Apple Software - High Quality Software for Your Mac!

This page is dedicated to Apple Software. By this we mean software that has been written by Apple themselves, that runs on Mac computers, running the Mac OS X operating system.

These days when someone mentions Apple we automatically think of the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. Then would come the Mac computer, and finally maybe Mac OS X.

But I would like to guess that it is only Mac users who have heard of Aperture, Logic Studio, Final Cut Pro X and Remote Desktop.

This page is going to provide an overview of all of the software titles developed by Apple. If you want to find software available from third party developers through their websites, or through the Mac App Store then visit our Mac OS X Software page.

The Incredible iLife'11

Image courtesy of Apple

iLife'11 is an Apple software bundle that is made up of three popular software titles, listed below;

• iPhoto
• iMovie
• GarageBand

Apple really push those software titles. But, what you might not know is that there are two more software packages included in the iLife bundle. They are;

• iWeb
• iDVD

If you have an old Mac it is worth noting that iPhoto, iMovie, and Garageband can be updated
to the latest versions, individually, through the Mac App Store.

The iWorks Office Suite

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iWorks is another bundle of Apple software which includes three independent software titles. Each one is a powerful piece of software designed to make your life easier.

Numbers, Pages and Keynote Image courtesy of Apple

Pages is Apple's own word processing software. In many ways just describing it as a word processor is unfair. In fact you can perform complex page layout tasks, that allow you to achieve a professional publication using a single software tool.

The second software title in the suite is called Numbers, an appropriate name for spreadsheet sotware, which is a description that kind of plays down it's abilities!

This is a very powerful piece of software with some nice features. Including the folowing;

• Plenty of helpful templates to get you going.
• Organise your data with intelligent tables.
• Create impressive charts.
• A new way of writing formulas.
• Compatible with your Microsoft Excel files.

The final software title that comes with iWorks is called Keynote. This software takes your presentations to a whole new level.

Before you ask! Yes, you can import and export Microsoft PowerPoint files. But I suspect it won't be long before you are using Keynote as it was intended. It just works better and more features.

Take the iWorks Apps Out and About With You!

Image courtesy of Apple

Apple recently announced versions of the iWorks applications for use on the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. All are accessible through the App Store on your mobile device.

So what does this mean? Well, you get mobile versions of your favourite iWorks Apps. All are available Pages, Numbers and Keynote.

You can then edit your documents while you are away from home, or away from the office. Imagine completing that urgent report while sitting on the beach soaking up the sun! Nice!

Apple have put a lot of thought into these Apps. Each App has all of the editing features you need.

If you have multiple documents on the go they are all accessible via the Document Manager, which gives you thumbnail views of all available documents.

Once your document is complete you can even distribute while away from the office. You can share files using the following options;

• Email Documents
• Print Documents
• Share via iWorks.com
• Copy to iDisk
• Copy to a WebDav server

Unleash the Photographer in You with Aperture 3

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So far we have taken a look at two Apple software suites that are intended for everyday use, by any Mac user. They are both powerful and at the same easy to use.

But Apple don't stop there! Your Mac computer has some serious power under the hood which can be harnessed to do great things. Next we take a look at some really powerful Apple software.

We took a look at iPhoto above, a very capable piece of software. I'm sure that like me you have all of your holiday snaps neatly organised in Albums. But it is a bit limiting if you are into serious photography.

Aperture 3 for the serious Photographer Image courtesy of Apple

Aperture is intended for the serious photographer. It takes the basic ideas from iPhoto and expands on them, adding in powerful tools and effects to help you create the most amazing record of your photographic life.

One of the best ways to get a feeling for a piece of Apple software is to see it in action. Apple's Aperture website contains some great 'in action' videos. The best, I think, the most passionate, is by a National Geographic photographer called Jim Richardson.

Impressed? I was. The new version of Aperture has over 200 new features, making it a very capable tool. But the most amazing thing about this new version is that the price has dropped and it's also available from the Mac App Store - instantly!

Let's take a few moments to get an overview of the latest features available in Aperture 3 software.

• Organise photos using face detection and recognition tools.
• Tag the location where your photos were taken.
• Organise and Manage your photos on-line.
• Enhance your photos with Professional Imaging Effects
• Create Advanced Slideshows

I'm no photographer but this piece of Apple software has got me really interested. I can see the potential for creating a kind of history of our lives, but digitally. Something nice to look back on as the kids get older.

