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Mac 101: Locating the root path of a Pages document in Pages
Here is a Mac 101 tip for novice Mac users. Running Pages in Mac OS X Lion means you never have to worry about saving a document, it just happens automatically. While this is wonderful, this new feature has caused me to scratch my head a few times while I acclimatise to this simple, but quite different way of saving documents. In previous versions of Mac OS X, when working on a document, very often I would hit "Save as..." from the File menu to (double) check where I had saved my document or to rename my document as it went through various titles. The problem I've found with Versions and Auto Save in Lion (or where I've struggled to adjust!) is that once you've created and titled a document by saving it, you're left with "Save a Version," which means you can't locate where you've saved your document or rename the title of your document from within Pages. Fortunately, there's an older feature of Mac OS X that helps you easily identify where you've saved your document. And I'm not talking about going to Finder or Spotlight to search for it. You can view the root path of your document right from within Pages. Simply hit and hold the Control key on your keyboard (or right-click on your mouse) and click on the title of your document at the top of the Pages window. This will bring up the root path of your document so you can easily see where you document is stored on your computer. Note that you must aim carefully when clicking on the menu bar. If you're in an app that supports Versions, a click on the right-hand side will reveal the Versions menu, and that's not what we want in this instance. If you see the disclosure triangle appear beneath your cursor, move a few pixels to the left.
OS X Lion has a hidden 'drop box' for easy file syncing between Macs
Mac OS X Hints has discovered that Macs running OS X Lion and registered with iCloud have a hidden "drop box" in the user's Library folder that allows for easy document and file syncing between Macs. A folder within ~/Library (which Lion hides by default) called "Mobile Documents" contains iWork documents synced with iOS devices via iCloud (something our own Erica Sadun discovered quite a while ago.) "What is of use is that any files put into the ~/Library/Mobile Documents folder will automatically upload to iCloud and push to any other Mac you have that is signed in to the same iCloud account and has the 'Document & Data' iCloud preference checked," says Mac OS X Hints member CHM. "Lion even notifies you of version conflicts and allows you to resolve them when you open the document." This functionality is broadly similar to the third-party file syncing service Dropbox, but having the service buried within a hidden user folder makes it far less useful. Files manually added to the Mobile Documents folder also apparently don't sync to iOS devices, which is another feature Dropbox does provide via its iOS app. What's interesting about this hidden folder is that it shows that iCloud and OS X Lion have already laid the groundwork for an easy-to-use and official method for syncing files between Macs (and possibly iOS devices). This discovery makes it seem as though a very simple software update could enable the current Mac versions of iWork's applications to sync with iCloud quite easily. iCloud is still a relatively new service, having been in public release for less than a month as of this writing. Hidden features like the Mobile Documents folder seem to indicate that Apple has broader aspirations in mind than the relatively simplistic iOS-only, iWork-only document syncing the service supports thus far.
iWork for iOS beta 4 released to developers
Apple has released a fourth beta build of iWork for iOS to developers. This comes a little more than a day after iTunes 10.5 beta 9 was issued. The beta is available now through the Apple Developer Center.
iTunes 10.5 beta 8 and iWork for iOS beta 3 available to developers
Apple has provided an eighth beta seed of iTunes 10.5 and a third beta of iWork for iOS to developers. This is the first time in the development cycle for iTunes 10.5 that a new beta for the music player hasn't simultaneously come alongside a new iOS beta; iOS 5 is still in its seventh beta as of this writing. Both betas are now available from Apple's Developer Center.
