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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.
Rumor: New iMac on August 7
It's no real secret that an iMac update is most likely in the works, but ThinkSecret says they've narrowed down an actual date for the announcement: August 7th. As soon as two and a half weeks from now, we could be seeing a brand new iMac on the Apple Store.The rumors, as you may have heard, say the new iMac will sport a brushed metal enclosure, to match up to the MacBook Pros and Mac Pros out there, and other sources say the new iMac will include a matching keyboard. ThinkSecret also speculates that iLife may be released earlier than its expected October date (originally, the suite was tracking a release right alongside Leopard). But apparently those rumors are less solid than the iMac release-- iLife and iWork are both supposed to take advantage of new techs in Leopard, so it would be a bad idea to release them early just for the sake of releasing.As always, don't forget to take that standard grain of salt with all of these rumors. But if you are thinking about picking up an iMac, looks like it might behoove you to wait a week or two just in case.Thanks, Corinne!
Apple rumor report: new iMacs and iLife on August 7th
From the infamous Apple rumor mill comes another shocking revelation which all of us should take as lightly as possible, knowing how these things tend to go. The current hot gossip comes from ThinkSecret, wherein the oft cited "reliable sources" recount Apple's exact date (August 7th) for announcing the brand-spanking-new iMac, replete with updated specs and the sexy brushed aluminum casing we keep "hearing" about. The article also suggests that a new version of iLife will be emerging at the same time, but reports are less clear on a solid release date. Of course, both of these rumors carry no backup from the boys in Cupertino, so as of right now all we can do is play wait-and-see.
Rumor: iLife '07 ready to go
According to MacScoop, "sources" have stated that the next release of Apple's iLife suite has gone gold master. In fact, if they're to be believed, it could be released before Leopard in October.Macworld '07 came and went without even a mention of iLife. January became February, and now here we are in July with no official word from Apple. Some have speculated that iLife will be a part of the OS from here on out, and no longer as a stand alone purchase. MacScoop contradicts that theory by saying that iLife could ship this summer.Of course, rumors are just that. In the end, we aren't any closer to iPhoto '07 than we were yesterday.[Via MacDailyNews]
Hazel 2.0 beta released with application uninstalling, tons of new features
Hazel is one of those truly clever, useful apps that I think could make the Mac computing world a better place if everyone bought a license (and used it, of course). If you haven't seen our previous coverage, Hazel is - in a nutshell - your "personal housecleaner," allowing you to specify rules for moving and organizing your files just like you would with Mail messages. For a basic example, you could create a rule that watches your Desktop for downloaded files types like .ZIP, .DMG, .SIT, etc., and automatically move them to a Software folder once they're a day old. Hazel's abilities don't stop there, however; not by a long shot. Hazel can automatically import image files into iPhoto, music into iTunes, add Spotlight comments, organize files into folders and even subfolders, add Finder color labels to files, run AppleScripts and so much more. Hazel can even manage your Trash for you by setting a specific time frame after which older (but not all) files should be deleted, or even a size limit that the Trash should be kept under (say, 2 GB). All this is done completely and transparently in the background, allowing you to get things done while Hazel works its magic.Have I piqued your interest? Good, because Paul Kim at Noodlesoft has just released a much-anticipated Hazel 2.0 update in beta with some significant new features. At the top of my personal list is full-blown support for uninstalling an application and the ability to preview rule matches so you can polish your criteria before flipping the switch. Read on for details on these killer new features and more.
TUAW Predictions Roundup for WWDC '07
It's that time of season again, oh dear TUAW readers: the time just before a major Apple event when we TUAW bloggers look deep into our crystal balls to make both wild and sensible predictions as to what WWDC 07 might bring us next week. This time around we have a fairly rich selection of rumored products (like iMac updates) and updates we all thought we would see at Macworld 07 (iLife 07 anyone?). Without further ado, and without any of that silly 'insider knowledge' tainting the perspective of our crystal balls, here are the predictions of some of our TUAW bloggers (in no particular order) for what WWDC 07 might bring us next week.
Connect360 having hiccups with latest update
It would appear that not everything about the latest spring update is all wine and roses. Application developer Nullriver is currently having to deal with the Spring Update with Connect360, the Mac solution to as according to tipster Rob Avery, checking your video shows your music, and there is an apparent 2000 viewing list limit. Either way, Nullriver is working on the problem and will have addressed the different nuances as soon as possible. Once everything is in place things should definitely look up for Mac users, as the addition of H.264 support is music to our ears. Apple based X3Fanboys, do you utilize Connect360?
ThinkSecret: Leopard in June
Ah, those crazy kids at ThinkSecret and their "sources." Today they're suggesting that Apple's Leopard operating system will be made available in June, as well as new versions of iLife and iWork. In an attempt to compete with Vista, iLife may be a "free" upgrade for customers who buy Leopard.Also, it looks like the next version of iLife will be called "Leopard Edition," and not "iLife 07." Of course, all sorts of release dates have been suggested for Leopard, so who knows. We just know that we want it!
