The Numbers is up for iWork 08

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 08 August 2007 07:45

Business IT - Technology

As much as users of Apple's iWork suite love Keynote (and, to a lesser extent Pages), they have bemoaned the absense of a spreadsheet. That gap has been filled with the arrival of iWork 08.

The Numbers 08 spreadsheet organises data as a series of tables with automatic cell naming for ease of formula maintenance. 150 functions are provided. 2D and 3D charts are supported, and graphics, photos and text labels may be added. Apple officials described Numbers as "a new approach that makes it easy to organise information, create calculations, analyse results and make spreadsheets look as great as they work."
 
Pages 08 separates its word processing and page layout modes to speed the creation of documents while maintaining fine control over layout. Other new features include a contextual format bar and change tracking (useful when collaborating on a document). The program includs 140 templates for letters, reports, newsletters and brochures.

Keynote 08's new Smart Build feature lets users create animations by dropping graphics onto a slide, while detailed control is available over movement, rotation, scaling and opacity. The Instant Alpha feature means non-specialists can easily remove unwanted backgrounds from photos and graphics, while the package also includes new text effects, transitions and themes. Presentations can be shared via podcasting or YouTube.

"Pages and Keynote make it incredibly easy, and even fun, for anyone to create stylish documents and presentations very quickly," Apple CEO Steve Jobs. "Numbers rounds out the iWork suite, which is far more intuitive and easy to use than anything else out there."
 
iWork 08 costs $US79/$A99.