IWork
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- The correct title of this article is iWork. The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions.
iWork is a suite of applications created by Apple Computer, containing a word processing and layout application (Pages), and a presentation package (Keynote). Although iWork was originally rumored to be an update or replacement for Apple's entry-level application suite AppleWorks, Apple is currently billing it as "building a successor to AppleWorks"[1], but it does not yet replicate the functionality of AppleWorks' spreadsheet, database and drawing tools. Likewise, it does not compete directly with the Mac version of Microsoft Office, but instead offers tools with a different focus (presentation, rather than analysis) at a lower price. It is designed to integrate with existing applications from Apple's iLife Suite. Although iLife comes free on every Mac, iWork is to be bought separately. There is a free 30 day trial for iWork on every Mac, and also if customers chose to upgrade to a newer version of iLife, a free trial of the newest iWork comes free as well.
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[edit] History
[edit] iWork '05
iWork '05 was launched in January 11, 2005 and featured a new version of Keynote (Keynote 2), and the first release of Pages (Pages 1.0)[1].
[edit] iWork '06
On January 10, 2006, Apple introduced iWork '06 at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco, which featured new versions of Pages (Pages 2) and Keynote (Keynote 3)[2]. New features common to both programs included 3D charts, tables with formula support, reviewer comments, and shaped image masking. The addition of tables with formula support may have been added to quiet rumors of an Apple spreadsheet application. Since iWork's focus is on presentation, Apple incorporated a way to put most common spreadsheet features into a table while providing only limited additional functionality.
[edit] Contents
iWork is comprised of two applications: Pages and Keynote.
[edit] Pages
Pages is a word processing application with an emphasis on presentation. It is useful for many projects beyond that of the standard word-processing application. Pages comes loaded with a set of Apple-designed templates for presentations including:
- Newsletters
- Journals
- Invitations
- Stationery
- Resumés
- Education Projects
- Marketing Projects
Pages, in addition to Keynote (its iWork counterpart), is closely integrated with the iLife suite. It includes a media browser for inserting pictures, music, and video from iPhoto, iTunes, and iMovie. Pages allows the user to save or export in formats including:
- Pages files (.pages)
- Microsoft Word files (.doc)
- Portable Document Format (.pdf)
- Web Pages (.html)
- Rich text files (.rtf)
- Plain text files (.txt)
[edit] Keynote
Keynote is a slideshow application with an emphasis on presentation. It is similar in many ways to Microsoft's Powerpoint, but contains several features native to the iWork suite. Keynote makes use of iLife integration by including a media browser for inserting pictures, music, and video from iPhoto, iTunes, and iMovie. Keynote also features the ability to include animation in slideshow presentations. Keynote is quite versatile in its ability to recognize and save to many formats, including:
- Keynote presentations (.key)
- Microsoft Powerpoint presentations (.ppt)
- QuickTime movies (.mov), which may be interactive depending on one's choice.
- Adobe Flash animations (.swf)
- PDF Acrobat PDF document (.pdf)
- Import any image format recognized by QuickTime, export several image formats (.jpg, .png or .tiff)
[edit] Spreadsheet functionality
An obvious difference between the 2005 and 2006 versions of iWork and Microsoft Office is the absence of a spreadsheet module or application. Its nominal predecessor, AppleWorks, also has a spreadsheet module. It is likely that the 2007 version of iWork will include a spreadsheet program called Charts or Numbers. [1].
[edit] Criticism
Despite being designed for the consumer end of the market and support common file formats such as RTF and Microsoft Word documents, advocates of open source software and better interoperability between applications were disappointed by the lack of support for OpenDocument files in the current version of iWork. [2].
[edit] Registration
iWork is Apple's first consumer product to require a serial number in order to run. [citation needed] AppleCare states that there is no master key, and that they cannot help users with serial number problems beyond the typical data entry tips, such as avoiding substitution errors. [citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Apple press release Apple Unveils iWork '05
- ^ Apple press release Apple Announces iWork '06
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Apple's iWork |
| Keynote | Pages |
| Apple Computer software | |
|---|---|
| OS: | Mac OS X | Mac OS 9 |
| Consumer: | .Mac | iLife | iTunes | iWork | AppleWorks | Mac OS X |
| Prosumer: | Final Cut Express | Logic Express |
| Pro: | Aperture | Final Cut Studio | Logic Pro | Shake |
| Bundled: | Front Row | iChat | Photo Booth | QuickTime | Safari | TextEdit |
| Server: | Apple Remote Desktop | Mac OS X Server | WebObjects | Xsan |
| Discontinued: | HyperCard | MacDraw | Mac OS | MacPaint | MacProject | MacTerminal | MacWrite |
