Apple Updates iWork Apps With New Features on Mac, iPad, and iPhone

[MacRumors]

Apple today updated its trio of iWork apps Keynote, Numbers, and Pages for the Mac, iPad, and iPhone with several new features and changes.

The release notes for version 14.0 of the Mac apps follow, and the release notes for version 14.0 of the iPad and iPhone apps are nearly identical.

Keynote

• Add a new look to your slides with the Dynamic Color, Minimalist Light, and Minimalist Dark themes
• Streamlined in-app notifications inform you when a person joins a collaborative presentation for the first time
• Preserve file format and full quality when adding HEIC photos taken on iPhone or iPad
• Press and hold the Command key to select noncontiguous words, sentences, or paragraphs
• Improved compatibility for slide transitions when importing and exporting Microsoft PowerPoint files
• Additional stability and performance improvements

App Store links: Mac and iPad/iPhone.

Numbers

• Streamlined in-app notifications inform you when a person joins a collaborative spreadsheet for the first time
• Preserve file format and full quality when adding HEIC photos taken on iPhone or iPad
• Press and hold the Command key to select noncontiguous words, sentences, or paragraphs
• Additional stability and performance improvements

App Store links: Mac and iPad/iPhone.

Pages

• Press and hold the Command key to select noncontiguous words, sentences, or paragraphs
• Streamlined in-app notifications inform you when a person joins a collaborative document for the first time
• Preserve file format and full quality when adding HEIC photos taken on iPhone or iPad
• Additional stability and performance improvements

App Store links: Mac and iPad/iPhone.

Article Link: Apple Updates iWork Apps With New Features on Mac, iPad, and iPhone

 

[Spock]

I honestly forget that iWork exists... and its installed on my Mac...

 

[randolorian]

These are great apps. A strong alternative to the MS Office suite if you are a light, non-corporate user.

 

[citysnaps]

Nice update. They're outstanding apps.

 

[dizmonk]

These are great apps. A strong alternative to the MS Office suite if you are a light, non-corporate user.

I use Keynote and Pages regularly instead of Powerpoint and Word. The only reason I use Word at all is that most users are in either Google Docs or Word.

 

[MonkeySpank158]

Welcome updates to these programs. I personally find these to be much better than MS Office, and I use Keynote frequently for my son’s homeschooling. I love the new ability to hold cmd for noncontiguous selection, I’m constantly trying to do that, not just in iWork.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

These are great apps. A strong alternative to the MS Office suite if you are a light, non-corporate user.

And they seem to start a lot faster than MS Office as well.
I only recently started using Pages because I prefer its clean and simple UI over Word’s overflowing and bloated one.

 

[gk_brown]

The only reason I use Word at all is that most users are in either Google Docs or Word.

Import/export works pretty well in Pages.

 

[swiftapplefan]

I swear years ago you could select non contiguous text, I was shocked when I couldn’t do it. Glad to see it’s coming back.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Now if only Pages had proper support for macOS Dark Mode. 😩

I'm not surprised it doesn't really support it since it's a program meant for corporate settings (when was the last time respectable office workers used dark mode on everything?), but even a relatively basic word processing program like TextEdit has full support for Dark Mode, so it's strange that Pages doesn't.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I wonder if this little update alters the "save" file format to break the ability of a generation or two old version of iWork apps being able to open the files. That's a popular "catch" in iWork updates... possibly necessary to support new features but (conspiracy theory) pushing to buy updated hardware or update to latest version of OS to share files among Macs of modestly different ages.

Some people need the stability certainty of NOT "latest & greatest" macOS or iOS but that somewhat forces upgrades/updates to be able to use the file across devices.

 

[Monque]

I'm always mystified why these updates don't show up in the App Store Updates section. I have to search for Keynote in the App Store (for example), then when the appropriate page comes up, I see the "Update" button. But this morning the only app in the Updates section was an astronomy app I use.

I had "Install application updates from the App Store" turned off in System Settings.

Is anyone else experiencing this kind of behaviour?

Possibly relevant stuff:
M2 MacBook Pro 14-inch, 2023
macOS Sonoma 14.4.1

 

[Weaselboy]

Is anyone else experiencing this kind of behaviour?

Sometimes to get them to show up, I have to go to the updates page, then hit command-r to refresh, and they show up.

I just did that to see these iWork updates.

 

[rutterp83]

"Press and hold the Command key to select noncontiguous words, sentences, or paragraphs"

Finally!

Next on my wish list: Add a track changes "Compare Documents" feature, and implement numbered lists that work more like Microsoft Word.

 

[PotentPeas]

I'm always mystified why these updates don't show up in the App Store Updates section. I have to search for Keynote in the App Store (for example), then when the appropriate page comes up, I see the "Update" button. But this morning the only app in the Updates section was an astronomy app I use.

They'll show up if you wait a bit... the app updates list doesn't seem to update in real-time or even on-demand when you click on it, but on some sort of background job schedule.

 

[tomtad]

I honestly forget that iWork exists... and its installed on my Mac...

I use it all the time and would be lost if I didn’t have these apps, Keynote in particular.

They are fast, feature rich, native, and for my needs at least much better than either MS or Google’s offerings. What’s the problem exactly?

 

[Monque]

They'll show up if you wait a bit... the app updates list doesn't seem to update in real-time or even on-demand when you click on it, but on some sort of background job schedule.

Apple works in mysterious ways... Don't get me started on Photos/Messages/etc. syncing.

 

[Monque]

"Press and hold the Command key to select noncontiguous words, sentences, or paragraphs"

Finally!

Nisus has had this for three decades... 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[saqibhasan]

Now, if only they bring back the ability to edit master slides so all transitions and animations can be applied to the whole presentation instead of one by one.

 

[MonkeySpank158]

Now if only Pages had proper support for macOS Dark Mode. 😩

I'm not surprised it doesn't really support it since it's a program meant for corporate settings (when was the last time respectable office workers used dark mode on everything?), but even a relatively basic word processing program like TextEdit has full support for Dark Mode, so it's strange that Pages doesn't.

I do… but I also have the trust of my boss and subsequent ability to do what I choose with my work PC, which I then remote into with my MBP… I am not captive to group policies or admin lock out. So I suppose that would make me not just respectable, but respected as well. I prefer to not be blinded by my monitor all day while working.

 

[Gengar]

really cool

 

[Supermallet]

I exclusively use the iWork suite. They’re more streamlined and intuitive than the monstrosities that Microsoft makes and I try not to use Google for anything if I can help it. It also helps that they are fully featured on iPad when MS Office and G Suite are (imo intentionally) nerfed for iPad.

 

[Geoffb9]

Oh. I know that the executives are busy with Hollywood TV and Movie stuff and no time for geeky stuff but it seems that Apple at last remembered that they still have software to keep updating! And what a pathetic update I may add.

I’ve moved on to Microsoft Office last year after being a strong supporter of iWork suite. I gave up on Apple’s slow development.

 

[Geoffb9]

really cool

What’s cool about this update?

 

[Geoffb9]

"Press and hold the Command key to select noncontiguous words, sentences, or paragraphs"

Finally!

Next on my wish list: Add a track changes "Compare Documents" feature, and implement numbered lists that work more like Microsoft Word.

If Apple ever adds that it will be in 4-5 years.