iWork and MobileMe Rebates Expire, Updates Imminent?

[wizard]

I could really use an upgraded Numbers!

In my case the charting functions need a lot of work. The goal would be to generate technical graphs as easy as MacPlot. Oh and with the variety and refinement of MacPlot.

Someone else mentioned a VB like functionality which I imagine means a built in scripting language. This I support 99% except that I'd rather see the language derived from Python or Ruby. Even so my distaste of VB would not keep me from using it, if that is the facility we are presented with.

Database integration is something else I'd like to see in the scripting language. This may sound crazy as the tables in the spread sheet can at times substitute for a database but frankly this isn't always a good solution. I'd rather that I be able to read from SqLite databases via either the scripting language or extended cell formula syntax. That syntax should thinly abstract SQL so that the use of a database with in a spread sheet is easy to grasp to people with SQL background. Why? To separate data from the spreadsheet to hopefully lead to more robust spreadsheets.

Export to HTML functionality. Honestly if all we got was a way to export a spread sheet section as an HTML table I'd be very pleased. The goal of course isn't to export the knowledge built into the spread sheet but rather the data so that publication to the web becomes a snap. Yes this means static data in a HTML file but often that is the right approach.

Of course one can wish all they want but it is too late to have any influence on the next rev. Here is to hoping for a major update. An update with lots of usable features.

 

[pkson]

I use Keynote and Pages on a daily basis... my job is making presentations, sort of..

I would love to see some Keynote improvements.

 

[ipedro]

is there any chance they will refresh MobileMe and iWork along with the iMac refresh?

I think that's a good bet. I don't think they'll wait until WWDC to release the next iMac if supplies are already now becoming constrained.

I expect an event introducing the new Me.com, iWork and a one more thing iMac.

Then again, since WWDC is in early June, we're just a month and a half away. So either an event is announced this week or we're waiting until WWDC for at least Me.com which will require an event to explain the revolutionary changes that are thought to be coming. iWork and iMac could very well be quiet updates.

 

[maddagascar]

i'm in the need of renwing my mobile me, but i'm afraid if i renew, there will be no point and if a free mobile me is introduced, then what "specials" do i get?

 

[BLUELION]

Actually mine has not changed

My mobile me subscription is still set to expire in 17 days (may 6). Will be interesting if it changes.

Weird - I looked at my account settings in March, and I know that I was supposed to renew on 5/1/11. I just checked, and my renewal date has changed to 6/4/11! Anyone else catch this?

 

[SteveW928]

Gosh I hope so!

iWork is in desperate need of an update... especially the iOS version (and the OSX version to better handle and interact with the iOS version).

 

[Morod]

My MM subscription runs out in two days. I bought the discounted MM from Amazon about two months ago, so my MM will renew automatically.
I wouldn't expect a refund from Apple, but I am hoping for new features inMM, along with a faster iDisk!

 

[Eduardo1971]

All Apple software will be AppStore ONLY, this is just Apple discontinuing retail products. Apple would rather you get used to using the App Store by downloading iWork or whatever when your Mac arrives than pre-install software for you...

I didn't miss this point. What I was lamenting was that we can no longer go outside Apple to get discounts on software from Apple. Now they are able to firmly dictate prices on software-we as consumers can't 'shop-around' for Apple Software (good for Apple and not so good gor us).

 

[ipedro]

Oh no!! I just noticed that my MobileMe renews on June 4.

... WWDC is on June 6!!!

I seriously hope that they don't wait until WWDC to introduce a new Me.com. Event next week.. please please please

 

[auero]

The one trend I notice is that everyone is suspecting MobileMe to become free. Knowing Apple, they'll still charge you one way or another so anyone who is renewing their membership right now might have their membership converted to a 'premium' membership.

Let's say they did this:

Free MobileMe
- iCal sync
- 2 GB storage
- Find My iphone

Premium MobileMe ($xx/year)
- Everything the free version has
- Email
- More storage
etc..

I would think the people who paid money to renew now would get more than a free membership like more services or more space vs those who sign up for free.

Just a thought, not saying it'll happen. I miss my mobileme membership only for syncing my contacts and ical from my computer to iphone but it doesn't justify me spending $100 a year when I can still do it using google's services.

 

[BLUELION]

Perhaps...

What if the big announcement in addition to the OS Lion is that iwork11 is universal for iOS and Lion. Seamless platform integration.???

iWork is in desperate need of an update... especially the iOS version (and the OSX version to better handle and interact with the iOS version).

 

[Saladinos]

I love iWork. Only thing I want is a built-in equation editor (none of this mathType plugin BS) on the Mac side.

On the iOS side, an iPhone version is long overdue and compatibility with the Mac version is nowhere near up to scratch (doesn't even support merged table cells!).

