Apple iWork - Now in 3D?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Apple's iWork suite (http://www.apple.com/iwork/) is a bit overdue for an update. Many expected Apple to update the iWork suite on its usual schedule in January of 2007... but no update arrived.

People then speculated that Apple would release iWork (and iLife) updates alongside Leopard, but Steve Jobs made no comment about the productivity suites during the WWDC keynote.

A new job posting (http://jobs.apple.com/index.ajs?BID=1&method=mExternal.showJob&RID=8865&CurrentPage=1) posted by Apple on June 13th 2007 reveals that Apple is seeking software engineers for the "next generation of iWork". Specifically, they are looking for a programmer to work on 3D specific features with experience in "openGL and other 3d technologies".

Apple's iWork suite currently consists of Pages and Keynote but there have been persistent rumors of a spreadsheet application (http://www.macrumors.com/2007/01/05/iwork-07-with-spreadsheet-screenshot/) in the works.

[Dagless]

3D? In an office application? Hmm. Does this mean we are going to get some beautiful looking pie charts? :cool:

[Rocketman]

I want to do a 3D image (printed B/W w/85 line halftone or better), of data I have collected on rocket trajectory vs. launch angle. It resembles a "bunt cake" in shape. I have the text file for data vs mass.

Rocketman

[Wayfarer]

This prospect sounds... fancy. :)

Let the speculation begin.

[kainjow]

My guess is they are looking for better transition effects for Keynote. Where else would they use 3D visuals effectively in iWork?

[Genghis Khan]

lmfao...iWork is ancient...if they only hiring a software engineer now, it won't be out for ageeeesssss:(

[macintel4me]

The main difference in user experience between a desktop app and a web app is 3d/animated graphics. I believe Apple is really going to push CoreAnimation as the next big thing to differiantiate OS X from Safari.

[iPoodOverZune]

O Lord Job, when will you bring out new iLife? Get a break from your iPhone and get a iLife. :)

I have a very old version of iLife and am holding from last november to wait for Macworld, then for WWDC to get a new version. Hell Steve B. Jobs, take the wraps off from iLife, will ya? :mad:

[SeaFox]

I'd like to think they are looking to add basic 3D modeling to iWork, but I'm sure the idea to to add more pretty transitions to Keynote and more "pie"-like pie charts.

More eye candy to distract the audience from the fact the presenter is BS-ing them.

[dswoodley]

a new take on layering maybe?

[darwen]

More eye candy to distract the audience from the fact the presenter is BS-ing them.

My thoughts exactly. Who really needs more 3D effects in charts? Are we gonna need to hand out glasses at the beginning of our presentations?

[WillJS]

So if they are just now starting on it, can we assume a more likely Jan. 2008 release rather then a Leopard/October release?

[flopticalcube]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)
A new job posting (http://jobs.apple.com/index.ajs?BID=1&method=mExternal.showJob&RID=8865&CurrentPage=1) posted by Apple on June 13th 2007 reveals that Apple is seeking software engineers for the "next generation of iWork". Specifically, they are looking for a programmer to work on 3D specific features with experience "openGL and other 3d technologies".

They are starting to look for a software engineer now? Sounds like this is for iWork '08 or '09.

[dwater]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)
Specifically, they are looking for a programmer to work on 3D specific features with experience "openGL and other 3d technologies".


SGI had such software back in the '90s. IRIS Showcase (http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/tpl/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi/0650/bks/SGI_EndUser/books/ShowcaseUG/sgi_html/ch07.html#id21922) it was called. Decades ahead of it's time...

[kcroy]

I need a new iWeb app right away. I love the simplicity, but I need this puppy to do more. (HTML, shopping cart, etc.) I know a lot of people make fun of iwebbers like me, but the simplicity of creating webpages is really great for non-programmer like myself. Please, please, Steve update iweb.

[ajhaji]

Generally when Apple does something, it does it right. Given that Microsoft is the leader in productivity software for the desktop, I can totally see Apple upstaging Microsoft with a completely rethought and reworked office suite that blows Microsoft Office out of the water. Apple can do it. It just needs the motivation. :-P

[Rocketman]

They are starting to look for a software engineer now? Sounds like this is for iWork '08 or '09.

They are hiring after they "finally" have the tools. Tool development is time-consuming, expensive, and risky.

Rocketman

[flopticalcube]

They are hiring after they "finally" have the tools. Tool development is time-consuming, expensive, and risky.

Rocketman

Even if they find someone tomorrow, they would still have to train, code, test. We are talking many months.

[JPyre]

CoreImage/Video in keynote would be nice, so would scrolling through multi-page docs in 3D. Maybe they just need someone to add coverflow :rolleyes: to the open/save dialog, but thats a leopard feature and they wouldn't add that because Tiger couldn't use it, would they?

[Update] I guess iTunes has it but not in the open/save, does Leopard extend coverflow into it? I was assuming that it did.

[TheAnswer]

It will probably be limited to keynote transitions, although I think certain datasets would certainly benefit from some sort of data/graph fly-throughs inside of presentations.

[Rocketman]

Even if they find someone tomorrow, they would still have to train, code, test. We are talking many months.

The main problem/feature with Steve is he does things at the "bleeding edge" of technology.

He gets many kudos for that. He also sucks at times for that. Sometimes he gets screwed by suppliers (Motorola, IBM) or technology ramp claims (Adobe, Microsoft). Other times he has supplier agreements with massive upside (flash, Seagate, assemblers, memory). Sometimes he sucks hard by releasing known crippleware (USB 1.1, unused IR).

Rocketman

[flopticalcube]

The main problem/feature with Steve is he does things at the "bleeding edge" of technology.

He gets many kudos for that. He also sucks at times for that. Sometimes he gets screwed by suppliers (Motorola, IBM) or technology ramp claims (Adobe, Microsoft). Other times he has supplier agreements with massive upside (flash, Seagate, assemblers, memory). Sometimes he sucks hard by releasing known crippleware (USB 1.1, unused IR).

Rocketman

Well, I personally experienced that with Safari for Windows. I wouldn't want to rely on productivity software that wasn't carefully tested and reliable.

[iMeowbot]

3D? In an office application? Hmm. Does this mean we are going to get some beautiful looking pie charts? :cool:
What if the "other 3D technologies" include replicators? Pie charts could be made of actual pie, and if it was really yummy pie you wouldn't even need to have relevant facts and figures to win over the audience.

[SiliconAddict]

Which basicly means this feature won't be happening anytime soon if they are looking for people NOW. *shrugs* Maybe 08.