Apple iCloud and iWork beta for iOS hands-on
We've had a few weeks to get accustomed to iOS 5 and Mac OS X Lion, but one headlining feature has been notably inaccessible since it was unveiled earlier this summer. During his WWDC keynote, Steve Jobs touted iCloud as a service that will sync many of your Apple devices, for free. Macs, iPhones, iPads, and even Windows computers can synchronize documents, contacts, calendar appointments, and other data. You'll also be able to back up your iOS devices remotely, use an Apple-hosted email account, and store your music in the cloud. Well, this week Apple finally lit up its cloud-based service for developers, letting some of us take a sneak peek at the new service. Apple also announced pricing, confirming that you'll be able to add annual subscriptions with 10GB ($20), 20GB ($40), or 50GB ($100) of storage 'atop your free 5GB account. We took our five gig account for a spin, creating documents in Pages, spreadsheets in Numbers, and presentations in Keynote, then accessing them from the iCloud web interface to download Microsoft Office and PDF versions. We also tried our luck at iOS data syncing and the soon-to-be-controversial Photo Stream, so jump past the break for our full iCloud hands-on.%Gallery-129793%
Apple launches iCloud and iWork betas, confirms pricing for extra capacity
MobileMe's impending demise just got one step closer, folks. Apple's updated iCloud.com to now sport an official login page with what we're assuming is Cupertino's rendition of a CNC-machined aluminum unibody badge. It looks like those of you rocking iOS 5 or OS X 10.7.2 and who've also created an iCloud account are probably already busy frolicking through email, editing contacts and slinging calendar events all from the comfort of your browser. Those services already existed under its predecessor, but it looks as if Cupertino has spruced 'em up with fresh paint jobs. A screenshot from MacRumors also shows the addition of an iWork section, which we'd surmise means the previously siloed iWork beta now has a new place to call home. We couldn't get past the migration step with our trusty MobileMe account (disappointing proof is after the break), but you're more than welcome to tap the more coverage link and have a go yourself. Oh, and if you're wondering how much it'll cost you to claim more than those 5GB that Apple's tossing in gratis, the folks over at Electronista have confirmed that an extra 10GB will cost $20 per year, while an extra 20GB runs $40 / year and an extra 50GB will demand $100 per annum. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Microsoft working to add Lion features to Office 2011
Like it or not, Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac is the most widely-used office suite for Mac users in the enterprise. While the existing version doesn't support OS X Lion features like Auto Save, Versions, and full-screen mode, MacNN is reporting that Microsoft's Mac Business Unit is hard at work adding those and possibly other features to Office. Don't expect an update tomorrow, though. According to Microsoft Office team member Pat Fox, the wait for an updated Office 2011 will be "measured in months." If you're a user of Communicator for Mac, you can get an update right now that resolves some crashing issues in Lion. It's available through Microsoft's AutoUpdate, and can also be downloaded from the MS Download Center. The company also noted that Office for Mac 2004 will never be Lion-compatible, since it was originally written for PowerPC-based Macs. If you're still trying to coax that old copy of Office for Mac 2004 along as you move forward to Lion, it's time to make the upgrade to Office 2011 ... or consider alternatives like Apple's iWork suite. It will also be fascinating to see if Microsoft decides to bring Office 2011 to the Mac App Store, either in whole or as separate parts à la iWork. Only time will tell.
Apple discontinues most boxed software
Considering that the Lion release today (which has gone swimmingly) was a vote of confidence, Apple has moved to get most of its boxed software out of the Apple Store completely, sending a notice out to retailers to discontinue titles like iWork '09, iLife '11, Aperture 3, and most of GarageBand's Jam Pack addons. All of that software will of course be available on the App Store with a download, but Apple won't be keeping them in the actual retail store any longer. This follows Apple's actions earlier this year to remove a number of peripherals and retail games included inside Apple Stores. Much of the hardware is still available, and of course the games can be purchased with a digital download, but Apple seems to want to have its stores as clean and simple as possible. And who can blame them? Apple's latest strategy has been to narrow down product lines and streamline software purchases with an App Store model, and that's worked out just great so far. With Lion already a solid indicator that customers are ready to take to the Mac App Store when needed, there's little if any reason left to bother with actual boxes and discs any more.
iTunes and iWork updated for Lion, add full-screen support, and resume
What good is an OS update without some software that can take full advantage of all its fancy new features? Naturally, Apple's got your back, and today you'll be getting some spiffy new versions of iTunes and iWork to compliment that fearsome Lion upgrade. iTunes 10.4 finally ushers the music management app into the 64-bit era, and adds support for OS X 10.7's full-screen windows. The iWork Update 6 also brings along the distraction-free functionality, as well as resume, auto-save, and versioning for all your important docs. Not everyone is seeing the updates just yet, so be patient, it shouldn't be much longer before you're interrupted by that slightly annoying, but oh so satisfying, Software Update window.
