Ilife11
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iPhoto 9.1.2 released
Along with the Snow Leopard Font Upgrade, iPhoto 9.1.2 has just shown up in Software Update. Outside of the usual bug squashing, it brings a few new features and tweaks including new card themes and some enhancements to making photo books. Here's what you'll find in this sizable update: • Addresses an issue that prevented the Zoom slider from being accessible in Magnify (1-Up) view • Fixes an issue where Toolbars were not auto-hiding in Full Screen view • Search field now correctly performs an "includes" search when searching by text string • Fixes minor formatting issues with book, card and calendar themes • Message Size of emails now correctly updates when changes are made using the Photo Size menu • Addresses an issue that prevented some iPhoto 5 libraries from upgrading correctly • Multiple book pages can now be drag-selected when in All Pages view • Design tools in print project panels are now accessible via separate Layout and Options buttons • Photo backgrounds applied to a book are now preserved when book type is changed • Tab key can now be used to navigate through all text fields in a book project The update is recommended for all all users of iPhoto '11, whether you bought it with iLife '11, or got it with a new Mac. It can be downloaded either here or through Software Update.
Three reasons iWeb may be doomed
I like iWeb. Apple's website creation tool is easy to use, creates great looking sites, and has been installed on just about every new Mac since 2006. In fact, I've written about iWeb for Take Control Books, and I often recommend iWeb to Mac users who are seeking a powerful website tool but don't want to face a tough learning curve. However, I have a nagging feeling that we may have seen the last of iWeb. The app wasn't updated as part of the iLife '11 release, and Apple remains mum on the future of iWeb. I'll be the first to say that I hope I'm wrong, but there are three factors that probably point to the demise of iWeb. 1) Facebook: When iWeb first appeared as part of iLife '06, Facebook had yet to become a phenomenon (the service as we know it officially opened on September 26, 2006). Part of the initial attraction of iWeb was the ability for Mac users to easily create web pages for sharing photos, videos and personal experiences. You'd launch the application on your Mac, pull photos from your iPhoto library, type up a little story and update your site, which was usually hosted on MobileMe. Apple later added Facebook integration to iWeb, so anything you published on your iWeb site also could update your Facebook page.
iMovie '11: The TUAW review
One of the more widely-used members of the iLife suite, iMovie, has been around for quite a while, although the original iMovie hit a dead end with iMovie HD 6 and was reborn as a completely new app as iMovie '08. It's now in version 9.0 as part of iLife '11, and this edition has both new features and a bit of added polish across the entire product. In this hands-on review of iMovie '11, I won't be pointing out every menu item or movie-making feature; instead I'll focus on the new capabilities. I've been dabbling with video production since I was in high school (yes, television did exist back then). The tools available for editing video have come a long way in that time, but for the most part they've still been rather difficult to master. iMovie '11 introduces some new tools that make it easy for just about anyone to take advantage of expert-level effects that would have been difficult or impossible for novices to achieve before. Read on to hear about some of those tools and how they work.
iPhoto '11 updated, still not up to par
It's a shame -- iPhoto is likely the most heavily used of all the iLife applications. There are simply more people taking digital pictures than there are using GarageBand or iMovie. iWeb, left languishing by Apple with few updates and no new features, has probably forced people to look elsewhere for quick and easy web publishing. iDVD appears to be on life support too, which brings iPhoto to the fore of media sharing on the Mac. When iPhoto '11 was released last month, it immediately caused problems for a large number of users. Photo libraries were corrupted, and there was even data loss for a significant group. Apple responded with iPhoto 9.0.1. That update appeared to stop the library corruption, but didn't fix a lot of the other complaints aggravated iPhoto users had, such as a loss of photo calendars, a change in how photos are emailed, and general instability and slowness. Yesterday, iPhoto users received an update to version 9.1. Apple said it "improves overall stability and addresses a few minor issues." This is the way Apple details bug fixes, and sadly, you often don't know what is fixed, and are left experimenting to see if the software works again. It's a maddening way to deal with people who purchased the software, but there it is. Apple 'thinks different'. iPhoto calendars are back, but a subset of users is still struggling with iPhoto even after this latest update. It's clear that the original release simply wasn't tested very well since there have been two bug fix updates in a very short period. How is iPhoto going for you? We know it is working well for a number of users, but scanning the support boards reveals all is not completely well. Please share your experiences and recommendations to Apple in our comments.