 

[Yukon Jack]

...of Apple seeking to a launch "iWork '11" alongside the Mac App Store in January, with hints of shortages of iWork in mid-December lending credence to the theory, but an updated version has yet to surface.

What shortages? I've always wondered how you can have a shortage of a software title? It's delivered via the Internet from a "master copy" somewhere so there can't be any shortage.

 

[nutmac]

What if the big announcement in addition to the OS Lion is that iwork11 is universal for iOS and Lion. Seamless platform integration.???

Aside from saving users some money, there's no need for universal iOS and Lion app.

Speaking of money, I am guessing that the current version of iWork products, either iOS or Mac OS X, will need to shell out again for the upgrade. App Store/Mac App Store really needs to implement some sort of full version upgrade pricing model.

 

[CalZephyr]

Now they are able to firmly dictate prices on software-we as consumers can't 'shop-around' for Apple Software (good for Apple and not so good gor us).

The market still determines price. If people wouldn't pay $100/year, they'd lower the price. If people are paying $100/year, why charge less?

I didn't renew because I don't see the value in $100/year to sync my calendar and bookmarks. That's all I used it for.

 

[auero]

Also, whatever happened to the web version of iWork. Did that ever leave beta?

 

[Saladinos]

I didn't miss this point. What I was lamenting was that we can no longer go outside Apple to get discounts on software from Apple. Now they are able to firmly dictate prices on software-we as consumers can't 'shop-around' for Apple Software (good for Apple and not so good gor us).

Apples cloud purchasing options are WAY skewed against the consumer. You'd be better off toiling in Dante's hell than trying to get a refund from iTunes, there is no price advantage (and often a price disadvantage), and there is likewise no second hand market or ability to lend or trade licenses.

Of course Apple won't introduce these things by themselves. What I'd really like to see is tighter legislation for digital commerce - especially when it comes to refunds and returns and the ability to transfer or resell your license. Anything less is anticompetitive.

 

[r.d]

My MobileMe subscription expired on April 15th and Apple sent me an e-mail that I have 24 hours to update my credit card or all services will stop working. It is now April 19th and everything is still working. I didn't want to spend another $124 with tax to renew for another year, I switched back to Gmail, for now at least.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Apples cloud purchasing options are WAY skewed against the consumer. You'd be better off toiling in Dante's hell than trying to get a refund from iTunes, there is no price advantage (and often a price disadvantage), and there is likewise no second hand market or ability to lend or trade licenses.

Of course Apple won't introduce these things by themselves. What I'd really like to see is tighter legislation for digital commerce - especially when it comes to refunds and returns and the ability to transfer or resell your license. Anything less is anticompetitive.

While I have never sold any of my older "used" software, (I was always able to hand things down within my family) I can see that this will eventually be a problem for Apple and others.

It will be interesting to see if Apple or maybe even ALL software companies will go to licensing pricing, i.e. lower app price for only the license to use but never own it.

Just like the music companies were trying to make a problem about sales of used CD's (Remember Garth Brooks on that bandwagon?) I expect the government to step in, if the software companies will not do something about it!

 

[afireintonto]

Do you think apple will update the iwork apps on the mac app store?
i bought pages on the mac app store and i don't really want to pay for another version - maybe they will be cool and just put out an update?!

everyone knows that iwork '11 will be mac app store only.

 

[zedsdead]

I use iWork almost every single day (for both of my jobs), especially Pages. I am dying for an update.

As nice as it is to have iWork on the iPad, it is not robust enough. Apple needs add full support of everything, such as sections, transitions, and fonts. There is still A LOT lacking in the iOS version.

The Mac version is overdue for an update.

 

[scottsjack]

Purchasing iWork '11 is a no-brainer for me. If Apple can add additional features to it and still keep the current simple, elegant look then I'm on board.

Fortunately I don't need the complexity of Office because just to look at the thing on Mac or PC makes me gag. It's just plain ugly.

Definitely Pages and Numbers needs some modernization.

 

[BLUELION]

Perhaps...

I can see that perspective, but what I was inferring to was that a "universal" iwork11 would bring full support for iwork on iPad to the same level as it is seen on the Mac.

The pricing scheme, ya I agree that would be more costly in the end. Would rather see DVD or CD retail copies. I like owning my software and not renting it.

Aside from saving users some money, there's no need for universal iOS and Lion app.

Speaking of money, I am guessing that the current version of iWork products, either iOS or Mac OS X, will need to shell out again for the upgrade. App Store/Mac App Store really needs to implement some sort of full version upgrade pricing model.

 

[CyberBob859]

Isn't there some sort of drop dead date for upgrading the MobileMe calendar coming up in the next couple of weeks? Maybe the new MobileMe gets introduced at that time.

 

[toddybody]

Fingers crossed...Im really looking forward to Apple's revamped Mobile Me