QuickTime 7 Pro

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We have all, I guess, come across the QuickTime Player that is integrated into OS X Lion. At various times a video on the web might fire up QuickTime for us to view it.

But what you might not know is that there is another version named QuickTime 7 Pro. This is a different piece of software that you can purchase from the Apple Store, but interestingly not from the Mac App Store!

So what do you get with the Pro version? Well, as the name suggests the bundled QuickTime Player is primarily for playing videos, not editting them. Where as the QuickTime Pro version gives you the following features.

• Convert media to various formats for viewing on the iPhone, iPad or Apple TV
• Edit your video (Cut, Paste, Rotate or add Sound)
• Create stunning videos from various sources
• Record your Podcasts
• Create QuickTime video libraries

QuickTime Pro seems to be a very flexible piece of software with the ability to use third-party plug-ins. At the time of writing the following were available through the Apple web site.

• DivX
• Streambox
• Autodesk
• REDCODE RAW
• Flip4Mac
• Glue Tool
• MXF4Mac

Final Cut Pro X: Professional Video Editing Software

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Final Cut Pro X is the professionals tool for video editing. This tool is not for simply playing with an iPhone video, that job is covered by iMovie.

This software is intended for production houses who are creating films and documentaries. This software is designed to handle hours and hours of clips and sound, allowing for complex splicing to take place.

Final Cut Pro X: Professional Video Editing Software Image courtesy of Apple

Final Cut Pro X has been rewritten to take advantage of the latest Mac OS X technologies. It is now a true 64-bit application and uses the Grand Central Despatch to utilise the multi-core processing found in the latest Mac computers.

Logic Studio: Professional Software for the Musician

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I suppose that in many ways it is easier for a non-musician like me to describe Logic Studio is as the Final Cut Pro for the music world. I hope you get my thinking!

Logic Studio is another piece of professional software intended to get the best out of your Mac. It is a collection of tools allowing the musician to record, edit, mix and perform their music.

Logic Studio: Professional Software for the Musicia Image courtesy of Apple

Logic Studio is a package that provides all of the tools to record, perform and publish an album. It consists of the following tools.

• Logic Pro 9
• Plug-ins and sounds
• MainStage 2
• Soundtrack Pro 3
• Production Utilities

Logic Express: For Creating Great Music

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Logic Express is still all about music, but concentrates on music projects, the writing of music rather than music production and performance.

If you are a budding musician and have been using GarageBand, then Logic Express is the next, logical, step up.

Logic Express: For Creating Great Music Image courtesy of Apple

Apple Remote Desktop

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Image courtesy of Apple

Apple Remote Desktop is a piece of specialist Mac software, for those of you who are looking after a large number of Mac computers that are networked together, and need the ability to administer them remotely, from your own Mac.

This is not just useful from a support view point, but can also be used in a classroom environment.

A lecturer can oversee their students remotely, interacting when necessary but at a personal level with each student without disturbing the whole class.

Unlimited Managed Clients

The beauty of the Apple Remote Desktop software is that Apple have licensed it as 'Unlimited Managed Clients'. This means that you can install it on any number of clients, and manage them remotely.

Remote Installation

In a business or training environment where multiple Macs are often spread across different buildings and even sites, it is often necessary to distribute new software.

Remote Installation allows you to distribute software, including custom packages, across all of the Macs that you have responsibility for.

Imagine what it would be like not having to walk from building to building and computer to computer. How much time could you save? Sit in your office, package the software or updates, and hit go! Then sit back and have a coffee!

Remote Assistance

Probably the most popular feature is known as Remote Assistance. This invaluable feature will you to support your clients computers from effectively anywhere, as long as you have access to your Mac computer off course!

You can see their desktop as if you were there with them, sitting in front of their Mac. This is ideal for sorting out system problems or even providing simple one-to-one tuition on some new software.

Apple Remote Desktop has many more features

We can't cover all of features on this page. Apple's Remote Desktop has an incredible of features, which are all designed to make supporting a large number of Mac computers easier. Much easier!

Apple Remote Desktop on the MacBook Image courtesy of Apple