Apple Releases iWork '06

[MacRumors]

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

Steve Jobs released the newest version of the iWork suite, which includes updated versions of both Pages & Keynote. iWork 06 is available immediately for $79, with a family pack price for up to 5 users of only $99.

New in Both Pages 2 and Keynote 3
- Perform basic spreadsheet-like calculations and formatting in tables.
- Display your data in beautiful three-dimensional charts with life-like textures.
- Add stars, polygons or draw freeform custom shapes with Bézier curves in any document or presentation.
- Mask photos and images with any shape.
- Adjust photos just like you’d adjust them in iPhoto.
- Add comment “stickies” to any document or presentation to capture to-do’s or reminders.

Pages 2
- Start with any one of 66 templates, including 27 new designs.
- Import documents created with AppleWorks or Microsoft Word — from both PC and Mac.
- Export as a cross-platform PDF, Word, HTML, RTF or text-only file.
- Build form letters with drag-and-drop simplicity using your Address Book.

Keynote 3
- Choose from 32 themes, including new HD themes up to 1920x1080 pixels.
- Add gorgeous cinematic transitions, animations, slide builds and more.
- Import presentations created with AppleWorks or Microsoft PowerPoint on from both PC and Mac.
- Export your presentation to PowerPoint, or to iDVD or iPhoto.
- See all your slides at a glance in Light table view and easily reorganize them.

[FoxyKaye]

Kind of a downer, actually. Was hoping for a full-on spreadsheet app.

[Edit] Cool, post 1.

[Edit 2] Also, it's interesting to me that Apple continues to develop iWork even though M$ has announced a minimum 5-year committment.

[nagromme]

Does the FrontRow remote work with Keynote?

[bellis1]

No free upgrade for current iWork users? I was hoping to see it in software update. This is the last time I buy the first version of Apple software ever if this is the case. Apple should pay me $79 just for having to endure the first version of pages. Very disappointed.

[saurus]

Originally Posted by bellis1

No free upgrade for current iWork users? I was hoping to see it in software update. This is the last time I buy the first version of Apple software ever if this is the case. Apple should pay me $79 just for having to endure the first version of pages. Very disappointed.

No kidding, or at least half off! Pages 1 is probably the worst application Apple has ever released as far as usability is concerned. Yeah it's easy to use after you've spent half an hour pulling your hair out trying to do something that should be simple to do. And to date, it's the only app that you MUST read the manual to figure out...

Nope, forget the upgrade. No deal, no sale.

[aswitcher]

Originally Posted by FoxyKaye

Kind of a downer, actually. Was hoping for a full-on spreadsheet app.

...
[Edit 2] Also, it's interesting to me that Apple continues to develop iWork even though M$ has announced a minimum 5-year committment.

Yeah, I bet Apple backed off given this committment by M$

[joelwnelson]

System requirements listed are G4 minimum. Wonder if I can still get it to run on my G3 or if it will just give me an error message...

[Abercrombieboy]

iWork? Yawn. It seems that Apple has backed off this area with Microsoft giving them a new commitment. Office is a great product and there is no reason that Apple has to compete with everything out there. iWork will be fine as a standard shipping app. with consumer models. Kind of like Appleworks. It is and probably will never be an Office killer. Apple has better things to worry about right now.

[Project]

Originally Posted by saurus

No kidding, or at least half off! Pages 1 is probably the worst application Apple has ever released as far as usability is concerned. Yeah it's easy to use after you've spent half an hour pulling your hair out trying to do something that should be simple to do. And to date, it's the only app that you MUST read the manual to figure out...

Nope, forget the upgrade. No deal, no sale.

You seriously think its the worst Apple app ever? Earlier iPhotos spring to mind. Even FCP 1.0. I love Pages, and cant wait to get my greasy fingers on 2.0

Whatever happened to Numbers though?

[TopCatz]

Woohoo! A full priced update for more themes! And 3D charts! And polygons!
Just what I was waiting for.. just part of what surely must have been the lamest MWSF Keynote for years.

