Apple Announces iLife '09

[Snowy_River]

iWeb

While it does seem to be true that iDVD has had little, if anything done to it, it is not true that iWeb has been completely neglected.

First, one of my most wanted features has been added: internal FTP. So, now iWeb can publish directly to my web server. Also, it seems that Apple has built on the HTML snippet and Google Map inserts, and created a whole slew of "widgets" that can be easily added to a website in iWeb. These look like very nice additions.

Now, that being said, I will grant that there are some things that I'd REALLY like to see, and we'll have to wait and see if the new version addresses any of these. First, repeated graphics. Every page of my website uses the same graphic as a background. So, why does iWeb need to have a separate file for each page? It would speed up page load speeds SO much if it only had to load the background once on the first page visited, rather than every single time.

Second, a bit more control over compression on graphic files. Again, this is a page load speed issue.

In any event, I think that iLife looks like it's easily worth the price.

I'm not quite sure, yet, about iWork...

 

[ibosie]

The Mac Box Set sounds like a great value.

I just hope they do the same with the Snow Leopard and iLife/iWork '09s

I'd buy the box set with Snow Leopard but since I'll be wanting to install on at least 3 machines my conscience knows I'll need to pay for individual family packs. I'm quite pleased with the updates, especially iMovie although I have Final Cut it's not always possible to dedicate the extra time such complex software deserves. I'm not sure why iWork.com is not featured with Mobile Me though - having a separate URL outside of the cloud family.

 

[johngordon]

I came across in mid-November from the Windows world.
At that time I bought iWork, iLife, and bunches of other software.
6 weeks later, it's obsolete, and no free upgrade for recent purchasers.
I'm beginning to miss the way I was treated by Microsoft. They'd have given recent purchasers a free upgrade path, I've been there dozens of times over the past 3 decades.

I'm more than slightly miffed.

How do you mean obsolete? Has it stopped working? And why did you buy iLife when it was already installed on the machine you bought? D'oh!

Anyway, I've always had a soft spot for iLife as it was a big factor in switching back in 04, and I did a bit of freelance stuff producing DVD slideshows for wedding photographers.

I guess it depends which bits you use, but I'm liking the new Faces and Places thing - great way of organising stuff. I guess the Places will have to be done manually, but hey.

From the video tour of iMovie, it looks much improved with the precision editing - whilst the example with the two scenes being cut together, the big question for me is whether or not it reintroduces the timeline functionality from iMovie HD and will allow better audio editing. It looked as though it probably did - is anyone any clearer on that?

Shame iDVD seems to be the poor relation these days - I guess maybe they see things as moving to wireless technologies. Which is a shame, as I always enjoy doing the holiday DVDs for the folks!

 

[msw123307]

Can someone help me here - if I just bought an open-item macbook from Best Buy 4 days ago - will I be eligible for iLife 09?

 

[Bosunsfate]

I think you are spot on, that is probably the way to manage it - what will be interesting, is when faces 'loses' the match i.e if you start with a 5 year old as the target photo, at what point or which developmental change 'throws the code'

Interesting. But if I follow you correctly, that means you'll be using iPhoto09 for quite some time.

I did see in the demo video some interesting aspects.
1. It has adaptive learning in what you say is and is not the correct photo.

2. You can manually find photos, and add that "face" to an existing person. Then that too will go into the algorithm for step 1.

 

[APPLENEWBIE]

I want to 'switch'. I want to run all Apple gear in my business. But as it stands, none of Apple's desktop offerings are a reasonable value (choices: outdated iMac or prohibitively expensive Mac Pro)... A small part of me was hoping for a 'consumer level' mini tower, but I knew that was out of the question.

Unless you do heavy duty graphics intensive work in your business, which seems unlikely if you were considering a "consumer level mini-tower" the "outdated" iMac is a powerful machine that is up to most tasks. I have two of them and have yet to max them out... No offense, and I'm not trying to be a smart**s but just because the iMac has not been updated in a few months does not take away the fact that it, and most modern computers, have more capacity than most of us need.

