“Apple’s svelte iMac computers always turn heads. But I’m also smitten with the Mac’s rock solid OS X operating system and top-shelf iLife software suite — programs that tame pictures, videos and more,” Edward C. Baig reports for USA Today.
“Enhancements to some iLife programs were relatively modest: In iWeb, you can add Google Maps, Google AdSense targeted ads and other live “widgets” to your website. The iDVD program has new animated themes. And GarageBand added a fun Magic GarageBand feature that lets you ‘audition’ with a virtual band by selecting a musical genre and then clicking on various software instruments, or using real ones,” Baig reports.
“Changes to iPhoto and iMovie were more dramatic. The makeover of iMovie was so substantial — dumbed down, some will say — that in eliminating features found in previous versions, it may frustrate advanced users. But the old version is still at hand,” Baig reports.
“The result is sort of iMovie on a diet, simpler for beginners to create polished videos quickly but lacking editing tools that more-seasoned video editors have come to appreciate, notably video and audio “timeline” tracks. Installing iMovie ’08 as an upgrade leaves the previous version, called iMovie HD, intact on your system. Or if you buy a new Mac with iLife ’08, Apple lets you download iMovie HD for free,” Baig reports.
“Taken as a whole, iLife remains the best collection of multimedia software. And in looks, design and pizazz, the iMac is still the best desktop computer for home users,” Baig reports.
More about Apple’s new iMacs and iLife ’08 in Baig’s full article here.
One thing everybody seems to be forgetting – when they say the new version of iMovie is supposed to be better for beginners and low end users – are the outrageous system requirements: far more than anything else in the iLife suite, and even worse than Final Cut!
Also, MDN’s take – that iMovie shouldn’t be as powerful as it was beacuase it was too cheap – conveniently forgets the fact that iLife sells Macs, not just itself. Indeed, iMovie was probably the single biggest source of switchers of any Mac software.
Maybe Apple should have put both versions of iMovie in iLife ’08. They could have slightly upgraded iMovie HD and then added this new “dumbed down” version too. They could have called the new version iMovie Express for the Amateur users. Maybe that would have appeased all the irate iMovie HD users.
I doubt iMovie was a source of switchers. I don not know anybody who uses it. People here tend to forget that simple truth – most Mac users don’t use iMovie/Garageband/iWeb – because they have no reason to. The only one everybody uses is iPhoto.
iM 08’s handling of hi-def is little short of amazing, and I’d guess that’s why it needs so much oomph.
There was no reason to dumb-down iMovie. It’s just a greedy ploy by Apple to sell more copies of Final Cut. iMovie has now become a totally amateur application for creating lame-assed amateur videos. Apple has sold out it’s iMovie user-base. If MS did something like this everyone here would be laughing at their greed and incompetence.
iMovie 08 seems to demonstrated that, “Apple is the new Microsoft.”Can anyone think of other examples of how Apple is morphing into Microsoft 2.0?
Benjamin Lachkar:
“I doubt iMovie was a source of switchers. I don not know anybody who uses it. People here tend to forget that simple truth – most Mac users don’t use iMovie/Garageband/iWeb – because they have no reason to. The only one everybody uses is iPhoto.”
imho- iMovie was/is one of the biggest draws in the iLife package and the reason I upgrade iLife. When I show people what iMovie can do and so easily, it has caused people to change platforms. My brother was a PC head (very stubborn… “I’m not gonna get a Mac!” now has a 20″ iMac. His sons have a G4 Ibook and a Macbook so they can create movies of the vacation which they’re enjoying at this moment
Oops…! demonstrate
I sense a troll alert all over this iMovie thing.
With all the hysterical ranting and raving about iMovie, it appears that Apple probably should have had both versions together with the ability to switch between the quick version and the more advanced. I would imagine they are trying to simplify things in general to make it easier for people possibly switching to the Mac. But it appears they may have made a miscalculation on this. Maybe they will rethink this situation. Personally, I’ve never used iMovie or owned a video camera. But after seeing the demos of the new version, I am tempted to get into video. Yeah, I know, that’s not a logical reason to do so. I can be gullible when it comes to technology.
@ Benjamin Lachkar
“I doubt iMovie was a source of switchers.”
Go check out the discussion boards for iMovie. You’ll find that there are hundreds of switchers that are pretty pissed off.
Re: iMovie
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
I’ve never used iMovie, but I’m tempted to use the new version because it sounds easy. Apple probably plans to add back many of the missing editing features. This may have just been an innovative new app that Steve was excited to share and it’s not fully baked. Remember OS X 10.0? It was definitely not ready for prime time.
Frankly, I’m a little tired of all the ignorant whining by former iMovie users. You can still use the old version and you DON’T know that the new version won’t improve. Give Apple a chance! Ever heard of waiting until all the evidence comes in before jumping to conclusions? Guess not. You must either be the products of a poor education, or just jerks. Well, which is it?
