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iLife Support 8.1
iLife '08 users, there is an update awaiting your attention. iLife Support 8.1 'supports system software components shared by all iLife '08 applications, improves overall stability, addresses a number of other minor issues, and supports general compatibility issues.'Sounds like a good deal to me. Update away!Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
iMovie '08: It's not that bad
iMovie '08 has gotten a bad rap lately so I decided to put it through its paces and see what all the fuss was about. Now, I'm not a professional video editor -- just your average Josephine -- but, frankly, I think the new iMovie kinda rocks.
Maybe iMovie '08 isn't such a bad change after all
Many folks who were used to the array of features iMovie '06 offered were understandably upset when iMovie '08 uprooted just about everything they knew. After all, they had the figurative rug pulled out right from under them. Eric at no one sequel, however, doesn't see this as a bad thing. Eric's entire post is definitely worth a read, but to summarize: while iMovie '06 is a good product, it doesn't exactly live up to the Apple and iLife reputation of "just working." iMovie '06 users need to learn a little too much about video editing - time codes, time lines, "rendering", etc. - causing a significant portion of the public to avoid the practice altogether. I agree with Eric - perhaps it isn't Apple's job to bring pro features and workflows to the general user. Instead, maybe it's their job to to eliminate the need for those features to exist in the mind of said user, greatly simplifying the barrier to entry in video editing so that more can use these otherwise complicated tools.By completely rethinking the practice of video editing and redesigning iMovie around the new paradigm, iMovie '08 could perhaps be the first product that really captures the attention of the larger mass that hasn't caught the bug yet (no pun intended). Sure iMovie is lacking a few features everyone can enjoy, such as a few effects and transitions, but users no longer need to learn what a 'timecode' is just to cut together the summer vacation or a cute puppy montage. It's just skim, click and drag and poof - a video.Isn't that the way Apple products are supposed to work?[via Daring Fireball]
iMovie 7.0.1 is available
If you've got iLife '08 installed, check software update. Apple has made version 7.0.1 of iMovie available. While this update won't make it suck less, it does "...address issues associated with publishing to .Mac Web Gallery. It also improves overall stability and addresses a number of other minor issues."It's a 9MB download.Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
iWeb 2.0.1
The new app smell has hardly left iWeb '08 and already Software Update brings a dot rev for it. iWeb 2.0.1 'addresses issues with upgrading and publishing iWeb 1.x websites.' Rather terse, as most of the recent Apple update descriptions have been lately.If you've been having trouble with iWeb 1.x websites in iWeb '08, this update is for you. Download here or through Software Update.Thanks, Robert.
iPhoto '08 Already Has an Update
A few minutes after I had ripped the shrink wrap off of my shiny new iLife '08 DVD, gotten it installed and was playing with iPhoto '08, I got a little message from the folks at Apple: iPhoto '08 (aka iPhoto 7.0) already has an update. In addition to its appearance in the app itself, the update also showed up in Software Update and at Apple's website.This update to iPhoto, which measures 8.8MB and brings the application to version 7.0.1, "addresses issues associated with publishing photos from an upgraded library to .Mac Web Gallery," according to Apple. So, if you're like me and you've already installed the new iLife '08, then fire up iPhoto or Software Update and get updating. After all, who doesn't want their issues addressed? I know I do.
Buy iLife '08 and get iMovie '06 for free
Apple has touted iMovie '08 as a complete rewrite of iMovie, but it would seem that not everyone is thrilled with it. Sure, iMovie '08 has some interesting features, but it lacks many things that the more mature codebase of iMovie HD 6 offers like: No plugin support No themes Multiple audio track support is gone No timeline view And lots more. Lot of iMovie HD 6 users have written in to complain about these changes in iMovie '08, and it would seem Apple has heard their plea. iLife '08 owners can download a version of iMovie HD 6 (version 6.04 to be exact, version 6.03 is the most current version available to non-iLife '08 users at the moment) so that you can have both movie making apps at your fingertips. It is also worth pointing out that when you install iMovie '08 it doesn't get rid of iMovie HD 6, but rather moves it into a different folder.Thanks Aaron and Mysteryquest.
iLife/iWork tutorial little touch
This isn't earth-shattering, nor is it breaking news but sometimes you just have to step back and enjoy the little things in life. I was watching a few of the iLife '08 and iWork '08 tutorials (posted about here and here) to get a feel for some of the new features. I clicked on a movie, watched it, and then clicked on another. Pretty straightforward, but then I noticed a little check mark had appeared next to the tutorials I had already watched.Nice touch, Apple web ninjas!