[JPyre]

Yeah i'm thinking spring '08 for the next iWork, soooo they are actually on track.

[macboy62]

Can you imagine switching from wysiwyg to code view in iWeb with a 3D transition...

[SiliconAddict]

Well, I personally experienced that with Safari for Windows. I wouldn't want to rely on productivity software that wasn't carefully tested and reliable.


You should rephrase that into I wouldn't rely on any Apple first gen software. I mean really can someone name me a first gen Apple product be it software or hardware that wasn't glitchy as heck? iTunes 1.0? 10.0? Aperature 1.0? iPhoto 1.0? iAnything 1.0? IMHO Apple does A LOT of testing of their software on release. A little too much IMHO.
I keep talking this up a lot but I really believe in public release candidates. As much as people love to bitch about MS they catch a LOT of their bugs via these release candidates. Vista for all of its flaws is basically the equivalent of Apple's 10.0. We all know what kinda of growing pains OS X had between 10.0 -> .1 -> .2 I'm 100% certain that the reason why Vista isn't buggier then it is is because it was open to the masses to download and try. Which in return resulted in a crap load of data being returned via their error reporting service.
If Apple did the same I'm certain you wouldn't be seeing x.y releases within 2 months of a new release.

[pale9]

after waiting forever to hear about leopard's 'secret' features (which were not that fantastc anyway) not a word about ilife and iwork. as mentioned by european telcos, apple has become incredibly arrogant. jobs seems to think apple fans will put up with any b.s. his company comes up with. unfortunately windows vista sucks, but I have been checking out ubuntu linux and can say that it offers everything the average casual computer user needs.

[ISMPlus]

3D? In an office application? Hmm. Does this mean we are going to get some beautiful looking pie charts? :cool:

Yep! On the iPhone! :D Wishful thinking, but hey, it could happen! After all it;s not a 3rd-party app!:rolleyes:

[neutrino23]

You should rephrase that into I wouldn't rely on any Apple first gen software. I mean really can someone name me a first gen Apple product be it software or hardware that wasn't glitchy as heck?

To my recollection the first version of Keynote was not bad. Short on some features but I don't recall a lot of bugs. The ppt export was perhaps a little buggy. Was iTunes buggy in the beginning? Cyberdog? TextEdit? Garageband?

3D could be interesting. For example, it could add the element of time to measurements taken on a sample. A classic SEM/EDS is observation of Na ions fading away and then reappearing in the microprobe analysis of glass.

As far as 3D goes, I'd be happy if Apple would make Keynote support QTVR.

As others have pointed out, this hiring is likely to impact next year's iWork, not the one we hope to see in October (or earlier).

[twoodcc]

i don't see how 3D is going into iWork, but it sounds cool nonetheless. i just hope we see iWork and iLife soon

[DakotaGuy]

Generally when Apple does something, it does it right. Given that Microsoft is the leader in productivity software for the desktop, I can totally see Apple upstaging Microsoft with a completely rethought and reworked office suite that blows Microsoft Office out of the water. Apple can do it. It just needs the motivation. :-P

I am not a huge fan of Microsoft. I just bought a new PC notebook for 3 reasons. 1) The price for the quality and performance was very good. 2) I needed a way to run Windows and did not own a copy to run on my iMac and last 3) I figured I already had a modern Intel Mac so I might as well try a PC for a notebook.

With that said, After running Vista Business (which came preloaded) all I can say is that it is ok. Even with 1GB of RAM running on a Core Duo 1.86 Ghz it can bog down at times. Granted another gig of RAM would help, but those are decent specs for a notebook. Vista looks pretty and works ok, but feels SO much slower then Mac OSX.

In fact the only software that I will pat Microsoft on the back for is Office for Mac. When you say that Apple can easily upstage Microsoft I can honestly believe your statement after running OSX and Vista. To upstage Office, however, which I think is an excellent, very mature and developed product they should have started years ago. iWork has been a very mediocre effort up to this point. Sales of the software has been poor and even Apple admitted to that. Unless something big changes I just don't see people who really need a great office productivity suite dumping Office for Mac off their computers and going with iWork.

[SheriffParker]

This could be exciting. At least it will be something new.

[macboy62]

Unless something big changes I just don't see people who really need a great office productivity suite dumping Office for Mac off their computers and going with iWork.

Do you think that iWork and MS Office are aimed at the same people?

I use both, MS Office at work and iWork at home. For home use I just could not afford Office and I would not use all the features. iWork at home just about makes it for me, although I need a spreadsheet.

I would guess that many home users also think MS Office is too expensive for them and/or to complicated.

I will be glad to watch iWork grow year on year into a more complete suite but I don't need something as fancy as MS Office.

[DakotaGuy]

Do you think that iWork and MS Office are aimed at the same people?

I use both, MS Office at work and iWork at home. For home use I just could not afford Office and I would not use all the features. iWork at home just about makes it for me, although I need a spreadsheet.

I would guess that many home users also think MS Office is too expensive for them and/or to complicated.

I will be glad to watch iWork grow year on year into a more complete suite but I don't need something as fancy as MS Office.

Well I wonder if am in the minority then because I use MS Office at work and at home. I like knowing that I can send things back and forth from my Mac at home to the PC at school and not worry about any issues on the other end.

[AppleMatt389]

not sure if anyones said this..

coverflow in iwork..being able to flip through pages of ur documents rather than scrolling?

or 3D toolbars with heightened capabilities over the existent 2D toolbars?

im no software engineer so dont go shooting me down for such "stupid ideas" but thast just my $0.02

[offwidafairies]

what about ilife?

[DakotaGuy]

what about ilife?

Um...they will probably get started on it sometime after they are done with the iPhone. Remember everyone had to work on the iPhone a couple of months ago. :D

Seriously though I would expect the next iLife to come when 10.5 comes. That is my best guess.

[Babasyzygy]

Ummm... for the people commenting, "if they're just getting started now..."

Perhaps whomever was working on it before might have just given notice, or maybe they need a little more programming effort in addition to the people already working on it. It's really hard to say at all with so little.

[IJ Reilly]

Sounds okay to me, just so long as I don't have to wear those funny red and green glasses.

[jpine]

Well I wonder if am in the minority then because I use MS Office at work and at home. I like knowing that I can send things back and forth from my Mac at home to the PC at school and not worry about any issues on the other end.

Might look at NeoOffice. I will say that, for my use, I would never miss Pages. However, I can not even think about going back to PowerPoint after using Keynote. It would be like looking into the sun---you just don't do it.