Speculation: Apple website hints at iWork update for Lion
While working on a post about OS X Lion's full-screen apps, I stumbled upon something interesting. If you look at the image above, it shows Pages as a full-screen app. There's even a tag line -- "Never miss the fine print with full-screen for Pages." I'm running Pages version 4.0.5 (852) right now, and there hasn't been an update for a while. This version doesn't run in full-screen mode under the Lion GM. It makes sense that Apple would update Pages, Keynote, and Numbers to take advantage of as many OS X Lion features as possible, and it would be smart for those apps to be updated at the same time or shortly after Lion hits the Mac App Store. So, as much as we hate rumors and speculation, this is something to think about. It's either a marketing faux pas from Apple, or we're going to see Lion-compatible versions of the iWork apps soon. You can check out the specific page here, and be sure to let us know if you find any other hints (or mistakes) about Lion-happy apps.
Numbers on the iPhone: A quick look
Apple has yet to come out with a new version of iWork for the Mac, but it's been hard at work on the iOS edition of the productivity suite. The recent release of iWork on the iPhone and iPod touch included all three members of the iWork family in a diminutive format -- Keynote for presentations, Pages for word processing and page layout and Numbers for creating and updating spreadsheets and charts. I took a quick look at Numbers (US$9.99, universal app) on the iPhone just to see how well (or poorly) the app translated to the smaller screen format, and the results of my inspection are included in this short overview of the app. A gallery of screenshots is just below. %Gallery-126004% User Interface and Usability I've been using spreadsheets on mobile devices since the Apple Newton MessagePad first came out in 1993, and for the most part, they've all suffered from the same issue. Spreadsheet apps tend to have a lot of elements that need to be displayed on a screen, so when it comes to common functions, such as formatting cells or inserting formulas, you'll find that the tiny screen seems cramped for space. Probably the biggest issue I have with Numbers on the iPhone has to do with the fact that it is "stuck" in portrait mode. There's no way to switch to landscape, so when you're working on a cell you generally see about three columns, five rows and then all of the tools associated with whatever it is you're trying to accomplish. You can scroll from side to side and up and down on a worksheet with a swipe, which does make it easier to find what you're looking for, but there's still not a lot of visible spreadsheet. If you've used Numbers on an iPad, then the UI elements will seem very familiar to you. A workbook can have a number of separate tabs, each of which can contain different elements -- a spreadsheet table, a chart, graphics or even a form for data entry. Launching Numbers brings up a very simple screen that displays all of your spreadsheets in a grid format. Tap on one to open it, tap the "plus" button to add a new spreadsheet or press edit to perform actions on the sheets, like duplicating or deleting. You can also just tap and hold the spreadsheet icons to go into jiggle mode, and then perform actions on the sheets. Once a particular Numbers sheet or workbook has been opened, you see a very small facsimile of the sheet on the iPhone screen. The standard reverse-pinch gesture zooms in on the page, and swiping moves the focus of the sheet. To edit an element, you double-tap on it. For example, double-tapping a chart lets you edit the references to the source spreadsheet, while double-tapping a sheet brings up a keyboard. Depending on what you want to put in the cell -- a formula, text, time and date or a number -- the keyboard changes. Of course, some formulas can be quite lengthy, so the formula bar actually scrolls with a simple swipe. To add elements to a blank sheet, there's a button that looks like a small picture. With a tap, you can add media from your Photo Library (including short movies), tables (which are the empty spreadsheets), charts and shapes. Like the iPad version, there are a number of different color combos and types for each element. Comparison to Quickoffice Pro Up until this point, my choice for a mobile spreadsheet has been Quickoffice Pro ($9.99). While I think it is lacking in the sheer number of features that are packed into Numbers, it does have integration with Dropbox, which is something I find very useful. On the other hand, Numbers works with iWork.com and will work with the upcoming iCloud service. The user interface of Quickoffice Pro is more stark, but very usable. The app includes a tremendous number of built-in documentation and help files, which are useful when first learning how to use Quickoffice Pro. However, Numbers has very well-written and logical help files, which I highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn the app. The big advantage of Quickoffice Pro is that it uses Microsoft's .xls and .xlsx file formats as its native formats. It also works with Numbers files, and it also does an awesome job with Word and Pages documents and PowerPoint and Keynote presentations. However, I think Numbers does a much better job of mixing in different media types in a single workbook. Conclusion While Numbers on an iPhone would work in a pinch, I'm not sure I'll use it on the device unless I absolutely have to. On the iPad, the app works very well; on the iPhone, the lack of screen real estate makes it very difficult to use. I think this is going to be a common theme with the iPhone iWork apps, and I'm curious to see what my fellow bloggers Mike Rose and Megan Lavey-Heaton have to say about Keynote and Pages respectively. Since Numbers is a universal app, if you already have it installed on your iPad it's a free download for your iPhone or iPod touch. In that case, by all means go for it. But if you're looking for something that might be a bit easier to use -- albeit with far fewer features and finesse -- Quickoffice Pro or any of the other iPhone spreadsheet apps might be a much better choice. If any TUAW readers have also downloaded and used Numbers on your iPhone or iPod touch, I'd love to read your comments.
TUAW TV Live at 5 PM EDT: To the iCloud!
Next Monday could easily be one of the more important days in the long history of Apple, Inc. On June 6, Apple CEO Steve Jobs will take the stage for a keynote at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco to announce products and services that are going to have a profound impact on how users of Apple products will work and play. TUAW will, of course, be covering the keynote in detail, but why not get a little speculation in before the fact? Today on TUAW TV Live, I'll be hosting our viewers in an online discussion of what they expect and want from Monday's announcement. Will iCloud be available immediately after the Stevenote? Will it include Dropbox-like capabilities as well as the power to store your media in the cloud? How about integration with apps of all sorts? Will there be a new version of iWork for collaboration in the cloud? Inquiring minds want to know, and TUAW TV Live hosts and viewers want to speculate. As usual, I'll be starting the show at 5 PM EDT (2 PM PDT / 10 PM BST) sharp, and we'll take a few minutes to chat before the demos start. To join in on the chat and watch the live streaming video, drop by TUAW about five minutes before the start time to get your instructions on how to participate. If you're unable to join us for the show, remember that you can always subscribe to the video podcast and watch the show at your leisure in iTunes or your other favorite podcatching app.
Apple brings iWork to iPhone and iPod touch
It's been available on the iPad since that device launched, and now Apple has finally brought its iWork suite of productivity apps to the iPhone and iPod touch. That, of course, includes Keynote, Pages and Numbers, which are all now universal apps that run the same $9.99 apiece as their iPad-only predecessors -- current users can simply upgrade for free, thankfully. Head on past the break for the complete press release.
