Macworld Coverage: iWork ‘09

Phil Schiller introduced iWork ’09 during today’s Macworld keynote address. The package includes Pages ’09, a word processor with an emphasis on page layout; Numbers ’09, a spreadsheet with an emphasis on making numbers look good; and Keynote ’09, the presentation component of iWork.

Courtesy of Apple

The new version of iWork brings a smattering of new features to each application, as well as a new web-based sharing feature currently in beta.

Pages ‘09

• Full-screen view: Block out distractions by letting Pages take over the entire screen.
• Dynamic outlines: A new outline mode lets you organize your writing, with multiple levels that support images and even video elements. You can drag and drop levels to reorganize an outline.
• New templates: Over 180 Apple-designed templates to help you put a professional touch on your writing. The templates cover everything from professional letters and reports to flyers and cards.

Numbers ‘09

• Easy formulas: Numbers ’09 supports more than 250 functions. When you choose a function, Numbers provides a clear explanation of the function, as well as additional help on how to use it.
• Formula List View: Spreadsheets can quickly become pretty complex, making it difficult to keep track of formulas. Formula List displays all of the formulas you’ve used in a spreadsheet in a handy list view that shows the formula, its results, and where it is located in your spreadsheet.
• Advanced charts: New chart types and options for how charts are displayed. Mixed charts support multiple types in one display. You can use different scales within charts, or generate trend lines and error bars automatically.

Keynote ‘09

• Magic Move: Add sophisticated animation by selecting one or more objects in adjacent slides. Magic Move will generate the animation sequence necessary to move the objects from the starting point to the ending point, as depicted by the two adjacent slides. Magic Move can manipulate objects by changing scale, location, opacity, and rotation.
• 3D charts and animation: Keynote ’09 adds new 3D charts as well as animation and texture effects that can bring your charts to life.
• Keynote Remote: Use your iPhone or iPod touch and WiFi to remotely control your Keynote presentation from anywhere in the room.

iWork.com

• iWork.com, currently in public beta, allows you to share your iWork ’09 documents with anyone who has a web browser. When you choose a document to share, iWork will upload a web-based version of the document, as well as iWork, Microsoft Office, and PDF versions, so site visitors can download the document in their choice of format for viewing offline.

  Site visitors can also tag shared documents viewed online, with notes that tag an entire document or a specific phrase, spreadsheet cell, or presentation. The notes can also appear in a discussion thread associated with the document.