The New iWork 2013
There’s both good and bad news with the new versions of Pages, Keynote and Numbers that have been released under the iWork 2013 umbrella. Fortunately, there is quite a bit more good than bad.
The good news is that these iWork apps have become iOS compatible and using iCloud they can be worked on using a web browser from any device. It brings flexibility and portability for people who are collaborating on a document, presentation or spreadsheet and for users who happen to work on various devices.
Another great feature of iWork 2013 is that comes free when you purchase a new computer or iOS device. That means you can get the revamped versions of Pages, Numbers and Keynote at no cost to you. If you aren’t in the market for a new computer you can purchase the new version for just $19.99 per application. While the no or low cost of the iWork 2013 apps is attractive, there are some problems. To make iWork accessible cross platform (Mac, iOS and the web), they had to simplify the apps a bit. Along with that simplification came a few glitches and some missing features.
The good news is that these iWork apps have become iOS compatible and using iCloud they can be worked on using a web browser from any device. It brings flexibility and portability for people who are collaborating on a document, presentation or spreadsheet and for users who happen to work on various devices.
Another great feature of iWork 2013 is that comes free when you purchase a new computer or iOS device. That means you can get the revamped versions of Pages, Numbers and Keynote at no cost to you. If you aren’t in the market for a new computer you can purchase the new version for just $19.99 per application. While the no or low cost of the iWork 2013 apps is attractive, there are some problems. To make iWork accessible cross platform (Mac, iOS and the web), they had to simplify the apps a bit. Along with that simplification came a few glitches and some missing features.
Users looking for the basic features probably won’t notice many issues but power users of iWork will likely find they currently can’t do everything they are used to being able to do. Apple plans to fix all of the problems and return most of the missing features within six months. So, be sure to stay current on your software updates. You can see exactly which features are missing and Apple’s plans for restoring them here.
If you feel like you can’t be productive without a particular feature, you can still use the old iWork ’09 applications, even after you have upgraded to iWork 2013. You won’t see the old version on your dock, but it can easily be accessed in the Finder under Applications>iWork ’09. Anything created with the new iWork apps can also be converted back to a '09 iWork document if necessary.
When you do decide to take the plunge and upgrade to the new versions, you will be able to get them through the software update option under the apple icon on the top left of your screen. They are also available through the Apple App Store. If the icons don’t show up on your dock after uploading, just go into Finder>Applications and drag a copy of them to your dock manually.
Beyond the minor glitches, the new versions have some major improvements. The biggest one, as we mentioned, is the iCloud interface. The ability to work on different devices and collaborate with various users is priceless. The new apps also have a fresh new design with a better user interface and a more intuitive dashboard. Pages, Keynote and Numbers all have improvements, but you’ll see the most obvious ones in Keynote with new transitions and builds. You’ll also see customizable toolbars, interactive charts, new templates and new animations throughout the suite of iWork apps.
The bottom line with the new versions of Pages, Keynote and Numbers is that they are now a suite of simple office apps that anybody can use to share documents across almost any device or platform. It may take a few months to iron out the kinks, but in the meantime, the productivity improvements are well worth the upgrade.
If you have any questions or concerns about the new suite of iWork applications contact us at 888-813-5558 or support@cranstonit.com.
If you feel like you can’t be productive without a particular feature, you can still use the old iWork ’09 applications, even after you have upgraded to iWork 2013. You won’t see the old version on your dock, but it can easily be accessed in the Finder under Applications>iWork ’09. Anything created with the new iWork apps can also be converted back to a '09 iWork document if necessary.
When you do decide to take the plunge and upgrade to the new versions, you will be able to get them through the software update option under the apple icon on the top left of your screen. They are also available through the Apple App Store. If the icons don’t show up on your dock after uploading, just go into Finder>Applications and drag a copy of them to your dock manually.
Beyond the minor glitches, the new versions have some major improvements. The biggest one, as we mentioned, is the iCloud interface. The ability to work on different devices and collaborate with various users is priceless. The new apps also have a fresh new design with a better user interface and a more intuitive dashboard. Pages, Keynote and Numbers all have improvements, but you’ll see the most obvious ones in Keynote with new transitions and builds. You’ll also see customizable toolbars, interactive charts, new templates and new animations throughout the suite of iWork apps.
The bottom line with the new versions of Pages, Keynote and Numbers is that they are now a suite of simple office apps that anybody can use to share documents across almost any device or platform. It may take a few months to iron out the kinks, but in the meantime, the productivity improvements are well worth the upgrade.
If you have any questions or concerns about the new suite of iWork applications contact us at 888-813-5558 or support@cranstonit.com.