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Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Live from Apple’s Press/Analyst Conference

By Bob Keefe | Tuesday, August 7, 2007, 12:15 PM

11.30 a.m. PDT

Here’s a rarity: After his presentation, Jobs and other Apple executives took questions from the invited media and analysts in attendance.

Asked about other Apple products, Jobs called iPhone “a pretty strong success” and said the company also was rolling out a new and improved Mac Mini computer. He dodged a few questions about how well — or not — iTV is doing, and expounded a bit on the evolution of of PCs, saying they’ve clearly moved from business production tools to Internet access devices to digital lifestyle hubs.

Before leaving, he also said that despite the growth in portable computers, iPhones and other devices, he thinks desktops are here to stay for a long time.

More from the conference:

11.15 a.m. PDT

Apple also is rolling out a new version of its iWork software suite that includes enhancements to Keynote, its version of Microsoft’s PowerPoint, and Pages, its presentation software for things like newsletters or marketing brochures.

Jobs also showed off Numbers, Apple’s new spreadsheet program, which promises to be easier and quicker to use than Microsoft’s ubiquitous Excel program. “It’s the spreadsheet for the rest of us,” Jobs says. Sounds familiar. IWork goes for $79.

11 a.m. PDT

For anyone who thought it strange for a computer company to get into the phone business, Jobs is making a point to note all the ways Apple’s newest iLife update lets users share photos, movies and more between not just computers, but also Apple’s new iPhone and its iTV device.

It’s clear even at this event to introduce new computers that Apple has become much, much more than a computer company. The new iLife suite will retail for $79 or is included with every new iMac.

10.45 a.m. PDT

Another enahancement to iLife is a brand-new iMovie application that Jobs says will let users make a short movie from home videos in a half-hour or less. One neat function: With a single click, users can share movies with others on Apple’s proprietary .Mac network — or if they’d rather, post it right to YouTube.

Jobs says a senior Apple engineer developed the new and improved iMovie program after shooting video during a trip to the Cayman Islands, and returning home to discover Apple’s previous iMovie application wasn’t as easy and quick to use as billed.

10.30 a.m. PDT

Jobs unveiled new enhancements to Apple’s iLife software suite. Included in the updates is a new Events setting in iPhoto to helps organize digital photos. One cool feature: Users can now just mouse over an Event category (think “Wedding” or “Barton Creek Adventure”) and instantly skim through every photo loaded on that day for that particular event. He also announced an upgrade to Apple’s .Mac network that includes a new Web Gallery where users can share photos with relatives or friends using their computers or their iPhones.

10.09 a.m. PDT

Steve Jobs took the stage at Apple’s “Town Hall” auditorium and described the company’s new iMacs. Apple is replacing its white plastic-encased desktops with all-aluminum designs. Beginning today, $1,799 will get you a 24-inch iMac; a smaller 20-inch model starts at $1,199 and an upgraded 20-inch model will go for $1,499. The machines come with Intel Core Duo processors and the biggest harddrive available is 1 terabyte. Jobs is now moving on to software, with an emphaisis on “digital life” programs.

9:15 a.m. PDT

There’s already a line of journalists and several satellite trucks outside of Apple Inc.’s headquarters here in Cupertino, Calif., more than a half-hour before the company is expected to unveil its newest lineup of Macintosh computers and some enhancements to its iLife software.

Yes, I’m part of the media madness — but could you imagine such attention for a new line of PCs from Dell or HP? Maybe Michael Dell and Mark Hurd should start wearing jeans and black T-shirts, like Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs.

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