[martijn.s]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Apple's iWork suite (http://www.apple.com/iwork/) is a bit overdue for an update. Many expected Apple to update the iWork suite on its usual schedule in January of 2007... but no update arrived.

People then speculated that Apple would release iWork (and iLife) updates alongside Leopard, but Steve Jobs made no comment about the productivity suites during the WWDC keynote.

A new job posting (http://jobs.apple.com/index.ajs?BID=1&method=mExternal.showJob&RID=8865&CurrentPage=1) posted by Apple on June 13th 2007 reveals that Apple is seeking software engineers for the "next generation of iWork". Specifically, they are looking for a programmer to work on 3D specific features with experience in "openGL and other 3d technologies".

Apple's iWork suite currently consists of Pages and Keynote but there have been persistent rumors of a spreadsheet application (http://www.macrumors.com/2007/01/05/iwork-07-with-spreadsheet-screenshot/) in the works.


hire me :)

i'm working on a "everything 3D OS"


oops too late guys !, u did not want me because i don't live in the USA.

haha !

[martijn.s]

Sounds okay to me, just so long as I don't have to wear those funny red and green glasses.


that depends of what kind of screen u are using, and, 3D can be useful, even if u don't have a 3D screen (see games etc...)

[Mgkwho]

ugh...I just want iWork now, please.

The top secret features were notably absent from WWDC. The dock and new-look finder are not revolutionary, sorry. They're helpful and cool and look amazing, but not "top secret" worthy more so than anything else.

Jobs did not mention the new i-suites, but in one of the recent quarterly earnings calls we were told to expect them soon! Granted, this was when Leopard was pegged to be released at WWDC, but doesn't it time the updates with October's OS upgrade?

There must be an event for Leopard's release in October. There just has to be. They wouldn't release exceptional upgrades to the i-suites with only a press release!

-=|Mgkwho

[martijn.s]

My thoughts exactly. Who really needs more 3D effects in charts? Are we gonna need to hand out glasses at the beginning of our presentations?

why limit the 3D to charts, that's so short sighted, the whole computer should be 3D (mine is), walk around in your data, "visit" a spreadsheet, no "fake" 3D buttons (like the red orange and green buttons), but all realtime 3D, etc...

isn't it time for something really completely new ?

i love leopard, but it's still the same old stuff, perfected to an astonishing level, but old.

Leopard, is, or should be, the last second generation (GUI) OS.

but a new os is not just about 3D (at all), its about getting rid of applications and private document formats for ever.

what i want (and have), is tools (pencil, airbrush, scissors, text), materials (paper, wood, stone, metal), shapes (cubes, rectangles, spheres, arcs, lines, dots, etc...), and more complex (user made, or built in) objects, made by combining any of the above.

i't's really time to get rid of applications, and software company's altogether, all they are doing is exercise power by making something simple seem complicated.

[neutrino23]

... iWork has been a very mediocre effort up to this point. Sales of the software has been poor and even Apple admitted to that.

Huh? On what do you base this? Keynote is absolutely fantastic. Pages I don't know much about as I don't use it. iWeb is OK but I am not a strong user so won't comment too much on this. Did you see some sales figures somewhere or are you just making this up?

[mahonmeister]

It would be fantastic if they released iLife and iWork with Leopard, but I'm betting on an '08 appearance. What a lame year this is for Apple.

I really didn't want to be one of those haters who blames everything on the iPhone, but it truly seems to be the sole reason that Apple's teams haven't had the time to develop new software, or new desktops for that matter.

[ortuno2k]

I think I've stopped believing the Apple hype.
Mr. Jobs has deceived me, in a way.

[Wild-Bill]

I really didn't want to be one of those haters who blames everything on the iPhone, but it truly seems to be the sole reason that Apple's teams haven't had the time to develop new software, or new desktops for that matter.

An interesting theory, and shared by many, including me.

[ChrisWB]

This sounds like something you would joke about. How would 3d visuals offer increased productivity in office software?

[valiar]

SGI had such software back in the '90s. IRIS Showcase (http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/tpl/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi/0650/bks/SGI_EndUser/books/ShowcaseUG/sgi_html/ch07.html#id21922) it was called. Decades ahead of it's time...

And I still run it on my trusty blue O2.

Awesome program. Very Mac-like too - it uses Inspectors heavily (though they are called 'gadgets' in Irix-speak). I wonder if SGI will ever opensource it... They have retired Irix already, so it would make sense to them to do so.

[skinnylegs]

I need a new iWeb app right away. I love the simplicity, but I need this puppy to do more. (HTML, shopping cart, etc.) I know a lot of people make fun of iwebbers like me, but the simplicity of creating webpages is really great for non-programmer like myself. Please, please, Steve update iweb.That's what I'm 'talkin about. I want an iWeb update as well!

[skinnylegs]

but I have been checking out ubuntu linux and can say that it offers everything the average casual computer user needs.Have at it then. LOL

[bilbo--baggins]

They are starting to look for a software engineer now? Sounds like this is for iWork '08 or '09.

Precisely my thoughts. If they're abandoning the yearly updates they should just tell everyone. It's getting so far into 2007 that it's barely worth releasing an 07 product if they release it now. Recruiting software engineers now will surely be for products released next year.

Mind you, they really do need to add some major functionality to the iWork software. I tried Pages instead of Word, and unfortunately had to go back to Word due to lack of Pages functionality.

[ajhill]

Just like Apple to post an ad in their online job application site for a 3d iWork programmer. This smacks of press release leak to me.

For all we know they may have several people working on 3d integration for iWork and maybe they need another person. It's not likely that they would hire 1 new person and then turn them loose to upgrade iWork. I mean, come on people, let's use some common sense here...

[starnox]

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=314937

I don't think we will see 3D iWork for a while since they have only just started hiring. Probably in mid '08 to '09

[Yixian]

lmfao...iWork is ancient...if they only hiring a software engineer now, it won't be out for ageeeesssss:(

Correct :(

[furious]

Maybe they have done the development or most of it and need more people to meet a deadline? ;)

[MacSlut]

This is somewhat of a bummer. I was looking forward to iLife and iWork 2007, but my guess is that they'll be back on track at MacWorld Jan 2008.

That's ok I guess. I wonder what kind of schedule they'll have for iPhone updates?!?

[jhedges3]

It just seems a bit like a dimension in search of problems.

I love Keynote, but couldn't care less about any additional transition effects in future versions. They’re a bit like the upcoming “30 professionally designed stationery templates that make a virtual keepsake out of every email you send.”

I’m not saying these sorts of directions shouldn’t be pursued. As many of you have pointed out, such functionality may or may not help them sell whatever it is; it’s just that for me it’s totally useless.