Apple's Leopard set for June launch -- WWDC?
While we're all waiting to see what Apple and EMI have in store for us later today, feast on this: the latest Leopard rumor. Dubbed an "exclusive" by Think Secret, they cite the usual "reliable sources" calling for a Leopard release in June, "most likely at or around its Worldwide Developers Conference" scheduled for 11 June -- the purported iPhone launch date. Recall that during WWDC 2006, Jobs' called for a spring release and technically, Apple has until June 21st before spring has sprung. TS's proclamation also aligns with Gartenberg's own confirmation of a spring release as noted last week. TS is also reinforcing the commonly held notion that Leopard will be a "more significant release than anyone expected" as there is "much more to come" in the final release than Apple has been willing to share in the developer builds. They also claim that Apple will be launching their long overdue iLife and iWork updates with "extensive Leopard-dependent features" at the same time. So does this all point to Multitouch support or a Beryl-like 3D interface? Who knows. One thing is clear, June is shaping up to be a pinnacle month for Apple and the faithful.
iPhoto 6.0.6
OS X 10.4.9 isn't the only new kid on the block, Apple also released iPhoto 6.0.6 today. Sure, this update isn't as much fun as the OS X update is, but if you have been encountering trouble with Photocasting (anyone out there actually doing this?) or EXIF data then this update might solve your issues.The update isn't available for download from Apple's site just yet, but if you fire up Software Update it'll be waiting patiently for you.
AppleInsider: WWDC to take place June 11th - 15th
Take this with a grain of sodium chloride, but AI is reporting that "people familiar with conference planning" have tipped them off to the dates of this year's World Wide Developers Conference. These "people" call June 10th - 15th for WWDC 2007, nearly two full months before last year's knocked-back WWDC, which took place on August 7th, 2006 (delayed, presumably, to make way for the release of the Mac Pro). Even though many folks, including students such as myself, typically consider June to fall under the Summer category, these dates are still technically Spring, which is fueling speculation that Leopard could possibly land on June 10th - the first day of WWDC where Steve Jobs has traditionally done the keynote thing.AI also speculates that iLife and iWork updates could also depend heavily on Leopard technologies, which means we might not see even these software packages until WWDC also. However, they did respond with a coy "stay tuned!" when asked about these updates in their recent Q1 2007 financial results that we liveblogged, so... uh, stay tuned!
Kudlian Media Browser
One of Apple's big selling points in talking about the iLife suite of programs is their integration with each other, via the built-in media browser. For instance in iWeb or GarageBand, it's very easy to grab pictures from your iPhoto library or music from your iTunes library. Now Kudlian is offering similar functionality for Mac software that does not contain a built-in Media browser. So if you're using a web design or page design program without a built-in media browser, you can easily drag a picture out of the Kudlian Media Browser and drop wherever you like. It includes a live search box that lets you narrow down your iTunes library just that exact song you're looking for or your iPhoto library to that perfect picture. I could imagine this could be a real time-saver for some folks.Kudlian Media Browser is $9.95 but a five-day trial is available.[Via Macworld UK]
iLife announcement imminent?
Yesterday's Apple Q1 Financials conference call hinted at a possible upcoming iLife 07 announcement. When asked about the iLife refresh cycle, the Apple spokesperson did not answer with the standard "We do not disclose" template, instead saying "Stay tuned!" with a bit of excitement in his voice. Does this mean that an iLife announcement is just around the corner? Possibly. Does this mean that we at TUAW read a lot into a statement that doesn't seem to match the tone of the rest of the Q&A session? Almost certainly.
Rumors: Speculating about .mac and iLife
TUAW readers have been writing in and commenting on posts with their speculations about the missing-in-action .Mac and iLife/iWork announcements. Here's a quick summary of our favorite theories. Loyal reader Andrew suggests that any iLife announcements may be due to Leopard-only compatibility. Why announce iLife/iWork if they won't work on the current system? During September's Showtime, Jobs suggested that Leopard would ship mid-year. We also know that the public Dashcode Developer Beta page says that the beta release will cease to function on July 15, 2007 and that the Amazon product page has a ship date of August 14. So you'd expect a formal ship date announcement sometime over the next couple of months, possibly with an announcement of iLife/iWork '07. Another Andrew, also a loyal reader but a different person, points out that the current .Mac special ran between October 17, 2006, and January 22, 2007. "Last year, Apple announced a Special Event shortly after Macworld that took place in early February," he writes. "Maybe we'll see something like this again this year with .Mac?" So what are your theories about the MIA products? Let us know in the comments.Update: The Amazon page also states: "Scheduled to ship in spring 2007".
Software Not Addressed In Macworld Keynote
Today was certainly exciting day for everyone following the Macworld Expo. The announcement of the iPhone and the Apple TV, the latter more so than the former, certainly blew this blogger away. The one category of products expected by almost everyone, but missing from the keynote, was Apple's lineup of software, including the iLife suite and Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. This begs the question about what Apple's plans are for the perennial update to the software suites, and when they plan to announce the release date and feature set for Leopard.
