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Apple Updates iWork With '06 Version

TMO at Macworld - Apple Updates iWork With '06 Version

by , 2:20 PM EST, January 10th, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO -- In addition to iLife, Apple's iWork productivity suite, which includes the presentation software Keynote and the word processing/page layout application Pages, received an '06 upgrade during CEO Steve Jobs' keynote. Both Keynote 3 and Pages 2 can take advantage of such new features as 3D charts, iPhoto-like image editing and masking tools and spreadsheet-like tables.

While not as full-featured as Microsoft Excel, the tables function enables users to add, multiple or average numbers in rows or columns and insert the results in a Keynote or Pages document. Those spreadsheets can also be turned into 3D charts with wood grain, metal or marble textures, complete with the ability to control the viewing angle.

The image editing tools include freeform shapes and curves, while iWork '06 also enables users to include comments in slides and documents without affecting their layout. Pages 2 offers mail merge with Address Book, as well as two dozen new templates and new thumbnail and search views.


A new template in Pages 2

Features new to Keynote 3 include cinematic transitions, such as vertical or horizontal blinds and a revolving door, a Light Table view mode for looking at an entire presentation and reorganizing slides and flexible build animations with more control over bullet lists, tables and charts.


A wood-grain 3D chart in Keynote 3

iWork '06 sells for US$79 and requires a G4, G5 or Intel Core processor, 256MB RAM (512MB recommended), 32MB of Video RAM, QuickTime 7.0.3 and a DVD drive.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:nstanosheck Posts: 28 Joined: 11 Nov 2001
Subject:

The Education version is only $49!



Last edited by nstanosheck on Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:26 pm; edited 1 time in total
Reply | Quote
Close Name:dhp Posts: 182 Joined: 22 May 2003
Subject:

Quote
nstanosheck wrote:
The Education version is only $49!


Just like it was before!

Close Name:Guest
Subject: New Pages

For me, the biggest drawback to Pages was the inability to have both potrait and landscape layouts in the same document. Does anyone know if the new version allows this?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Spreadsheet

We still need a replacement for Excel, then this would let a lot of teachers or others with basic needs (I keep grades in Excel and do simple stats) move away from Office. I have a lot of VBA I still use in Word, but it isn't as essential to my life as Excel remains.

One reason I stay with Excel is the amount of VBA code I have. I automate letters in Word that use Excel data. Still, most teachers don't need killer office apps.

Close Name:iJack Posts: 313 Joined: 13 Jun 2001
Subject:

I can't believe there is not a lower cost upgrade available. After only a few months, I'm expected to pay the full price again!

Close Name:Guest
Subject: upgrade pricing

I'd like to upgrade to the new version and would probably do so if an upgrade price was available. However, since I can do 99% of what I need to do with my present iWork, I can't really justify $79 at this time. Same for iLife.

Close Name:LaurieF -   TMO Forum Mod Posts: 3547 Joined: 15 Jun 2001
Subject:

The only thing I use Appleworks for is to produce my monthly invoice so that I get paid so that I can buy iWork/computer stuff/WoW time/presents for my wife and pay the mortgage etc etc etc.

So now that rudimentary column and row calculation has been built into Pages, I can cut over to that and ditch Appleworks. It's served me well enough over the last five years, but all its functionality that I need has been subsumed by other products.

As for the price, $US79 should be something like $NZ115. Instead it's $NZ139, which equates to $US96. Nevertheless I've ordered it and iLife.

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