[kroko]

leopard with its new two widgets is great. who needs iWork?!?
i hate iPhone done by the Apple WidgetGadgets Inc.

[Much Ado]

i hate iPhone done by the Apple WidgetGadgets Inc.

Here we go again...

[pepechin]

Maybe it's for iWork 07 or 08.
Maybe it's for the next version.
Maybe it's only a replacement for a guy leaving his job.

For me the important notice is they are working on iWork, I was thinking Apple had lost interest in this app.

[Hattig]

The primary use of 3D visualisations would be for graphs generated by a spreadsheet application.

Especially if you were exporting them to Keynote which would then animate the 3D graphs, possibly interactively (click on a pie segment to zoom in, or pull it from the pie, or highlight subdivisions within, etc), or static animations (rotations around a bar chart, etc).

I'm sure that there are other good uses too of course. OpenGL is not necessarily about 3D graphics, it can be used for 2D functions as well - Quartz in Mac OS X Jaguar and later being a prime example.

[b3beater]

Does anyone have even a general ideal of staffing at Micro$oft compared to Apple?

My thought is this. While Apple has always been on the edge of tech in what they do they have gotten themselves into too may unrelated products which thins out their talent pool and quite possibly Steve's attention span.

Over the past few years look at the items which have pretty much gone neglected or have not been updated as often as they should have even if just minor updates.

iWeb
.mac
Pages
Keynote
Logic <--- This one is an embarrassment

While I love to see Apple expanding into different areas, they need to understand that for good or bad, Apple users have come to expect and demand continual evolution on their productions keeping them ahead of the pack.

iWeb, while a nice easy to use web designer is missing come critical items that most site now have. And for God's sake why can't you set the number on the counter?! If you've just transitioned a site from something else to a iWeb site, why would you want the counter to start over?

The one app that either Apple needs to update or sell to someone who will is Logic. Compared to other audio packages on the market, Logic is the most difficult to just jump in and use. Enough with the cut and paste loop software (garageband & soundtrack). This is a pro app right along Final Cut so they need to either bring it up to date or cut it loose. But right now it's sad just watching it die under Apple's watch.

[TMay]

Does anyone have even a general ideal of staffing at Micro$oft compared to Apple?

My thought is this. While Apple has always been on the edge of tech in what they do they have gotten themselves into too may unrelated products which thins out their talent pool and quite possibly Steve's attention span.

Over the past few years look at the items which have pretty much gone neglected or have not been updated as often as they should have even if just minor updates.

iWeb
.mac
Pages
Keynote
Logic <--- This one is an embarrassment

While I love to see Apple expanding into different areas, they need to understand that for good or bad, Apple users have come to expect and demand continual evolution on their productions keeping them ahead of the pack.

iWeb, while a nice easy to use web designer is missing come critical items that most site now have. And for God's sake why can't you set the number on the counter?! If you've just transitioned a site from something else to a iWeb site, why would you want the counter to start over?

The one app that either Apple needs to update or sell to someone who will is Logic. Compared to other audio packages on the market, Logic is the most difficult to just jump in and use. Enough with the cut and paste loop software (garageband & soundtrack). This is a pro app right along Final Cut so they need to either bring it up to date or cut it loose. But right now it's sad just watching it die under Apple's watch.

Maybe, Logic is getting the same treatment that Shake is getting. Apple bought Shake, put it in their product lineup, killed the PC version and are now rebuilding to a higher quality product that might see daylight in 2008, and that probably integrates seamlessly with FC Studio, and the Intel multi-core roadmap, and maybe even some multitouch.

iLife and iWork have to wait for Leopard, and I suspect even a later release at MWSF 2008 won't be a huge burden on anyone.

Patience.

[dartzorichalcos]

Maybe the iWork 3D interface will be space-like with moving stars and comets. Maybe Leopard will have the space interface too and that could be one of Leopards most kept secret features.

[roughtenator]

I hope it recieves an update soon because I hate using a microsoft product on my mac and iWork as it is currently doesn't compair

[lord patton]

I need a new iWeb app right away. I love the simplicity, but I need this puppy to do more. (HTML, shopping cart, etc.) I know a lot of people make fun of iwebbers like me, but the simplicity of creating webpages is really great for non-programmer like myself. Please, please, Steve update iweb.

You may like rapidweaver (http://www.realmacsoftware.com/rapidweaver/)

[eastcoastsurfer]

Maybe they have done the development or most of it and need more people to meet a deadline? ;)

If that's the case then the managers at Apple need to read a classic software engineering book (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythical_man_month).

[psychofreak]

I hope it recieves an update soon because I hate using a microsoft product on my mac and iWork as it is currently doesn't compair

Maybe try NeoOffice (http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php) :)

[bryanc]

I can only see this relating to iWork in one of three ways (in order of probability):

1) there will be no iWork this year: if they're just hiring now, even if development has been underway for quite some time, adding new developers only makes sense early in the project.

2) iWork and iLife are done (mostly) and will be released with Leopard in October, so this hire is for the *next* next generation of iWork development.

3) this is a decoy ad designed to give the impression that they're nowhere near finished with iWork development, so everyone will be stunned with the unexpected release of a fantastic new suite in October.

Cheers.

[TPALTony]

CoreImage/Video in keynote would be nice, so would scrolling through multi-page docs in 3D. Maybe they just need someone to add coverflow :rolleyes: to the open/save dialog, but thats a leopard feature and they wouldn't add that because Tiger couldn't use it, would they?

[Update] I guess iTunes has it but not in the open/save, does Leopard extend coverflow into it? I was assuming that it did.

I'd like to see some Core Animation stuff. I'm imagining a situation where you place objects on your slide, and then select as many as you want to move and press a button. You get a second copy of the slide where you move all of them around, or delete them, or whatever you want to do. And then core animation takes care of the rest. As you press the "next slide" button during your presentation, all the objects just move around or fade away or whatever. It would be really handy for "before and after" type slides which personally, I have to do a lot of.

be well

t

[trevorlsciact]

isn't it time for something really completely new ?

i love leopard, but it's still the same old stuff, perfected to an astonishing level, but old.

Leopard, is, or should be, the last second generation (GUI) OS.

but a new os is not just about 3D (at all), its about getting rid of applications and private document formats for ever.

what i want (and have), is tools (pencil, airbrush, scissors, text), materials (paper, wood, stone, metal), shapes (cubes, rectangles, spheres, arcs, lines, dots, etc...), and more complex (user made, or built in) objects, made by combining any of the above.

i't's really time to get rid of applications, and software company's altogether, all they are doing is exercise power by making something simple seem complicated.