Ask TUAW: What are you most excited for at Macworld 07?
It's obvious that Erica is more than a little fired up for the iTV at Macworld 07, but we want to hear from the rest of you. Granted, there's the obligatory portion of anticipated products that might not even exist, but who cares! If you're hoping for an Apple phone, then by golly you have every right to. Or is iLife '07 at the top of your list? Quad-core iMacs and MacBook Pros, perhaps? Whatever you're jonesing for the most, we want to hear from you. I'll tally your comments this weekend and post the results of what you dear readers have at the top of your post-holiday wishlists.
iWork 07 at Amazon?
TUAW reader Matt sent along this tantalizing link that hints at good things to come. If anyone doubted that iWork '07 was in the works (*hee*--and pretty much no one really does doubt), this stand-in page may give you some hope about upcoming Macworld announcements. And yes, Virginia, there's an iLife 07 page too. Of course, if you want to be that way about it, there's an iPhone link, but it's not exactly an Apple iPhone or anything like that.
TUAW predictions for Macworld 07
It's the new year boys and girls, which means (amongst other things) that Macworld will soon be upon us. As such, it is only fitting that we dust off TUAW's crystal ball to envision what we think will be unveiled both on and off stage. Now we don't have any insider information - this is all simply logical deduction sprinkled with some wishful thinking, so don't bet the bank on any of this. That said, we present you TUAW's predictions for Macworld 07, in order of blogger's last name:Victor Agreda Jr. Google integration (iTV + YouTube) API's for iTV (for El Gato, in particular). Maybe that's a wish; I really, truly doubt Apple and El Gato will play in the same sandbox HD content on iTunes ('07 is the true year of HD) A gold nano - for Steve, as he announces retiring in 2008 Some sort of Spreadsheet addition to iWork 07 .Mac will "somehow get better" David Chartier I agree with everyone else: iLife and iWork 07 are a sure thing No Apple iPhone - mostly because, if true, it could possibly go down in history as one of the most hyped yet never announced fanaticware products of all time I've been hoping for a video update to the AirPort Express, but it seems like the iTV more or less kills that idea; I predict it ships at Macworld On Leopard: I again agree with everyone else on a ship date being announced Laurie A. Duncan The Mac mini will get a Core 2 Duo upgrade - although not necessarily across the line. I wouldn't put it past them to keep the sub-$600 model a single Core Duo A major iTunes-related content announcement Hopefully a new stand-alone iSight camera because as much as I dig the convenience of having one built in to my iMac and MacBook, it's not terribly convenient for scanning my many shelves of books into Delicious Library, for instance (I still have my old FW iSight for such occassions, but a shiny new one would be nice) I am fairly certain we'll get to hear what the "iTV" will actually be called, along with a ship date and I'm pretty sure we'll hear a Leopard ship date I'm not seeing an iPhone(y) (aka iVox in the pretend world where I am in charge of such things) in my crystal ball, although I suspect there will be a number of jokes about it Mat Lu Leopard released earlier than expected iTV finalized revised iPods no iPhone CS3 released earlier than expected Dan Lurie Release date and complete feature set for Leopard iLife/Work '07 iTV release date and complete feature set. iPhone (You have no idea how much I want this one to be right) Scott McNulty iLife and iWork 07 Refreshed Cinema Displays Leopard ship date announced Michael Rose Likewise on Leopard release date Minimum of three additional studios for iTunes movie store "iTV" official announcement, integration with Elgato products for capture Major digital asset management product announcement for pro video space, stemming from Proximity acquisition One more thing: 8-core Mac Pro One MORE more thing: iPod Phone - multi-service chat presence included Erica Sadun iLife and iWork 07 iTV ships Leopard ship date iPhone announcement iDogCow - because every good prediction should have an absolutely wrong item in it. Viva Clarus. Moof! There you have it - we'll just have to see next week which of our crystal balls is the clearest. What do y'all think? Are we off the mark, or did we miss anything you're betting the house on? Gambling habits aside, feel free to share your own predictions in the comments.
GeeThree posts free iMovie video rotation plug-in
Bruce Gee, of Slick iMovie plug-in fame, just posted a new free plug-in at his GeeThree site. The plug-in lets you rotate video clips within iMovie, a nice feature to have since usually I head over to QuickTime Pro to deal with video orientation. To install, you'll need to download, unzip and move the plug-in into (your home folder)/Library/iMovie/Plug-ins. It will appear in the Slick Sampler collection in your Video FX iMovie pane. You can also download 10 additional free iMovie plug-ins from the Slick Transitions and Effect Sampler at GeeThree.
Aquafadas releases Pulpmotion
From the company that brought you the delightful and productivity-enhancing DV logger iDive comes this interesting new app. How exactly to describe it? Well, it provides an iLifelike UI and fun tools and templates for turning all your media into your own animated, full-motion-video...things. Video postcards. Art gallery tours. Newscasts. Think of it as "Motion for the rest of us." Download and play, or buy in for $25.Thanks Rich! [via MacMinute]