Apple releases update to fix iPhoto '11 bugs
Apple has released iPhoto 9.0.1 via Software Update. The update addresses issues that, in extremely rare cases, could result in data loss when upgrading a library from an earlier version of iPhoto. Indeed, many of our readers have complained of such issues and our own Mel Martin wrote about them in his review of iPhoto '11. The update weighs in at 33.87 MB and requires iLife '11 and Mac OS X 10.6.3 or later. You can also download the update here and read Apple's knowledgebase article here.
Found Footage: Back to the Mac in an incredibly great 104 seconds
Remember last week's Back to the Mac event where the stunning iLife '11 suite and the jaw-dropping new Macbook Airs were announced? No? Well if you missed it, Lockheed91 has saved you some time and reduced the introduction of the awesome new computers along with the amazing new releases of the incredible new iPhoto, the stunning new Garageband and the extraordinary new iMovie down to a remarkable 104 second adjective-fest. Take a look at this phenomenal (and really exciting) video after the break and see for yourself. [via Huffington Post]
Talkcast tonight, 10pm ET: Mac App Store & more, open phones for developers
There was something for everyone at Wednesday's 'Back to the Mac' event: new hardware, new software, new OS preview and new paradigm for Mac software sales. If you've got an opinion on any of these topics -- and we know you do -- then be sure to join us tonight on the TUAW Talkcast. We're going to be joined by a special guest this week: Talkcast frequent flyer Ged Maheux from the Iconfactory (the company's latest iPhone app, music auto-resume utility Take Five, is on the App Store now). Ged will bring his perspective on the Mac App Store, so we'd also like to extend a special invitation to any and all Mac developers: come on down! We want to hear your take. To participate on TalkShoe, you can use the browser-only client, the embedded Facebook app, or the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for maximum fun, you should call in. For the Web UI, just click the "TalkShoe Web" button on our profile page at 10 pm on Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VoIP lines (take advantage of your free cellphone weekend minutes if you like): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *8. If you've got a headset or microphone handy on your Mac or your PC, you can connect via the free Gizmo or X-Lite SIP clients or by using the TalkShoe client's ShoePhone tool; basic instructions are here. We'll kick things off at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT. See you there!
If you don't have Snow Leopard, iLife '11 is a no-no
iLife '09 was certainly moving toward an Intel processor requirement, but iLife '11 has made the transition complete with even tighter requirements. You have to have an Intel-based Mac, of course, and that Mac has to be running Snow Leopard. It's not a giant surprise; things have been slowly rolling that way, both from Apple and other Mac software developers. If you are still running that big Mac G5 desktop or one of the older non-Intel laptops the walls are slowly closing in on you. Also note that iLife '11 really wants you to have only the latest version of the software suite. An install will upgrade (replace) iLife '09, so once you pull the trigger there is no going back. Consider yourself informed, and warned. Do you feel it is a mistake for Apple to leave so many customers behind, or are you OK with the new requirements?
iLife, iWork apps to sell individually in Mac App Store
It seems that Apple will sell its iWork and iLife apps individually through the forthcoming Mac App Store. Some keen-eyed observers noticed hints during this week's demonstration, ElectricPig reports. During the demo, you could clearly see GarageBand, iMovie and iPhoto icons among the available apps. Indeed, the screenshot on the official Lion information page shows the same thing. It's impossible to see what the cost will be (we *think* it says $14.95), but the idea is interesting. Many users buy the bundle for one or two apps only (iMove and iPhoto, but not GarageBand for instance). An a la carte offering would prevent those shoppers from paying for an app(s) that they won't use. The Mac App Store will premiere for Snow Leopard users in about 90 days. We'll know for sure by then. [Via MacNN]
iMovie '11 Trailers feature won't let you spoof Universal trailers
Loyal tipster Tarik sent word that the iMovie '11 Trailers theme using a globe (very similar to the Universal Studios opener) won't allow you to use the word "Universal" in the title. He's currently testing other themes for similar censors, but it looks like Apple didn't want people spoofing Universal Studios trailers. Because I'm sure "Me and my dog go to the beach" could easily be confused with "Marley and Me,"* right? As you can see in the picture, Tarik tried to input Universal for the "studio name" field. iMovie detected this, and substituted the hyphens. Further, he reports you're able to use the string 'Universal' in other themes, just not in this one. Was this accommodation reached directly with Universal, perhaps to prevent any derailing of Universal's deal for distribution on iTunes and Apple TV? I doubt we'll ever know. Let us know in the comments if you find more examples of this. UPDATE: iMovie '11 won't let you write in the text string "Paramount" without the adding the hyphenations either. Image on the next page. *Yeah, I know "Marley and Me" is a 20th Century Fox production.