Leopard does move more into this direction with quick look. And the idea wouldn't be completely new--it reminds me of the lisa, document focused, rather than application focused. And we still need developers to make stuff--its not all smoke and mirrors, maybe the OS could handle all the file types, but the developers would still develop plugins--we need software companies, to suggest that they are unnecessary is insulting to a whole industry and people who really care about what they do.

[BenRoethig]

Generally when Apple does something, it does it right. Given that Microsoft is the leader in productivity software for the desktop, I can totally see Apple upstaging Microsoft with a completely rethought and reworked office suite that blows Microsoft Office out of the water. Apple can do it. It just needs the motivation. :-P

And that is the problem, motivation. Apple really hasn't put much effort into making decent word processing or spreadsheet since they dissolved their claris subsidiary. It might not have the cool factor that making your own song, movie, or keynote presentation might have, but as a hobbyist writer, it's infinitely more useful to me.

[bigiffo]

What really annoyed me is when apple stopped AppleWorks. That had the entire suite and was ahead of MS Office in many respects. Why apple can't re-release that...
Office 2008 for mac won't be due for a while and even when MS do release it it's doubtful they will update it in the next 5 years.

[Dagless]

"By George, Jeff, this is the greatest bar chart I've seen"

[martijn.s]

Leopard does move more into this direction with quick look. And the idea wouldn't be completely new--it reminds me of the lisa, document focused, rather than application focused. And we still need developers to make stuff--its not all smoke and mirrors, maybe the OS could handle all the file types, but the developers would still develop plugins--we need software companies, to suggest that they are unnecessary is insulting to a whole industry and people who really care about what they do.


we need software company's, but not applications.

by the way, i wrote a viewer for apple, that displayed documents in the finder, they killed it, because of pdf, in 91, and now it's back as quick look.

[bigiffo]

Why not release the new iWork and deal with the trivial problems later?
It sounds cool, but not everyone needs frilly edges!

[trevorlsciact]

we need software company's, but not applications.

by the way, i wrote a viewer for apple, that displayed documents in the finder, they killed it, because of pdf, in 91, and now it's back as quick look.

I guess I misread your post. Anyway I have faith in the future, and I believe it will be better than what most expect, and in entirely different ways--I am much more concerned with foreign policy, I do not have much faith in my government; right now, I have much more faith in the tech industry, which is sad--but I have digressed.

[martijn.s]

I guess I misread your post. Anyway I have faith in the future, and I believe it will be better than what most expect, and in entirely different ways--I am much more concerned with foreign policy, I do not have much faith in my government; right now, I have much more faith in the tech industry, which is sad--but I have digressed.


i thought u were making sense :)

software company's still have a role to play, but when software development becomes so much easier (i promise), it will just be about ideas, creativity, not huge teams rewriting the same stuff over and over (80% of all apps are the same stuff)

[eric_n_dfw]

OpenGL isn't just for transitions and the like - if you've ever used Pages, you know that the text automatically flows around objects and does so very fluidly as you move them around the page. I'm probably wrong, but I have always assumed they are leveraging OpenGL already to accomplish that with each glyph in the page being an OpenGL object and letting the GPU take care of moving them around.

If they're not doing it already, then I sure hope this job posting is to help implement it.

[sezme]

If anyone here had used Pages extensively, they'd know that it already includes 3-D charts. No, there's not spreadsheet app yet, but as of iWork '06, you can create tables, and charts from those tables. In 3-D(!) But I'll be the first to admit that it's a bit klunky, for example rotating a 3-D chart to get the right angle of view even on a dual 2 Ghz G5 is dog-slow not to mention hit-or miss. So anyway, I'd expect the next version will hopefully include a proper spreadsheet app and that its charts will be much nicer.

Also, as someone said earlier in the thread, I'm glad because this means they haven't abandoned iWork, all signs to the contrary.

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

I am guessing the next version of Keynote is already done. I think Steve has used it for his last two Keynotes. There were some new transitions and effects in there.

[denn333]

Frankly, it irritates me that Apple has this software to begin with.

They ought to put their weight behind openoffice.org, which would do three things:

1. Encourage Mac users to use software that's actually COMPATIBLE (and I don't mean compatible in the half-hearted way that Keynote and Pages are "compatible" with PowerPoint and Word)

2. Introducing yet ANOTHER proprietary file format is freaking stupid.

3. they are already naturally aligned with Sun and Google, both proponets of ODF; this would just strengthen that.

4. they could dedicate less (human and physical) resources toward development.

5. God knows that iWork isn't making them any profit and NEVER WILL be a big source of money for Apple either.

6. AND THIS IS THE BIG ONE: MS Office for Mac sucks ROYALLY and iWork is not a viable alternative. We Mac users are once again left in the dust, and this time, it's totally Apple's fault.

[lifeseeker]

I wrote my first novel (Sci-Fi) on Word, and when I hit about 300 pages, it got weird. I switched to Pages (1.0), and never looked back.

I'm now on my third work, and using Pages 2.02 and two 30" displays to create an entire "writing space." The scrolling, even with 8 pages showing, is smooth, and doesn't crash. Try that with Word.

Pages' tools integrate with iCal, and other Apple software flawlessly.

Can't wait for 3.0

[ricosuave]

I wrote my first novel (Sci-Fi) on Word, and when I hit about 300 pages, it got weird. I switched to Pages (1.0), and never looked back.

I'm now on my third work, and using Pages 2.02 and two 30" displays to create an entire "writing space." The scrolling, even with 8 pages showing, is smooth, and doesn't crash. Try that with Word.

Pages' tools integrate with iCal, and other Apple software flawlessly.

Can't wait for 3.0

I love Pages! Moving pictures around to where you WANT them is quite astonishing.

What tools are you referring to with iCal?

[Digital Skunk]

Frankly, it irritates me that Apple has this software to begin with.

They ought to put their weight behind openoffice.org, which would do three things:

1. Encourage Mac users to use software that's actually COMPATIBLE (and I don't mean compatible in the half-hearted way that Keynote and Pages are "compatible" with PowerPoint and Word)

2. Introducing yet ANOTHER proprietary file format is freaking stupid.

3. they are already naturally aligned with Sun and Google, both proponets of ODF; this would just strengthen that.

4. they could dedicate less (human and physical) resources toward development.

5. God knows that iWork isn't making them any profit and NEVER WILL be a big source of money for Apple either.

6. AND THIS IS THE BIG ONE: MS Office for Mac sucks ROYALLY and iWork is not a viable alternative. We Mac users are once again left in the dust, and this time, it's totally Apple's fault.