TUAW Poll: Most desirable new product
We've examined Apple's latest offerings (by "examined" we mean "stared at their respective web pages"). Some of us have even purchased iLife and iWork.Now, we want your opinion: Which is the most desirable of Apple's new products? That iMac is gorgeous, iMovie '08 is completely new and everyone loves the Mac mini (right, Uncle Steve?). Vote in our poll and check back tomorrow for the results.Update: Keyboards add to poll options. Which is the most desirable new product? New iMac iLife '08 iWork '08 Gigabit Airport Extreme Reworked Mac Mini 10GB at .Mac New keyboards
iWork '08 tutorials
We've already told you about the iLife '08 tutorials that are available, but now it is iWork's time to shine. That's right, Apple has created a bunch of tutorials for their newly refreshed, and beefed up, productivity suite. This is your chance to learn how to use that 30 day demo to the fullest.[via Daring Fireball]
iMovie '08
iMovie '08 has been completely rewritten from the ground up, at least that's what Steve said at today's media event. Let's take a look at some of the new features:New IconInitially this will be the most visible change, that is until you launch the app. The icon has been changed because the app itself is so different. Makes sense to me.Video LibraryThis is a big change. iMovie has gone from a simple editing program to a catalog of all the video on your Mac, no matter where it is stored. That's right, iMovie will display movies that are on your machine's hard disk or on an external drive. Pretty cool. You can also mark clips as favorites, so you can quickly navigate to your go to clips. Taking a cue from iPhoto '08, iMovie also has Events (it automatically groups clips taken on the same day together).General EnhancementsI know this might seem like a cop out, but the real genius in iMovie '08 isn't the laundry list of new features, but rather how they combine to make movie making faster. The new Video Library uses skimming (think of that is scrubbing through a video clip, but without having to open it in a different viewer) to make setting in and out points a breeze. New transitions, effects, and realtime title rendering also help to make your video go from concept to screen (big, medium, or small screen) in a snap. Sharing has never been easier either. iMovie allows you to upload you completed masterpiece to YouTube, or your .Mac account with a few clicks.
Apple posts iLife '08 tutorials
Sure, it isn't a 30 day demo, but these iLife '08 tutorials give you a very nice overview of what the various apps can and can't do (and how they do and don't do 'em). The short videos are very task oriented, as you would expect with tutorials, and best of all they are free.Check them out, and see what iLife '08 has to offer.Oh, and can someone explain to me why I need to go to a store and buy physical CD's to get iLife? Apple is one of the world's largest distributors of digital music, and I am pretty sure they can handle digital distribution of software as well. Ah, another mystery of the universe.
iPhoto '08
We know that not everyone is as obsessed about Apple news as we are, so we're going be going through each updated app in iWork '08 and iLife '08 to highlight some of the big ticket new features. We're already done this for iWeb and Garageband, and now it is iPhoto in the spotlight (haha, get it?). Here we go:EventsEvents is the feature that his Steveness spent the most time on during his presentation. The idea is that since you are usually taking pictures at an event, iPhoto should be smart enough to group them together for you, which has the side benefit of allowing you to browse your photos that much faster. Each Event (notice the capital E) has one picture that represents it, which you can choose. These Events, in turn, make up a new iPhoto view that shows you each Event (as seen above). When you hover the Event you can 'skim' through the photos to see the individual photos that much up that Event. You can also split up the generated Events, in case iPhoto doesn't group the photos correctlySearchingI don't know about you, but I have given up on organizing my digital files. Search is my crutch, and luckily search is much improved in iPhoto '08. iPhoto 6's search is capable, but it just gives you one way to look at the results. New in iPhoto is highly organized search results, as seen to the right. This is going to save me lots of time.
Apple eager to let you know about iLife '08
Apple, it would seem, is eager to let you know about iLife '08. Several readers have emailed us, and I just experienced for myself, this lovely message that greats you when you fire up an app from iLife '06. I launched iPhoto 6 to make sure a feature I was blogging about wasn't in it (look for that iPhoto '08 post in a little bit) and I was greeted with the above message.At least you can turn it off, which is nice of Apple.
Video of Apple's press event is online
As usual, Apple have posted the video of today's press event for all to see. Marvel at the new iMac, iLife '08, iWork...and count the number of times Steve says, "Boom!"I know I've been eager to see those apps in action, but the demo videos have been getting slammed all day. Perhaps this will be better.You can watch it all here.