iWork now available for iPhone, iPod touch
In addition to the iCloud reveal, Apple announced today that iWork is now available for the iPhone and iPod touch. The cost remains the same -- US$9.99 per app -- and they're a free update for anyone who already owns the iPad version of Keynote, Pages and Numbers. We will be doing full reviews on how these apps work on the smaller iPhone format later this week. Show full PR text CUPERTINO, California-May 31, 2011-Apple® today announced that its groundbreaking iWork® productivity apps, Keynote®, Pages® and Numbers®, are now available for iPhone® and iPod touch®, as well as iPad®. Created for the Mac® and then completely redesigned for iOS and Apple's revolutionary Multi-Touch™ interface, Keynote, Pages and Numbers allow you to create and share stunning presentations, beautifully formatted documents and powerful spreadsheets on the go. iWork apps are available on the App Store™ for $9.99 each to new users and as a free update for existing iWork for iPad customers. "Now you can use Keynote, Pages and Numbers on iPhone and iPod touch to create amazing presentations, documents and spreadsheets right in the palm of your hand," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "The incredible Retina display, revolutionary Multi-Touch interface and our powerful software make it easy to create, edit, organize and share all of your documents from iPhone 4 or iPod touch." Keynote, Pages and Numbers import and export documents from iWork for Mac and Microsoft Office; print wirelessly using AirPrint™; and include beautiful Apple-designed themes and templates. All iWork apps now include improved document management with thumbnail images that let you find your files quickly, organize them and group them into folders using intuitive gestures. From the Tools button in the toolbar, you can easily share any presentation, document or spreadsheet without leaving the app. Keynote makes it easy to create impressive presentations, complete with animated charts and transitions. You can play your presentation in Full Screen view on the stunning, high-resolution Retina™ display or connect to a projector or HDTV for a large audience. Available separately, the Keynote Remote app allows your iPhone or iPod touch to control a Keynote presentation on any iOS device or Mac. Pages is the most beautiful word processor ever designed for a mobile device and has everything you need to create amazing documents. Pages takes full advantage of the high-resolution Retina display on iPhone 4 and iPod touch so you can see all the detail and richness of your documents. To make working with text easy on iPhone and iPod touch, Smart Zoom automatically zooms in to follow the cursor while you're editing and zooms back out when you're done. Numbers uses Multi-Touch gestures and an intelligent keyboard to help you create compelling, great-looking spreadsheets with over 250 easy-to-use functions, flexible tables and eye-catching charts. Just like Pages, Numbers takes advantage of the high-resolution Retina display and Smart Zoom to make working with text and cells on iPhone 4 or iPod touch easy. Pricing & Availability Keynote, Pages and Numbers are universal apps that run on iPad and iPad 2, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, and iPod touch (3rd & 4th generation). Keynote, Pages and Numbers are available from the App Store for $9.99 (US) each for new users, or as a free update for existing iWork for iPad customers. Keynote Remote is sold separately via the App Store for 99 cents (US). Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.
Image spotted on Apple's website hints at iWork '11
A small misstep by Apple in a MacBook Air image hints at the rumored iWork 11 suite. Located directly above the iPhoto image in the right sidebar is a reference to the rumored productivity suite. Rumors coming fast and furious last year pointed to a January launch of the iWork 11 applications along with the Mac App Store. While the OS X App Store debuted on time, the suite of applications, which include Pages '11, Numbers '11 and Keynote '11, did not materialize. This above image does not guarantee iWork '11 will appear in the immediate future. In fact, we have seen this shot briefly before in the early days of the Mac App Store, but Apple is now re-purposing it for use with the MacBook Air. Of course, it could be an oversight by Apple, but we're hoping it suggests the productivity suite is still on Apple's radar. Fingers-crossed it will get some love at WWDC. Thanks, @Helveticats.
Apple ends $30 MobileMe and iWork rebate program
An internal memo suggests Apple is ending the US$30 MobileMe and iWork rebate program. The program offers customers a $30 discount on a $99 MobileMe subscription or the $79 iWork suite when they buy a new Mac. According to the memo, Apple has told all resellers to end the program on April 18th. All references to the rebate must be removed by the end of that business day. This change is stirring up the persistent rumor that MobileMe is undergoing a major overhaul. Apple recently stopped selling boxed copies of MobileMe leading to speculation that some or all the cloud service may be offered for free. This change may be announced in the upcoming months, possibly at WWDC and may be tied to Apple's iOS 5 update. The termination of the iWork rebate program is not tied to MobileMe, but it does hint an update to the productivity suite is on the way. The desktop version of the suite was updated in 2009 and is in need of a refresh. Much of the changes to iWork in 2010 focused on bringing the applications to the iPad. iWork 11 was expected to debut with the roll out of the Mac App store, but that rumor failed to materialize.
