm not a little sissy girl.

Actually, I'm a big girl. Big where men like it. And I'll make some very naughty videos with my new version of iMovie. And maybe I'll cry in the videos, not because I'm a little sissy girl (like Christopher), but because a real man has spanked me hard for being bad.

[Christopher @ Aug 8th 2007 10:05AM]

Okay....I thanks you C@ck Holsters

[Geoffrey Sperl @ Aug 9th 2007 9:10AM]

Actually, look for the upgrade coupons in the MacBook box and/or the iLife box and give Apple a call. You might be able to upgrade for cheap.

[Alexis Woods @ Aug 10th 2007 10:20AM]

look Ilife 08 is great n all but if your really wouried about cost just wait for leopard. That will have 08 and if you dont really need the new features right away then play the waiting game. Why fork out for somthing you dont need right this second take my advice wait until leopard otherwise your just paying $79 for an app that you will only use for a couple of months. Also on the .mac thing .mac isnt just about photo's and fliker have to let apple allow users to upload from iphoto there is issues there. .MAC is about intergration im sending podcasts and photo's to a friend in NZ and i life allows me to do that so she can look at it using the built in i site it makes life easier.

[Srini Venkat @ Aug 7th 2007 2:25PM]

Give us the "one more thing ...." already

[Ray-- @ Aug 7th 2007 2:29PM]

Wait a second! You mean Mac users have to BUY this app? This stuff doesnt come standard on a Mac? Wow i had no idea... i thought Macs has all this stuff built in like, *gasp* Vista....

[Jay @ Aug 7th 2007 8:37PM]

It is included on all new macs.

[Wendy @ Aug 7th 2007 3:05PM]

Mac users may choose to purchase this upgrade or they my choose to stay with the software version they currently have on their Mac. Yes, iLife '06 is standard on any new Mac--up to today. Thanks for asking.

[Sick Boy @ Aug 7th 2007 6:21PM]

Or when you buy a new Mac, it'll come with it. When was the last time a software gave you a free upgrade to the next version???

[portorikan @ Aug 7th 2007 2:29PM]

multi take recording. Nice.

[dizilbdog @ Aug 7th 2007 2:42PM]

Just Wait It will come with Leopard No need to buy this

[Christopher @ Aug 7th 2007 3:07PM]

Thanks!

[john @ Aug 7th 2007 3:14PM]

I'm pretty sure that's not true. iLife has always come free with new Macs, not with a new OS.

[Chicksta @ Aug 7th 2007 3:14PM]

iLife and iWork do NOT and NEVER HAVE come with the operating system. iLife comes with all new -systems- (and if you buy a system today or after you are eligible for the up-to-date offer to get it if it's not pre-installed) and all new systems have a 30-day demo of iWork, not a full version.
And buying a new system with 1.5 year old software is just that - consider it a $79 upgrade price if you want to upgrade the software. We've gotten two new systems in the past two months, and will get a third now, but I have no issues w/buying the software for the other machines we have.

[wombat @ Aug 7th 2007 5:28PM]

No it doesn't.

[Sean @ Aug 9th 2007 10:16AM]

@ Chicksta- iWork was included in Mac OS 9.x, if not others.

[dizilbdog @ Aug 7th 2007 3:36PM]

Just talked to Apple, and Ilife 08 comes with Leopard in October, so why would you buy this now???

[joe @ Aug 7th 2007 3:23PM]

'Post a new photo simply by sending an email, or snap a picture on iPhone and select “Send to Web Gallery.”'

This would imply an iPhone update soon...since this feature currently doesn't exist on the iPhone as far as I can tell.

[Gustavo @ Aug 8th 2007 8:20AM]

Fantastic!! I'm on the same boat mate! My daily personal/family digital needs are totally fulfilled by Apple's software and hardware. It's really amazing how integrated and "get it done" they are. Some friends keep teasing me on Picassa, Flickr and other softwares, but they actually get wowed when they actually see iLife running. On the other side, my daily job is done on Windows. When Intel's Macbook showed off and Parallels were introduced I came to it, just to check if I could get rid of Windows in the running course. Fact is, I keep 90% of my time on Windows, and very few time on Mac (speaking on daily job, of course).

Anyway, I loved new iLife software, loved the new iMac and the new keyboard. As someone else already said, it's just to be expected a brand new reshape of Apple's mice.