 

[SandynJosh]

Phil looks like he has lost weight though-I'm just sayin'...

I totally agree. I'll bet he's got some dire disease or pacreatic cancer. I'm just saying, y'know.

 

[rKunda]

Can someone help me here - if I just bought an open-item macbook from Best Buy 4 days ago - will I be eligible for iLife 09?

I doubt it. I bought my new Macbook on the 29th, and after speaking with multiple Apple people I've given up on iLife 09 for free, or the cheaper upgrade price, or for iWork 09 for $49.

You may have better luck, but for me it looks like retail or ebay.

 

[SandynJosh]

I wish we'd see a box set option for iLife, iWork, and OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard). It's about the only way I see myself upgrading to all three. In lieu of this option, I'll probably just buy iLife.

Possibly the reason why Apple is making this option available with Leopard is that the upcoming Snow Leopard may only run on the Intel Macs. My introducing this package they can support all the old G3/G4 owners with iLife09 that would be shut out if/when the OS no longer will run.

just guessing on the upcoming Snow Leopard's spec change

 

[zweigand]

Didn't notice any mention of easier AVCHD editing with iMovie, except for one somewhat confusing mention of AVCHD archiving in the 'new features' section on Apple.com. Anyone else hear/see anything that would give hope to AVCHD users not wanting to 'import' their video ag 8x - 10x the size of the original?

ALong those same lines ...I am wondering if iMovie works better with h.264 files. I'm looking to compress all of my DV files to save a lot of space. The problem is the current version of iMovie is useless with those files.

 

[NeonKingKong]

no way!!!

This is awesome! Wow garageband looks tight. Wayyyy cooool.

 

[walala]

imovie 09 HD?

gahhhhh. I was hoping they would allow HD editing in iMovie '09. I have a Canon HV30 that I would love to use in the new iMovie. How hard would it be to allow for this compatibility?

I know they want you to make the jump to Final Cut Express or FCP, but I don't need all those features. I just want to make cool videos that happen to be in HD (to upload to sites like Vimeo).

Please please please

 

[linuxophile]

Would you please provide a specific example where a similar spec'd linux/windows box is cheaper than a Mac?

There have been many discussions already about disproving your statement. So, I'd like a specific example.

Here you go:
Mac Mini vs
Dell Studio Hybrid.

On one corner the Mini:
1.8 ghz C2duo, 1 gb, 80 gbhd = 645$ (canadian)

On the other corner Dell:
2ghz C2duo, 2gb, 160gbhd (you have to custom add the wifi and wireless keyboard/mouse = 635$ (Canadian).


Plus, the Dell is as cute as the mini (-opinion-)

one/zero

 

[Bosunsfate]

Its a major upgrade - and worthy of good praise

Well, I've reviewed the details of what they did in iPhoto and iMovie. And its impressive.

It is exactly what I would expect from Apple. Clean, well thought out. and well designed.

Does it do everything people might think? I don't know, it does more than I expected.

And most importantly, there are features in here I can use and I'll get immediate gratification from.

Note, I currently use iLife08 and was very happy with it. This just improves that experience.

 

[Bosunsfate]

Here you go:
Mac Mini vs
Dell Studio Hybrid.

On one corner the Mini:
1.8 ghz C2duo, 1 gb, 80 gbhd = 645$ (canadian)

On the other corner Dell:
2ghz C2duo, 2gb, 160gbhd (you have to custom add the wifi and wireless keyboard/mouse = 635$ (Canadian).


Plus, the Dell is as cute as the mini (-opinion-)

one/zero

When was that Dell released? What software do you get with that dell? You are only comparing the hardware.

Also, the Mini is what you want to compare? Something that has not been updated in nearly two years?

*EDIT* Just noticed that you think this is some kind of competition. Since that is how you want to view that then, please compare every model that Apple has on current release with the comparable Dell model. If that total goes to you....then you shall win.