Apple awarded patents for virtual keyboard, Pages and more
According to Patently Apple, the US Patent and Trademark Office has just published 23 new patents granted to Apple, including one regarding virtual keyboards and another for Pages, part of Apple's iWork suite. Apple filed a patent application for a virtual keyboard just two months before the original iPhone's launch. It covers a method of operating a touchscreen to activate one of a number of virtual keys, allowing the device to work out which key you meant to touch even though your finger may not actually be on it. The Pages patent deals with the process it has to go through to convert files from other programs, like Microsoft's Word, Excel or PowerPoint or PDF files, which turns out to be much more complicated than you'd think. The other patents cover a number of products, from a world travel kit power adapter and technical details of the DisplayPort adapter to editing blocks of a web page in an email program and multimedia data transfer.
AirStash beta adds support for WebDAV and iPad apps
Not content with effectively adding unlimited storage to your iPhone and iPad, AirStash developer Wearable Inc. is introducing a public beta of the ability to read and write iWork files via WebDAV, making it easier to take your work with you wherever you go. AirStash is a WiFi-connected flash drive reader. You can connect to it via Safari from your portable device or plug it into a USB port on your main computer, allowing you to expand your iDevice's storage to as many SD cards as you can carry. It's a little expensive for a flash reader at US$99.99, and this new beta version of the software still has a few rough edges with regard to things like entering WEP keys and photo viewing. But if you're the sort of person who simply has to take your entire movie collection with you everywhere you go, it could be just the ticket.
Buy individual iWork, iLife apps from the Mac App Store
Apple's iWork suite is a nice collection, but some users don't need all three apps. Fortunately, the Mac App Store lets you pick and choose between iWork and iLife apps. Starting today, you can buy and install only the apps you want for US$20 each. For iWork customers, that means Pages, Numbers and Keynote. Buy all three and spend $60. That's a savings of $40. Now some of you are probably saying "$40? But iWork '09 only cost $80? So if I can get them for $60, that's a savings of $20." Ah, but you are forgetting that the app you are buying can be used on all of your computers, meaning that you are really getting what used to be called the "Family Pack" which sold for $100. The Mac App Store also recognizes if you already own them, so you won't have to buy them again. Similarly, the iLife apps can be purchased individually. You'll find iPhoto or iMovie or GarageBand on sale for $15 each. That's a significant savings over the $80 for iLife Family Pack. There's one big caveat, however: you will not find iWeb or iDVD in the Mac App Store. Maybe they're coming later, but it seems more likely that Apple signified that they were cutting them lose when they were included in the boxed set of iLife but never mentioned during the announcement. Where is iWork '11? Several of us were surprised to see that iWork '11 is not on the Mac App Store. iWork '09 is, obviously, a few years old now and the Mac community has been anticipating a new release. the Mac App Store just seemed like it would be a good opportunity. Not yet, but hopefully soon. Just a reminder: there has never been Mac upgrade pricing on iWork or iLife, so if you buy Pages from iWork '09 today for $20 and iWork '11 is introduced next week, expect to pay full price for that upgrade. Caveat emptor. UPDATE: If you already own these apps but the Mac App Store doesn't recognize it, make sure they are up to date (iWork just had an update last night). After updating apps, restart App Store app and it should recognize they are installed.
iWork 9.0.5 Update adds ability to share presentations on iWork.com
I've been waiting for the ability to share a Keynote presentation as an actual presentation on iWork.com, and it's finally here. In another update (yesterday brought iLife updates for iPhoto, iMovie and Garageband) squeaking in before the Mac App Store launch, Apple has released an update for iWork 9.0 and later as both a download and a software update. The release notes mention the usual miscellaneous bug fixes as well as some improvements: Adds support for playback of Keynote presentations on iWork.com public beta, with over 15 animations and effects, when using the latest version of Safari. Adds support for Keynote Remote 1.2, including high-resolution slides for the Retina display. Addresses an issue in Keynote with ruler numbers when moving or resizing a shape or scrolling. Addresses an issue when exporting a Keynote presentation to iTunes/iPod when iTunes 10 is installed. Improves the readability of ePub documents exported from Pages. Includes public sharing and private upload document sharing options for iWork.com to Keynote, Pages and Numbers. Apple is recommending this update for users of iWork 9.0 and later, and those of you using the iWork.com beta are invited to test the sharing options and provide feedback. For more detailed information about this update and individual application changes, see Apple's iWork Update 5 knowledge base article.