After iLife '11 analysis: Uncertain future for iWeb, no future for iDVD
Yesterday's announcement of iLife '11 brought some cool new features across the suite... well, most of the suite anyway. As many people have noticed, only iPhoto, iMovie, and Garage Band were updated. iWeb and iDVD got no love besides small code changes that make them compatible with the new iLife '11 apps. So, what does this mean for the future of the two apps? iDVD Sorry, iDVD fans, but the app is as good as dead. The last time iDVD got a major upgrade was back in 2006 with iLife '06. A year later, iLife '08 brought minor changes to iDVD, restoring some themes from the first two versions of the software. Since then, two versions of iLife have come and gone, but iDVD has not changed one bit. Back in 2003 or 2004 (I don't remember which year exactly), my group at Apple was in a meeting with people from the iLife team. One of the project managers threw out a question to us. He asked why iDVD was so essential to the iLife suite, which at the time also included iTunes, iPhoto, and iMovie. This wasn't just a question he was asking us either -- it was one of the interview questions for programmers that were hired to work on the iLife suite. The answer: iDVD was essential because it wrapped a user's digital life up into one tidy package. Music, photos, and movies could be edited and burned onto a shiny disc for distribution to friends and family. As an interesting side note, the programming manager told us that no one on the iLife team ever got the question right on their first try.
iLife '11 announced, lacks mention of iWeb, iDVD
Apple announced iLife '11 today, available immediately for $49 for those wanting to upgrade an existing iLife suite, or free with the purchase of a new Mac. iLife features overhauls of iPhoto, iMovie and Garageband. Missing from any mention at the "Back to the Mac" event is the fate of iWeb and iDVD. They appeared in the row of icons, but no new features were announced. Apple's iLife site has not updated yet, and the Apple Store is still down, but as soon as we get more information we'll let you know!
New GarageBand will match your grooves and teach you how to play guitar
Xander Soren with Apple's product marketing showcased several new features in iLife '11's GarageBand including: Groove matching, termed an automatic "spell checker" for bad rhythm, or as TUAW's Kelly Guimont just observed: "Thanks to GarageBand, your second grader's Christmas concert can sound like the cast of Glee!" Flextime to make an audio clip longer or shorter Piano and guitar lessons built into the software that includes music recorded by an Indiana chamber group. You get scored on lessons and can see exactly where you missed -- shades of Rock Band and Guitar Hero
iMovie '11 features audio editing overhaul, movie trailer creation
Steve Jobs said that the top feature request for iMovie was an overhaul of the audio editing. This is the highlight of the just-announced iMovie as part of iLife '11, with a new audio editing panel with the ability to add effects. Other features include: One-step effects with the ability to add several complex effects in one step. A people finder to isolate clips with certain people in it. This uses the face-detecting technology currently found in iPhoto. News and sports themes The ability to construct movie trailers which has some fantastic effects, logo and the ability to showcase your family and friends in your latest action-packed flick.
iPhoto '11 brings huge updates to printing, full screen, Facebook sharing
Apple has announced a new version of iPhoto in iLife '11, and it brings a boatload of new features to the table, including: Full screen browsing of all Events, Albums, Maps, and pretty much everything else. "Smart" slideshows that use your location information from Places to create dynamic shows that use maps from places you've been. Floating menus that allow for operation of the entire app from the full screen mode. Deep Facebook and Flickr integration that syncs all of your photos both ways, regardless of whether or not they were added by iPhoto. A new email template feature that creates some stunning HTML email galleries of your photos. All of this is wrapped in a gorgeous iOS-styled interface (look at the bottom navigation bar)! More to come in the near future.