And We're Back -- Apple Online Store Back Up
In case you were counting the minutes until the Apple Store was back up and you could hurriedly place your orders for all the new fancy thing Mr. Jobs announced today, you can stop counting now. The store is back up and seemingly ready for business.I'm going to be getting iLife '08 today and maybe one of those new aluminum keyboards -- the USB one not Bluetooth. Who knows, if I'm really feeling salty, perhaps a new aluminum iMac as well? After all, I've been pretty good this year so what the heck, right? What about you guys, what are you gonna get now that you can lay your hard-earned money down?
Garageband '08
As you may have seen, Apple released iLife '08 (so long, 2007!) earlier today. This post will examine GarageBand '08.Most interesting to me is Magic GarageBand. It's a quick way to set up a rhythm section (drums, bass and guitar) to play a simple chord progression while you play on top. Work out new riffs, a solo or compose a new song. Select the style (jazz, rock, etc.) for your "backing band" to play. That's pretty cool.Arrangements let you identify your parts, like chorus, verse, bridge and coda. While I'd like to make an actual chart, I guess that's what Pro Tools is for. Still, this is handy for at-a-glance organization.Multi-track recording will save every take, so you can quickly revert to a previous recording. That's pretty handy.There's also a new visual EQ and several new Jam Packs, but let's talk about automation. Change the tempo or volume of any song or instrument at any point. Best of all, GarageBand will remember your changes and reproduce them at another point in the song with a click. Very cool.We're eager to get our mits on GarageBand '08. Let's jam!
Aperture Updated to 1.5.4
On this day of announcements big and sorta big, there looks to be some software updates coming down the pipeline as well. A few minutes ago we told you about an update to Front Row. Now, there's an update to Apple's pro photo application Aperture as well. According to the blurb in software update, this Aperture update "is required for compatibility with iLife '08. This update is recommended for all Aperture users." So, there you go. As you probably don't have iLife '08 just yet, you might be able to wait a few days on this one. But when you do get it, update away!
Check out a .Mac web gallery
While examining iLife '08 this afternoon, one of our Twitter buddies posted this link to a live .Mac web gallery. It's very slick indeed. Drag your cursor over a gallery to "flip" through its photos, and click anyone to view. Once you've entered a gallery (Apple is still rather reflection crazy), you've got several options. Choose a grid, carousel or mosaic layout (the carousel is impressive), or simply start a slideshow. You may also change the background's color and resize any photo. Finally, you can subscribe to an album's RSS feed, send to a friend or add photos (if you've got permission to do so). Play any movie with a click, and select desired size. From there, you can easily send it to a friend of download for safe keeping.
Mac.com updates with more storage, new tips on using iLife '08
Attention all those waiting for .Mac to receive some much-needed attention, your wish (or at least some of your wishes) have been granted. Apple's press event is still wrapping up as I write this, but the mac.com site has already updated with the changes Steve Jobs announced today, along with some tips on how to use a few of iLife '08's new features (as of this writing, however, the iLife site has not updated yet). One of the biggest changes to .Mac is a 10x storage increase for individual accounts from 1GB total for .Mac mail, iDisk and websites to a whopping 10GB. While total monthly bandwidth transfer was previously at 250GB, I haven't seen any details on whether that has increased (though I assume - or at least hope - it has). As a nice bonus, the attachment size limit on inbound/outbound .Mac email messages has doubled from 10MB to 20, bringing it up to par with Gmail and other services.[Update: Woops, my bad. Previously, .Mac members had 25GB of monthly transfer, which has now been raised to 100GB.][Update 2: I just signed into my .Mac account online to see the new storage is already available to me. Since I previously paid for extra storage, I now have 20 GB available to split between Mail and my iDisk. At least one commenter has confirmed this as well, but users might still see this get rolled out slowly until the 14th like Apple originally specified.]While iLife '08 is shipping today (though no word yet on availability in brick and mortar stores), .Mac storage will be increased for all users by August 14th. Until then, you can enjoy some of the new tips being published on how to leverage the new iLife and .Mac features, such as publishing iWeb sites to your own personal domain and publishing photos from the new iPhoto to the hot new Web Galleries. You can be sure we're all getting our hands on copies of iLife '08 as soon as possible, and reviews of all the new features will be coming as fast as we can write them.
