Apple iLife '04: a first look
Published: 12 Jan 2004
The iPod Mini may have stolen the spotlight at Macworld San Francisco 2004, but the unveiling of iLife '04, the second generation of Apple's digital-media suite, made for a worthy sideshow. In addition to updated versions of iTunes, iMovie, iPhoto and iDVD, iLife '04 contains a fifth application called GarageBand, which transforms your Mac into a veritable recording studio.
Although some of us prefer to pick and choose our media applications, it's hard to deny the allure of a well-integrated suite. We haven't tested GarageBand yet, but if it delivers on its promise to transform your Mac into a recording studio, it may make iLife '04 a must-have upgrade -- if your machine has guts (G4s only, please). This memory-intensive program lets you compose and record music using built-in loops, pre-recorded instrumentals and beats that you create on the fly. In addition, iLife '04 offers better title tools in iMovie; improved time-based organisation in iPhoto and major updates to iDVD -- where you'll find redesigned themes, support for 99 chapters and supposedly enhanced performance.
At £39 (inc. VAT), iLife '04 won't break the bank, but is certainly more expensive than the once free iMovie and iPhoto downloads -- although you can still download a standalone version of iTunes at no cost. And if you haven't already, you'll need to register for a .Mac account, which costs £69 (inc. VAT) per year -- cash that some of us don't have lying around. Also, even though this suite has a lot to offer, you may need more robust programs for certain tasks (say, Photoshop for image editing).
So, should you get an iLife? We'll put iLife '04 through its paces shortly, but based on what we saw at Macworld, '04 looks to be a very good year.
Did you find this article useful?
46 out of 93 people found this useful
Full Talkback thread
5 comments
-
this was an incredible preview, thanks zdnet uk!!... brady -
Why does one need to sign up for .mac? I see no su... Anonymous
-
On the iLife page at apple.com, it mentions needi... worm eater
-
I am in London this weekend. Is there a big and ni... Anonymous
-
To german person:
Yes, several. Try MicroAnvika on... asdasd
New Products
System Center Essentials 2010 Beta 1
If you spend more time fighting fires than adding business value through IT, it's time to look at Microsoft's comprehensive management solution for medium-sized businesses.
Chrome OS: a first look
Google has released source code for a preliminary version of its Linux-based operating system. Is it destined to dominate the netbook market? Here are our first impressions.
Office 2010 Beta: a first look
How does the first public beta of Microsoft's next productivity suite differ from the Technical Preview? We have a hands-on evaluation.
Microsoft Security Essentials
Security Essentials is recommended if you want 'set and forget' security. If you need more robust configuration choices, or don't want to contribute to the cloud, then look elsewhere.
Discussions
How to Upgrade From Windows Vista to W...
Did you get the news? Microsoft has unzipped its kitty and kept its latest, supposedly the best, offering on display. This is the brand new version of Microsoft operating system, named... More
Tinsel on the TARDIS
There were shepherds on the hill, and the Doctor popped his head out of the TARDIS and said "you might want to see this" and they were astounded. WHY do we pay for a TV license?... More
Can I have fries with that? (Consumer...
Licence policies of Tech company's have been for a long time both complicated and 'Dick Turpin-esque', people just click 'I agree' without reading the Agreement. I do the same, but... More