[fitinferno]

Originally Posted by saurus

No kidding, or at least half off! Pages 1 is probably the worst application Apple has ever released as far as usability is concerned. Yeah it's easy to use after you've spent half an hour pulling your hair out trying to do something that should be simple to do. And to date, it's the only app that you MUST read the manual to figure out...

Nope, forget the upgrade. No deal, no sale.

I agree...Pages is alright, but leaves much to be desired. And Keynote, at least for me, would not stop crashing! I definitely wanted at least a $25 discount.

And no spreadsheet (i.e. standalone app) yet finalises the decision not to upgrade.

[~Shard~]

Interesting move on Apple’s part to include basic spreadsheet functionality into Pages and Keynote as opposed to developing a standalone application instead. I guess thins follows the Apple mentality of seamlessly integrating everything with itself, but it will be interesting to read the first user reviews of this functionality to see if it is indeed as slick as Jobs makes it out to be.

[Ashapalan]

i still think for now that office is best suited to me,
its just excel.

keynote i much prefer to powerpoint.

but excel i need.

[~Shard~]

The update to Pages seems less than stellar, but some updates are better than no updates at all! There definitely doesn’t appear to be any groundbreaking new major features though...

As for Keynote, the new HD themes and transitions looks impressive, so this update definitely gets my thumbs up.

On the whole, some solid improvements to the iWork suite in my opinion, however I still don’t think I’ll be shelling out any money for it, and will just be sticking with Office v.X for now – at least until iWork ’07 comes out, then I’ll reevaluate things.

[Platform]

Nice update but I won't be upgrading I think...I have 05 and Office 2004

Very good still, but where is numbers

[~Shard~]

Originally Posted by Platform

Very good still, but where is numbers

Yeah, I found it interesting that Apple decided to integrate basic spreadsheet functionality into Pages and Keynote asd opposed to developing a separate app. It will be interesting to see in the future, if Apple decides to implement further spreadsheet capabilities, whether they will end up developing a separate app or continue integrating it into Pages and Keynote - in my mind, the latter would start making Pages and Keynote bloatware, however if Apple's plan is to develop a separate app eventually, why would they do what they have done here?

[bigandy]

why don't we all just give in and admit it, you buy iWork for Keynote, and keynote alone.

[ddrueckhammer]

Charts are a welcome addition albiet not as good as a separate app would have been. I'm not sure if form letters are a new feature but if they are this is a really good addition. I think this suite will suit most college students quite well but the lack of a spreadsheet app will be a hinderance to professional users. I use Excel for some of my Engineering classes but nothing I can't live without.

It seems like Apple could add a scaled down/simplified version of Filemaker to fill-in the gap of a database/spreadsheet app...

[MacFan782040]

In Jobs We Trust.

[Vanilla]

Originally Posted by bigandy

why don't we all just give in and admit it, you buy iWork for Keynote, and keynote alone.

I completely agree, this is EXACTLY the way to think of it. Pages is simply a bonus.

Vanilla

[spade]

I buy iWork for Keynote, but Pages is fun sometimes for quick page layouts. It beats me paying Adobe cash for InDesign, not to say that Pages equals that program, but for my needs it's fine. I love Keynote!

[maya]

Was never really interested in the first iWork suite, however I will reserve judgement till I give it a try.

[jackc]

Free trials only for new macs? That sucks, I'd like to try out Pages.

[jsalzer]

Oh no! A G4 and 32 MB Video RAM? I feel like my poor little Pismo (with its G3 and 8MB) is being pushed out!

Here's hoping it's a "I'll install and work, but just not do fancy slide transitions in Keynote" requirement, rather than a Toast-like "the installer is going to laugh at you and call you names before quitting on you" requirement. Any insights?

Here's hoping Equation Editor found its way in! (Not that I'm counting on it.)



In Steve we trust! In Steve we trust.

[joelwnelson]

Originally Posted by jsalzer

Oh no! A G4 and 32 MB Video RAM? I feel like my poor little Pismo (with its G3 and 8MB) is being pushed out!

That's my concern too... although my G3 has 32MB VRAM.