I agree with you on the whole "Apple should work with NeoOffice.org (same as OpenOffice except for the Mac) and other devs to produce inexpensive/free apps to use over the web and on the computer. I am suffering with .Mac and Gmail is much better, the only problem is that Gmail doesn't integrate with OS X and won't offer the biggest new feature of Leopard... the ability to retrieve files from another Mac effortlessly.

If Apple worked together with opensource devos to make apps that were just as powerful as the mainstream then MS would loose marketshare based on the price of its apps alone. Why buy MS Office for $300+ when you can get NeoOffice or OpenOffice for FREE... or if you want to spend $80 you can get software that works with iLife and MacOS X flawlessly and has no rival when it comes to integrating graphics.

That is why I want apple to keep iWork however.... there is no office app that works seemlessly with Aperture, iLife, Mac OS X, and each other on the market, which is why iWork IS doing so well. It does need improvement however... and as for other proprietary file formats... everyone has one. And iWorks "export" feature works just fine with every program that is supposed to open the files... it is Windows that has the problem. I haven't had much trouble opening PowerPoint documents exported from Keynote on Windows machines, especially if I use simple fonts or bring the font file with me.

[eastcoastsurfer]

Frankly, it irritates me that Apple has this software to begin with.

They ought to put their weight behind openoffice.org, which would do three things:

1. Encourage Mac users to use software that's actually COMPATIBLE (and I don't mean compatible in the half-hearted way that Keynote and Pages are "compatible" with PowerPoint and Word)

2. Introducing yet ANOTHER proprietary file format is freaking stupid.

3. they are already naturally aligned with Sun and Google, both proponets of ODF; this would just strengthen that.

4. they could dedicate less (human and physical) resources toward development.

5. God knows that iWork isn't making them any profit and NEVER WILL be a big source of money for Apple either.

6. AND THIS IS THE BIG ONE: MS Office for Mac sucks ROYALLY and iWork is not a viable alternative. We Mac users are once again left in the dust, and this time, it's totally Apple's fault.

I agree and for most of those reasons you list I think Apple should also put their weight behind FF/gecko and drop Safari also.

[heisetax]

Well, I personally experienced that with Safari for Windows. I wouldn't want to rely on productivity software that wasn't carefully tested and reliable.


Maybe that's why it is called a beta version. That means it is not ready for prime time yet.

Bill the TaxMan

[heisetax]

I think I've stopped believing the Apple hype.
Mr. Jobs has deceived me, in a way.



I've always seen Steve Jobs as a used car salesman. A good one, but still a used car salesman. I never have worshipped him or blindly believed what he has said. I'm a Mac User inspite of Steve Jobs, not because of him.

This is the year of the non-Mac. Just before the close Apple will release the long awaited by some, meaningless to me, the iPhone. Maybe then the Mac World can become a little meaningful to Apple. Remember this iPhone thing gave a second selay to Mac OS 10.5, not the first. At least we weren't told enough about the first to really know.

Steve didn't deceive in the world of used car sales, so how could he deceive you about these secret features in Mac OS 10.5. If these are the best features of 10.5, then we will be continuing the non-Mac period of Apple. Just remeber to treat his sayings as if they came from a used car salesman, then you won't feel deceived, you'll just be getting what you expected.

Bill the TaxMan

[heisetax]

Precisely my thoughts. If they're abandoning the yearly updates they should just tell everyone. It's getting so far into 2007 that it's barely worth releasing an 07 product if they release it now. Recruiting software engineers now will surely be for products released next year.

Mind you, they really do need to add some major functionality to the iWork software. I tried Pages instead of Word, and unfortunately had to go back to Word due to lack of Pages functionality.


Finally someone willing to speak out & say that Pages, even in its second version is still a weak beginning. Or is it as strong as the end will be. Maybe that's why we haven't seen a new version of iWork. Maybe it will just revert to KeyNote as it has been all along.

Bill the TaxMan.

[zap2]

lmfao...iWork is ancient...if they only hiring a software engineer now, it won't be out for ageeeesssss:(


Whos to say this isn't for iWork '08...or an update for iWork '07...or maybe they are near they end, and want a little more work done with new eyes.


But ya this sounds like its a Keynote based Job.

[heisetax]

Does anyone have even a general ideal of staffing at Micro$oft compared to Apple?

My thought is this. While Apple has always been on the edge of tech in what they do they have gotten themselves into too may unrelated products which thins out their talent pool and quite possibly Steve's attention span.

Over the past few years look at the items which have pretty much gone neglected or have not been updated as often as they should have even if just minor updates.

iWeb
.mac
Pages
Keynote
Logic <--- This one is an embarrassment

While I love to see Apple expanding into different areas, they need to understand that for good or bad, Apple users have come to expect and demand continual evolution on their productions keeping them ahead of the pack.

iWeb, while a nice easy to use web designer is missing come critical items that most site now have. And for God's sake why can't you set the number on the counter?! If you've just transitioned a site from something else to a iWeb site, why would you want the counter to start over?

The one app that either Apple needs to update or sell to someone who will is Logic. Compared to other audio packages on the market, Logic is the most difficult to just jump in and use. Enough with the cut and paste loop software (garageband & soundtrack). This is a pro app right along Final Cut so they need to either bring it up to date or cut it loose. But right now it's sad just watching it die under Apple's watch.


Apple has let a lot of of their software languish in the past, why do you think that things will change in the present or the future. Tat was before they were spread so thin. Now with a thinness, I would expect more of this. Like all of the parts of iWork, iWeb, Logic & others. Even the 6 month delay in the release of OS 10.5 shows signs of the beginning of the end.

Bill the TaxMan

[heisetax]

Maybe, Logic is getting the same treatment that Shake is getting. Apple bought Shake, put it in their product lineup, killed the PC version and are now rebuilding to a higher quality product that might see daylight in 2008, and that probably integrates seamlessly with FC Studio, and the Intel multi-core roadmap, and maybe even some multitouch.

iLife and iWork have to wait for Leopard, and I suspect even a later release at MWSF 2008 won't be a huge burden on anyone.

Patience.


Some people here like iLife & iWork, as weak & limited as they may be. Since most people expected an update at MacWorld 2007, they are feeling the lack of "Computer" in the Apple Inc. name. As weak & lame as iWork maybe, don't assume your feelings are those of anyone else other than yourself. I don't expect anyone to have my feelings when it comes to Apple, so why should anyone follow yours?