Luke: “There was no reason to dumb-down iMovie. It’s just a greedy ploy by Apple to sell more copies of Final Cut. iMovie has now become a totally amateur application for creating lame-assed amateur videos. Apple has sold out it’s iMovie user-base. If MS did something like this everyone here would be laughing at their greed and incompetence.”
Umm, is that why they’re allowing people to download iMovie HD FOR FREE – so they can sell more copies of Final Cut? Yeah…that makes about as much sense as a bull with tits.
Hey you won’t hear me bitch. I have my cake and eat it too, iMovie’08 for fast & casual edits, and ’06 when I want/need to be more serious. Win Win!
I does seem a sensible concept to have just included both to begin with, perhaps with a more “mass market/amateur” name for ’08.
I have to disagree with all this iMovie stuff, I switched last year, I am not a power user in any fashion.
I tried using iMovie 06, and it was over my head, I did not really need it, so I gave up on it.
iMovie 08 is a breeze to use, and is fantastic for idiots like me (90% of computer users)
as some here posted, maybe they should have bundled iLife with both versions under 2 names, but I love iMovie 08!!
LorD 1776 – from, “not jerks, ASSHOLES” to “Apple probably should have had both versions together with the ability to switch between the quick version and the more advanced”. Nice switch.
Jake – “This may have just been an innovative new app that Steve was excited to share and it’s not fully baked. Remember OS X 10.0?”? The original OSX was entirely new software, with a brand new name … NOT a revision of a program with major history behind it.
Me – iMovie’08 was a mistake. Maybe iMovie HD was one, too, and the one before that. iMovie’08 is a mistake because it removes several features that users have been relying on for YEARS! Who thought it was a good idea to remove the TimeLine??? Whoever it was, they weren’t a video editor. Or even an AUDIO editor. As for the earlier versions being “mistakes”, they may have led us to expect way too much of this modest software. Would we be half as upset if our expectations were much lower? If the earlier versions were little more than “shareware slice&splice; editors”? I doubt it.
iMovie HD was in the tradition of earlier iMovie efforts – good enough a consumer could produce a real MOVIE if they had the time and energy to put into it. And, I guess, if their technical needs were modest.
So.
Time to switch subjects. This one has been beaten to death.
Dave
I was once a beginner with iMovie having no experience with video editing. I had absolutely no problem learning it quickly. Is iMovie 08 dumbed down for all those stupid enough to have used Windows all of these years who have finally switched? That’s the only thing that makes sense to me.
iMovie was never powerful enough for my modest home user needs, so I have always used Final Cut and StudioPro.
However, I am single and have a good income, so this latest news bothers me. iMovie IS a source of swithers, even if noone uses it (which I don’t agree with) because it has always received soooo much good press, free advertising – you know like “There is nothing like this in the windows world for under $X”.
“swithers”…interesting…
I agree with Benjamin Lachkar’s comments.
Most PC switchers did not use iLife programs, except for iPhoto (and iTunes which is technically not part of iLife anymore). The new iMovie is Apple’s move to make it as simple to use as iPhoto. It’s still not as simple as iPhoto, but I think more novices will start using it. As more people start using video cameras, and still photo cameras that take video, this move makes absolute sense in terms of helping to sell more Macs to switchers.
As users get more advanced, some will migrate to Final Cut Express (or even Pro), which Apple sells separately. It’s a great business decision; get more customers involved in an activity and then sell them the “pro” version of the software. I think some people forget that Apple is a for-profit business with business strategies. It’s not a non-profit organization.
I switched to the Mac platform in 2001. The main software reason drawing me to the Mac was the initial iMovie app. As iPhoto and iDVD were released to complement iTunes and iMovie my decision to migrate to the Mac was even more justified. I bought the first version of Final Cut Express and then FCE v.3.0 and have still never used them! iMovie just kept getting better and good enough for my needs. I’m glad to hear that one will have the option of using both versions of iMovie, HD & ’08.
Just a couple of points, I understand the frustration of current iMovie users, but the reality is that it would have been much easier for Apple to upgrade the existing one than create a new one from the ground up. They did this for a reason, to make it easier and faster to put together a simple movie from your camcorder. As far as I can see this is the outcome.
For existing users who are used to the other features, remember, you haven’t lost anything. You don’t have to upgrade. If you do its not that expensive and you do have the added bonus of very quickly throwing together a video with the new imovie 08. I use Final Cut Pro, but like the look of iMovie 08 for doing simple and more importantly, very fast editing for less important work!
Whatever your gripes, I don’t think Apple are doing this on purpose to see Final Cut Express, but to make it as fast and easy for beginners to make movies! That’s the market their in and they want to remain competitive, or way ahead of the competition!
Panny,
Yes, we still have iMovie HD. The critical question is will Apple continue to support and develop it?
I don’t get all the complaints.
iMovie 08 seems to me far nicer than the 06 version. It’s so much faster than before, requires no rendering, and makes it possible to throw a movie together super quickly.
iMovie 06 was far clumsier. Themes? Useless. Audio mixing? Use GarageBands movie track features – they are far better than the audio controls in iMovie 06 anyway. And, it IS possible to cut edit and scrub clips far easier than the old version.