 

[spydr]

The biggest bummer for me is still there is no native editing of AVCHD!

When they pulled away the firewire port, they gladly referred about how common AVCHD camcorders have become and how all of them are USB only.

They forgot to mention that in order to edit AVCHD footage in iMovie, you will have to convert your it into Apple Intermediate Codec format via a lengthy import process which also makes the files several fold larger than the original.

After waiting for iMovie 09 to bring this capability, I am really very disappointed. All else they showcased seemed to me as merely more fluff.

 

[n3xt3volution]

This is outrageous! Who do I have to talk to?

This whole iLife 09 thing is bunk! Since last December I've bought an iPhone, a MacBook, the 1TB Time Capsule and all the gizmos, gadgets, accessories and random items they can sell me at the Apple Store in Manhattan Beach. Then I buy the iPhone 3G after spending half of August in line just to get my hands on one. But I didn't stop there, I bought more accessories, cables and crap to dress up the little man. Not to mention all the money I've spent on iTunes...

But I couldn't stop myself on January 1st when I walked in and without hesitation laid down my hard-earned money on a new MacBook Pro. I had found love and wanted to take it home.

What has me all wound up is this:
Five days after I buy the new MacBook Pro, Apple announces iLife 09 and specifically states that the only eligible systems for the free upgrade (just pay shipping) are those purchased on or after January 6th, 2009. You mean Apple couldn't have made the upgrade offer available to anybody that purchased a computer on January 1st, 2009. I have an idea...How about Apple offers the free upgrade of iLife 09 to all those that purchased a new system in 2009. It makes sense, huh?

I was five days shy, I should have just waited. Next time I will give more thought to my expensive impulses.

 

[SandynJosh]

I came across in mid-November from the Windows world.
At that time I bought iWork, iLife, and bunches of other software.
6 weeks later, it's obsolete, and no free upgrade for recent purchasers.
I'm beginning to miss the way I was treated by Microsoft. They'd have given recent purchasers a free upgrade path, I've been there dozens of times over the past 3 decades.

I'm more than slightly miffed.

I've been bumping along with iLife06 until now and been reasonably happy. The new features of 09 may have finally pushed me into upgrading. While the latest and greatest is fun to have, it's expensive to chase the technology curve just to have the bragging rights. P.S. the box set has come along at a good time for me since I still hadn't moved to 10.6 because 10.5 did +90% of what I needed for work and home.

I've been using Macs since OS 1.1g and have found that lagging the curve somewhat has saved me a lot of money; even keeping in mind that the Mac OS was a free upgrade for most of it's incremental life.

 

[Bosunsfate]

This whole iLife 09 thing is bunk! Since last December I've bought an iPhone, a MacBook, the 1TB Time Capsule and all the gizmos, gadgets, accessories and random items they can sell me at the Apple Store in Manhattan Beach. Then I buy the iPhone 3G after spending half of August in line just to get my hands on one. But I didn't stop there, I bought more accessories, cables and crap to dress up the little man. Not to mention all the money I've spent on iTunes...

But I couldn't stop myself on January 1st when I walked in and without hesitation laid down my hard-earned money on a new MacBook Pro. I had found love and wanted to take it home.

What has me all wound up is this:
Five days after I buy the new MacBook Pro, Apple announces iLife 09 and specifically states that the only eligible systems for the free upgrade (just pay shipping) are those purchased on or after January 6th, 2009. You mean Apple couldn't have made the upgrade offer available to anybody that purchased a computer on January 1st, 2009. I have an idea...How about Apple offers the free upgrade of iLife 09 to all those that purchased a new system in 2009. It makes sense, huh?

I was five days shy, I should have just waited. Next time I will give more thought to my expensive impulses.

Well, while it is not free, you still can upgrade for under $10.

But a lesson you should certainly learn. Watch this site. When announcements are pending, wait on purchases.

But don't wait forever (*ala Mac Mini). Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and get what you want and don't stress about what comes out a week later.