Bill the TaxMan

[heisetax]

Maybe try NeoOffice (http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php) :)



I will do more NeoOffice testing on my Mac with my Excel income tax prep program that I wrote 12+ years ago. All of the other spreadsheet programs have done a good job of failing greatly with all of the requirements of my programs. I'll see if I can fix the problems. One was a lack of a missing font. I'll see how my macros will hold up. I have around 75 groups of spreadsheets that are tied together.

NeoOffice seems to hold promise. Finally someone that seems to know & know right.

Bill the TaxMan

[Digital Skunk]

Finally someone willing to speak out & say that Pages, even in its second version is still a weak beginning. Or is it as strong as the end will be. Maybe that's why we haven't seen a new version of iWork. Maybe it will just revert to KeyNote as it has been all along.

Bill the TaxMan.

Dude... Pages and iWork aren't weak apps. Where did you get that? Have you ever tried pulling graphics, images, and other AV related stuff into Word or NeoOffice? Both apps suck with regards to that...

HAS NO ONE THOUGHT OUTSIDE THE BOX!?

I've always seen Steve Jobs as a used car salesman. A good one, but still a used car salesman. I never have worshipped him or blindly believed what he has said. I'm a Mac User inspite of Steve Jobs, not because of him.

This is the year of the non-Mac. Just before the close Apple will release the long awaited by some, meaningless to me, the iPhone. Maybe then the Mac World can become a little meaningful to Apple. Remember this iPhone thing gave a second selay to Mac OS 10.5, not the first. At least we weren't told enough about the first to really know.

Steve didn't deceive in the world of used car sales, so how could he deceive you about these secret features in Mac OS 10.5. If these are the best features of 10.5, then we will be continuing the non-Mac period of Apple. Just remeber to treat his sayings as if they came from a used car salesman, then you won't feel deceived, you'll just be getting what you expected.

Bill the TaxMan

If Steve is a used car sales man, then Bill Gates is the back alley guy trying to hustle you someone elses rims.

[BenRoethig]

I've always seen Steve Jobs as a used car salesman. A good one, but still a used car salesman. I never have worshipped him or blindly believed what he has said. I'm a Mac User inspite of Steve Jobs, not because of him.

Gates is the used car salesman. Jobs is kinda like the tele-evangelist who knows he has a captive audience.

[heisetax]

And that is the problem, motivation. Apple really hasn't put much effort into making decent word processing or spreadsheet since they dissolved their claris subsidiary. It might not have the cool factor that making your own song, movie, or keynote presentation might have, but as a hobbyist writer, it's infinitely more useful to me.


But you forgot that IH did just that. They set a pickup box on the back of one of their all-wheel drive semis. So many people asked where they could buy one, they started making one a few years ago. At 100 thousand+ & the size of the unit, the market is limited, but they still sell some. The same goes for an Intel Mac Pro as a home machine. Everyone wants something sifferent & have different amounts to spend. If you happen to want to use 2 or more of Apples 30" LCD displays, a G5 PPC PowerMac or the Intel Mac Pro is the only way you can go.

I use an Intel Mac Pro with 4 displays connected to it. I run my business out of my house. Does that mean that I purchased a Freightliner to do my work? To me not. I just purchased the only easily upgradable Mac. There are PII Express expansion boards that can be connected to the Intel MacBook Pro. But that involves a lot more chance & actually more expense.

Bill the TaxMan

[flopticalcube]

I've always seen Steve Jobs as a used car salesman. A good one, but still a used car salesman. I never have worshipped him or blindly believed what he has said. I'm a Mac User inspite of Steve Jobs, not because of him.

This is the year of the non-Mac. Just before the close Apple will release the long awaited by some, meaningless to me, the iPhone. Maybe then the Mac World can become a little meaningful to Apple. Remember this iPhone thing gave a second selay to Mac OS 10.5, not the first. At least we weren't told enough about the first to really know.

Steve didn't deceive in the world of used car sales, so how could he deceive you about these secret features in Mac OS 10.5. If these are the best features of 10.5, then we will be continuing the non-Mac period of Apple. Just remeber to treat his sayings as if they came from a used car salesman, then you won't feel deceived, you'll just be getting what you expected.

Bill the TaxMan

Its been a very dry year from the Mac perspective and we should have seen it coming. They even dropped "Computer" from their name in January! I was quite annoyed when they said they were going to delay Leopard because of the iPhone and now my worry is that they have poured so much into this thing and hyped it so high that if it were to not meet expectations there will be some serious problems for Apple and that would have a knock-on effect on the Mac side.

[Mac2004]

I agree with the earlier poster about AppleWorks..... That was such a nice application and I have no idea why they didn't keep it and make it better.

I have been waiting for months upon months for the new IWork 07 and the new ILife and nothing is announced.

It's all been Apple IPhone, IPhone, IPhone...... I wouldn't buy the first version of IPhone if you paid me. That thing is going to have so many bugs and issues when it first comes out. They say you should never buy a first version of anything (cars, software, computers, etc.). I'm so sick of hearing about IPhone. Personally I don't want to browse the internet on a tiny screen like that anyway and there are times I am out I don't want to be bothered with phone calls or email.

I wish Apple would spend more time on developing a good word processing program and other applications. .Mac hasn't been updated in a long time.

[gwest]

I believe that iWork is going to be Leopard-dependent, thus the delay and lack of information thus far. Here are some thoughts/hopes- please comment.

1. Many Mac users, and virtually all Switchers, have no idea what Pages or Keynote are. "PowerPoint" is synonomus with a computer-generated presentation, and Word is simply what we use to type information for printing. To truly develop not only platform but also "Office"-switchers, Apple could bundle it with Leopard at no added cost. And just as Intuit did with Quicken for many years, depend on people updating older versions as a way of generating income from the product. To tell platform-switchers that they can open all of the MS Office documents at no cost using Apple's iWork, which will produce files compatible with MS Office, is a huge selling point.

2. That would require 2 new products- the elusive spreadsheet and a database program. Why not offer Filemaker (not "Pro") in iWork? Keep it simple- no realational database capabilities (upgrade tp Filemaker Pro for that), but enough functionality that it makes sense to use it for data-management that many mistakenly use Excel for now.

3. ADVERTISE! I watched the Lynda.com presentations on Pages and was blown away with the functionality that I never knw it had. iLife has some great "how-to" texts available- iWork needs an inexpensive, attractive and simple one as well. Or perhaps Apple can included a DVD-training video with the software.