Apple support forums inadvertently leak 10/20 product announcements
All props to Polish blog spidersweb.pl this morning, as they did a bit of sneaky digging into Apple's support forums to turn up compelling evidence of some of the products we expect to see later today. Knowing that when the forum administrators create new support categories the forum URLs get sequential numbers, writer Przemysław Pająk got curious. Simply editing the address of the forum site to go past the most recent addition (the Apple TV, at #276) reveals a 'Reserved 10 20' forum -- aha! That alone is a fun discovery, but if you keep going as Spider's Web did, you will rapidly discover forums for iMovie, GarageBand and iPhoto '11, followed by a forum for 'MBA (Need Official Name).' Oops. If you have "new iLife" and "new MacBook Air" on your Keynote Bingo card, might as well start chilling the champagne now. You might also spare a good thought for the Apple Support forum administration team, which is almost certainly going to have a pretty lousy day at work. Also note the absence of iWeb and iDVD from the presumptive product line. Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
Apple.com reveals iLife upgrade, reaffirms MacBook Air refresh
Ah, it's good to see Apple can leak its announcements ahead of time just like the rest of the world. Overzealous forum mods on Apple's own site have been setting up Discussions sections for products to be announced at today's Back to the Mac event a little early, which has inevitably been picked up by some sleuthing souls over in Poland. A little bit of URL manipulation has revealed separate forums for a new iMovie '11, iPhoto '11, and GarageBand '11, all three of which are core components of the iLife suite, leading us to go ahead and presume that Steve Jobs will be discussing an iLife '11 later today. There's also confirmation of the new MacBook Air with an "MBA (Need official name)" forum emerging, alongside a mysterious "Reserved 20 10" destination. [Thanks, MM]
More evidence of iLife '11
Seems like we've been hearing about rumors of iLife '11 and iWork '11 for months now -- and usually all of them come from various Amazon sites around the world. Well, here's the latest one: today, 9 to 5 Mac discovered the German Amazon iLife '09 listing marking the ship date as October 20, 2010. This ship date has since been removed. However, if you check out the iLife '09 listing on the US Amazon site, you'll notice in the "More buying choices" box on the right side of the screen that Amazon is selling a version of iLife for $49.99 and that it will ship in "2 to 4 weeks." Can we put these two Amazon iLife hints together to infer that iLife '11 will be announced on October 20th and ship two to four weeks after that? Honestly, who knows. It's never been clear whether Amazon has any inside information about product releases or if they just update their product pages based on speculation. It is interesting however that the German site removed the October 20th date after 9 to 5 Mac reported on it, and that Amazon US currently offers iLife '09 at a 34% discount of $52.30, yet is also selling a version for $49.99 that ships in two to four weeks.
Rumor: iLife '11 to be 64-bit, iOS compatible
iLife, the software suite that is included on every Mac and is made up of iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, and iDVD, hasn't been updated to a new version since January, 2009. That, of course, is making many of us in the Apple world curious about when the next version of the suite will appear on the market. Many Mac pundits believe the next edition will be iLife '11, and we've already seen several of the rumored release dates fly past without sign of the new iLife. Now some sharp-eyed Apple fans have noticed that there's a book listed on the German Amazon site with the title "iLife '11: Digital pictures, movies, music and more" and a release date of December, 2010. The translated description notes that the suite is entirely 64-bit, and that iPhoto will receive integration with social networking. iWeb has been "rewritten" from the ground up, and iDVD is no longer included with the suite. There's mention of a "new application," but no word on what the function or name of the new member of the suite will be. The red banner on the cover mockup at left reads "iPhoto, iMovie and more, with Apps for Mac, iPhone 4, iPod and iPad," which implies that iOS versions of the applications will be available as well. At this time, of course, iMovie is available for iOS, and it would not be much of a stretch to assume that iOS-compatible versions of the other applications could be developed. After all, Apple made an iPad version of iWork available on day one. The book is written by Uwe Nerger, who has no other published titles to his name. That brings up the question how an unpublished author has been given access to a suite of applications that many published authors of Apple tomes have not seen. Take this rumor with a fist-sized grain of salt. [via AppleInsider]
iLife '11 Family Pack shows up on Amazon
A while ago, we reported on an iLife 2010 for Dummies book that showed up on Amazon France, complete with production cover. A day after our post, the book was pulled from the site. That day, an iWork '10 book also showed up on Amazon Germany (and it's still there). Many readers rightly pointed out that there is very little likelihood that Apple would call the next version of iLife and iWork "10" since the year is almost over. Plus, only a week later, there were rumors circulating that iLife '11 was going to be released in time for back to school or at Apple's September media event. So far, it has yet to materialize. However, a sharp-eyed reader pointed out that an iLife '11 Family Pack listing has appeared on Amazon.com. A Macworld reader found it a few weeks ago, and it appears it has been listed on Amazon since July 27th. The family pack's price is US$99, and its shipping time is listed as "2 to 4 weeks." The TUAW reader who tipped us off on it said she attempted to purchase it without problems and "Did not finalize the order, but was able to get right up to the final confirmation without an error." While TUAW doesn't have reason to believe this is clear proof that an iLife '11 release is imminent, it's certainly another drop in the bucket signaling an upcoming iLife refresh. The only question is, "How soon?" UPDATE: Amazon has now pulled the iLife '11 Family Pack listing.
