First Look: iLife ‘06 Delivers Big Punch For $79.

If there’s a word to describe Apple’s updated iLife ‘06 suite of applications it’s “integration.” All five of the apps in iLife offer unprecedented integration with each other.

iLife’s ability to share files makes the suite greater than the sum of its parts. What’s missing in iLife? Surprise!! It’s… iTunes.

iWeb shows up as the new kid on the block, while iTunes disappears from view. Apple still offers iTunes as a free download for Mac and Windows, but no longer includes iTunes as part of the iLife suite promotional materials (click here for details).

However, a check of the iLife ‘06 installation DVD shows a number of installer packages, including QuickTime 7.0.4, and iTunes for iLife (no version number), so Apple isn’t leaving iTunes out, it’s just keeping it separate while including it.

That makes sense, right?

Since I’m such an early adopter, I ordered iLife right away from the Apple Store online (knowing that the local stores probably wouldn’t be stocked, or, if they were, they’d be swamped with buyers). The iLife package came via FedEx about Noon Thursday.

Over the next few days I’ll provide a more detailed review of each of the iLife applications (with the exception of iTunes).

Now we know why iTunes went from version 4.9 to 5.0.x to 6.0 in a span of weeks back in mid 2005. iLife ‘06 corresponds with 2006, as do all the applications except GarageBand, updated to version 3.0.

Packaging is different for this iLife version. Smaller. Inside what looks like a package of CDs is the DVD, some promotional and licensing material, and a promotion disk for iWork ‘06.

I also ordered iWork ‘06 and the latest Garageband Jam Pack (World Music). A report on iWork will come by Monday.

In a word, iLife ‘06 is sweet. Very sweet. Gone are any vestiges of the brushed aluminum look, now out of favor at Apple. It’s replaced by the new platinum plastic look found in Mail.

Get used to it. Looks like platinum plastic will be around awhile. What’s next? Safari? iCal? AddressBook? iSync? I have no doubt they’ll be upgraded to plastic by Leopard.

iLife goes beyond any suite of applications you’ll find on Windows, and they all work together to produce stunning results. The following will be a brief look at each application.

Detailed reviews will follow over the next few days as Ron and I immerse ourselves in the delicious taste of applications meant for each other (Ron and I both have a background in multimedia so look forward to Garageband, iPhoto, and iDVD updates).

iPhoto 6.0
When launched, iPhoto will ask to upgrade your photo library, then redo your thumbnail cache. If you have a lot of photos and an older Mac, it may take awhile. Ron and I both have over 8,000 photos, so, well, it took awhile.

The first thing to notice in iPhoto are the new tools at the bottom. Photocasting is now a component of the .Mac service.

Additional tools let you create calendars from your photos, add one-click effects, send photos and albums to iWeb (new web page application in iLife).

My favorite is full screen editing. More tools, more effects, and the now familiar translucent black floating tool boxes are everywhere you want to be.

Speed is notable. My aging PowerBook wasn’t too quick scrolling through 8,000 photos. Now it is. Image tagging keywords is easier. Apple highlights Plug and Play but I couldn’t see anything different from previous versions.

Oh, there are more custom printing options than before.

iMovie HD 6.0
Apple continues to improve iMovie and the latest version is loaded with extras, making the $79 price tag of iLife seem paltry (don’t forget; it’s becoming an annual tax).

Top on my list of favorite items is the iMovie Theme sets.

These are similar to the themes found in iDVD, complete with drop zones for photos or movies. They add a touch of class to simple movie productions.

Titling and effects are now real-time (if your Mac has enough horsepower), and you can open multiple movie projects (as much as you have RAM to handle).

The Magic iMovie component makes it easy to throw together a movie using parts (similar feature exists in iDVD 6.0).

The user interface is different in iMovie. Adding new features means changing the GUI a bit; at first disconcerting as what I wanted wasn’t where I expected it to be.

Ron and I both agree that the best new feature is being able to move the soundtrack (previously just the tracks from the original video, and another music track) into Garageband for sweetening, adding more tracks, doing a voice over, then bringing it back into the movie project.

iDVD, Garageband, and iWeb next. Click Here for Page 2…