 

[linuxophile]

When was that Dell released? What software do you get with that dell? You are only comparing the hardware.

Also, the Mini is what you want to compare? Something that has not been updated in nearly two years?

Re: what software. I think Home vista premium.

Re: "mini not updated in two years".
Whose fault is this?
They are selling it as of now, so it is only fair to compare it with today's models by other manufacturers.
Well, the imac does not score much better. There is a Sony in a similar form factor, I think with a touch screen, that costs less than a 20in imac. I'll leave you the pleasure of googling.


Re: "comparing what".
Of course I am comparing the hardware! That is what we were talking about (at least what I was talking about).


The software is not comparable: it would be comparing Apples and Oranges.
Too much emotional involvement to actually make an objective comparison.
You can install kubuntu for free.
Maybe even hack-intosh it.

 

[trickytrev]

hmmm

nothing new in imovie except for the globe. imovie 08 had the imovie 6 effects removed. glad to see them back...

still a very very average "high quality" that apple advertise... very soft exports and dvd renders... hope this is fixed in '09, but didn't see it in the "new features"

Is it a quicktime, idvd, or iMovie thing??? this seriously has to be sorted out!
if it's imovie, then it would be better to buy final cut express perhaps?

apple must lift their game!

 

[bondjw07]

Do you get to download when you upgrade?

Anyone done the update from the online apple store? I'm wondering if you get an immediate download or if you have to wait for them to ship you the disks.

 

[MhzDoesMatter]

iMovie/iPhoto/Mini/$2800 laptops.

This is why reading this thread has convinced me leaving Macworld is best for Apple....

Anyone who says the improvements to imovie is Fluff obviously doesn't use the previous iteration of the program regularly and more than that knows little to nothing about video editing. Even an FCPro junkie can see that '09 vs '08 is an amazing jump in utility for such an entry level program.

Call the new iPhoto eye candy if u want. But people like Candy. And Geotagging and Facetagging are the NEW IT in pop web culture. Facebook and Twitter are huge phenomenons. Apple is catering to what will help sell the platform.

The MacMini wasn't upgraded. So? The only reason u thought it would be upgraded was because Arn told u it would be. Go bitch and complain to him. But don't pointlessly denounce Apple in a rumor site for not doing what u wanted them to do when you wanted them to do it. That really is whining. No, not expressing yourself; whining.

If you just bought a $2800 dollar laptop and are now complaining about a $79 upgrade, then you are either a d**chebag or think your $2800 dollars purchased you an entitlement. In that case, you're over estimating your importance and the significance of your mere $2800 to Apple. A couple grand is not enough to buy you the treatment you obviously think you deserve. So you actually would do better to take your "nickels and dimes" to a company who isn't so interested in getting them all one by one.


This is all why Apple can't be a part of Macworld. Expo's breed this sort of behavior; unrealistic expectations, entitlement, invisible deadlines, and images of fanboy's sitting on forum boards talking about what the company didn't do. In order to gain real mass appeal which is better in terms of long term profitability, Apple is, rightfully imo, cleaning out all the dark corners where this kool-aid zealot mentality grows.

Good riddance.

 

[varunsanthanam]

I've been bumping along with iLife06 until now and been reasonably happy. The new features of 09 may have finally pushed me into upgrading. While the latest and greatest is fun to have, it's expensive to chase the technology curve just to have the bragging rights. P.S. the box set has come along at a good time for me since I still hadn't moved to 10.6 because 10.5 did +90% of what I needed for work and home.

I've been using Macs since OS 1.1g and have found that lagging the curve somewhat has saved me a lot of money; even keeping in mind that the Mac OS was a free upgrade for most of it's incremental life.

There is no 10.6 yet. 10.6 will be snow leopard, idiot. 10.5 is leopard, and the current version. You meant to say you are running 10.4, and you haven't upgraded to 10.5

 

[Peace]

Anyone done the update from the online apple store? I'm wondering if you get an immediate download or if you have to wait for them to ship you the disks.

iLife 09 isn't out yet.