4. They say that humans use only 10% of their brain power- what percent of Word power do we use? Probably significantly less than that. I doubt that Pages ever would or could become as powerful as Word, but none of us need it to. Pages replaces that capacities of both MS Word and MS Publisher in a scope that most users could utilize. Apple needs to ascertain exactly what 90% of Word/Publisher users do with those programs and develop those functions only. Let Word and Publisher continue to grow in niche functionality.

[BenRoethig]

I believe that iWork is going to be Leopard-dependent, thus the delay and lack of information thus far. Here are some thoughts/hopes- please comment.

1. Many Mac users, and virtually all Switchers, have no idea what Pages or Keynote are. "PowerPoint" is synonomus with a computer-generated presentation, and Word is simply what we use to type information for printing. To truly develop not only platform but also "Office"-switchers, Apple could bundle it with Leopard at no added cost. And just as Intuit did with Quicken for many years, depend on people updating older versions as a way of generating income from the product. To tell platform-switchers that they can open all of the MS Office documents at no cost using Apple's iWork, which will produce files compatible with MS Office, is a huge selling point.

And most of all, bundle it with all Macs. If users have to buy a productiviity suite, it will be office. On the PC side, most users just stick with MSworks.

2. That would require 2 new products- the elusive spreadsheet and a database program. Why not offer Filemaker (not "Pro") in iWork? Keep it simple- no realational database capabilities (upgrade tp Filemaker Pro for that), but enough functionality that it makes sense to use it for data-management that many mistakenly use Excel for now.

I agree completely. iWork is an incomplete Package.

3. ADVERTISE! I watched the Lynda.com presentations on Pages and was blown away with the functionality that I never knw it had. iLife has some great "how-to" texts available- iWork needs an inexpensive, attractive and simple one as well. Or perhaps Apple can included a DVD-training video with the software.

I agree, but they need to complete the package and bundle it with all Macs first.

4. They say that humans use only 10% of their brain power- what percent of Word power do we use? Probably significantly less than that. I doubt that Pages ever would or could become as powerful as Word, but none of us need it to. Pages replaces that capacities of both MS Word and MS Publisher in a scope that most users could utilize. Apple needs to ascertain exactly what 90% of Word/Publisher users do with those programs and develop those functions only. Let Word and Publisher continue to grow in niche functionality.

Pages may due what word/publisher can do, but it really doesn't do either. It really needs an option to quick change between publishing and traditional word processing modes. Having a little bit of experience with Pages, its interface is very foreign for word processing.

[ortuno2k]

At this time of the year, what are the chances that they'll release it during this year?
Maybe they'll skip a year on iLife & iWork and just ship the '08 version when it's ready.
If they ship in September or October a '07 version, it'd be kind of dumb.

[Tristano]

Since the job posting is from June 13, I don't think "now in 3D?" should be the title of this thread. It's a bit misleading. How about "Apple iWork - Plans for a 3D upgrade?" or something like that. It's hardly worthy of a "now".



They are starting to look for a software engineer now? Sounds like this is for iWork '08 or '09.

[povman]

This sounds like something you would joke about. How would 3d visuals offer increased productivity in office software?

Probably in the same way as how psDooM improves system administration:
http://psdoom.sourceforge.net/images/ss1.gif

[Hairball]

Finally someone willing to speak out & say that Pages, even in its second version is still a weak beginning. Or is it as strong as the end will be. Maybe that's why we haven't seen a new version of iWork. Maybe it will just revert to KeyNote as it has been all along.

Bill the TaxMan.

I have to agree that Pages is not much of a start to Word Processing. I use both Pages and Word, but for two different reasons. Word for writing side of things and Pages for newsletters and fliers (the "Creative stuff"). I would love :apple: to develop an app that will allow me to do everything with one program, not bits and pieces of many.

[Much Ado]

I agree with the earlier poster about AppleWorks..... That was such a nice application and I have no idea why they didn't keep it and make it better.

Because it was crippled and Office is super-powerful, and if you don't want to shell out cash for Office use the open source stuff, or the soon-to-be-mainstream series of Google docs.

Personally I don't want to browse the internet on a tiny screen like that anyway and there are times I am out I don't want to be bothered with phone calls or email.


Damn, i wish Apple wouldn't bother making things that plenty of people want simply because you would not personally buy one.

[poochy12358]

Forgive if I am wrong.

If Apple is going to release iWork as an '08 version, it will have to face the strong competition of the soon to be universal Office:Mac 2008. Pages may not be good enough to compete with Word. Keynote just beats PowerPoint, but as it has been said alot of times, iWork lacks a spreadsheet app. In which, students like me with a need for spreadsheets and compactibility with your classmates (Windows users who probably never heard of OpenOffice or are too lazy to use it), will have no choice but to use Office:Mac. Unless of course we save EVERYTHING as PDF but that sucks.

Thats why I think if Apple is to release iWork next year, it better be good.

Besides, what would 3D effects in an office suite be good for casual computer users and students?

[MrCrowbar]

Probably in the same way as how psDooM improves system administration:
http://psdoom.sourceforge.net/images/ss1.gif

Hell yea! :-)

[yagran]

Probably in the same way as how psDooM improves system administration:
http://psdoom.sourceforge.net/images/ss1.gif

:O cool!!!

[MacFly123]

I'm sorry but I am SICK OF WAITING for iLife and iWork. They better be out before August when I have to buy my MacBook Pro for school or else I'm gunna have to buy Leopard AND iLife :mad:

[MacFly123]

It will probably be limited to keynote transitions, although I think certain datasets would certainly benefit from some sort of data/graph fly-throughs inside of presentations.

My question is..... Why would they have to hire someone to do that? Apple can't do that right now with their staff?? Seriously? Come on..... That seems ridiculous to me!

[IJ Reilly]

Pages may due what word/publisher can do, but it really doesn't do either. It really needs an option to quick change between publishing and traditional word processing modes. Having a little bit of experience with Pages, its interface is very foreign for word processing.

It's foreign to Word users, but that's a poor standard by which to judge.

[BenRoethig]

It's foreign to Word users, but that's a poor standard by which to judge.

User of Word, Appleworks, Word Perfect, and practically ever other word processor in the world. Just because Apple makes it does not automatically make it the perfect solution. Having used pages, it's great for light desktop publishing, but it isn't so great if you're actually trying to write something.

[Thomas2006]

This is somewhat of a bummer. I was looking forward to iLife and iWork 2007, but my guess is that they'll be back on track at MacWorld Jan 2008.
Since there won't be enough time to demo iLife and iWork thoroughly at one event, I think we will see one of them shown at the Apple Expo in Paris and the other at MWSF2008.