Jobs' focus on software was not unexpected. The company has increasingly focused on Mac OS X 10.2.3 and its six or "i" applications as a way of positioning the Macintosh as a hub for digital devices and content. The four core applications are: iDVD, iPhoto, iMovie and iTunes. Jobs also touted the importance of iCal and iSync, the company's newest digital media applications. Apple released new versions of the two digital applications on Thursday. Jobs explained that iDVD, iMovie, iPhoto and iTunes were developed separately but the company is now working to better integrate them. "We are going to do for digital lifestyle applications what Microsoft Office did for productivity applications," he said. For example, with the updates a user can more easily bring digital music from iTunes into iPhoto for creating a slideshow that can be recorded onto a CD or DVD. While showing off the new iMovie 3, Jobs highlighted a new user interface, the ability to edit audio and the importation of digital images from iPhoto and music from iTunes. Better integration of iMovie 3 with iDVD means customers no longer need to export movies to build menus before burning them to DVDs, he noted. As expected, Apple also unveiled iDVD 3, which comes with 24 new themes for creating Hollywood-stylised DVDs. Jobs said Apple distributed 680,000 copies of the earlier versions of iDVD. Apple typically only offers the software with DVD-burning iMacs and Power Macs. Apple called the integrated suite of "i" applications, iLife. The new suite will be available on 25 January and will be included with all new Macs. Jobs said that iTunes 3, iMovie 3 and iPhoto 3 will be available separately for free. But consumers will have to pay for iDVD 3, which will come bundled with the other three applications for $49.
What will Apple come up with next? For full Mac OS coverage, see ZDNet UK's Mac News Section.
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