Apple introduces iPhoto '11 for iOS, updates iMovie and GarageBand

Apple has introduced iPhoto for the iPad and iPhone, along with major updates to iMovie and GarageBand, completing its suite of iLife apps for iOS. iPhoto includes Multi-Touch features, so you can use simple gestures to sort through hundreds of photos and find your best shots, enhance and retouch your images using fingertip brushes and share stunning photo journals with iCloud. iMovie now gives you the ability to create Hollywood-style trailers, as you record HD video on your iPad and iPhone. GarageBand introduces Jam Session, an innovative and fun feature that allows a group of friends to wirelessly connect their iOS devices to play instruments and record live music together. Each app takes full advantage of the Retina display on the new iPad for sharper and more realistic images and video. Along with this, the new iPad also features a 5 megapixel iSight camera so you can record, edit and watch 1080p HD video all on the device.

iPhoto '11

“With the introduction of iPhoto, we’ve brought the entire suite of iLife apps to iOS and users are going to love it,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Whether brushing an effect onto a photo, shooting a movie trailer or jamming with friends to record a song, iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand let you make amazing creations on iPad and iPhone.”

iPhoto, Apple’s popular photography app, has been completely reimagined for iOS to take full advantage of the Retina display and intuitive Multi-Touch gestures on iPad and iPhone. Simple gestures can be used to select and compare photos side by side and flag your best shots. iPhoto gives you full control over colour, exposure and contrast, and you simply touch the parts of the image you want to change. You can enhance pictures by adding effects with just a tap, or apply adjustments exactly where you want them with fingertip brushes. In addition to posting photos to Facebook, Flickr and Twitter, you can beam photos between your iPhone and iPad; stream photos and slideshows to your Apple TV with AirPlay; and use iCloud to publish photo journals to the web and share your stories with friends and family as well.

Prop your iPad up and edit

iMovie now allows you to turn the HD video on your iPad and iPhone into trailers, even as you’re recording. The new Theater view lets you preview and choose from nine templates in a range of genres including Fairy Tale, Superhero and Romance. Trailers feature customizable graphics with soundtracks written by composers such as Academy Award-winner Hans Zimmer and performed by world class musicians like the London Symphony Orchestra. You can also share your movie trailers to YouTube, Vimeo and Facebook, and use AirPlay to stream them to Apple TV in high definition resolutions up to 1080p.

Multiple Jam sessions!

With the new Jam Session feature in GarageBand, you can invite up to three of your friends to get together and wirelessly connect your iOS devices to play and record as a group. Jam Session automatically synchronizes the tempo, key and chords of your Touch Instruments, so everyone sounds great. After jamming, everyone’s tracks are automatically collected on your iOS device for you to edit and mix. GarageBand also introduces Smart Strings, a new Touch Instrument that allows you to play an entire string orchestra with just one finger, along with the new Note Editor which allows you to fine tune a Touch Instrument recording instead of replaying it from scratch. Integration with iCloud keeps your GarageBand songs up to date across your iOS devices, and you can share your finished songs directly to Facebook, YouTube and SoundCloud.

Apple today also updated its iWork for iOS apps to offer 3D charts, so you can create and view 3D bar, line, area and pie charts. Pages now includes support for landscape orientation on iPhone and iPod touch, and Keynote gains new builds and transitions including Iris, Shimmer, Wipe, Flame, Swing and Fade Through Colour.

iPhoto, iMovie 1.3 and GarageBand 1.2 are available today for $4.99 (Rs. 250) each from the App Store. Keynote 1.6, Pages 1.6 and Numbers 1.6 are available today for $9.99 (Rs. 500) each from the App Store. Updates are available for free to existing customers.

If you’re unsure about which app works on which device, here’s a breakdown. iPhoto is a universal app that runs on iPad 2 or later and iPhone 4 or later. iMovie is a universal app that runs on iPad 2 or later, iPhone 4 or later and iPod touch (4th generation). GarageBand, Pages, Keynote and Numbers are universal apps that run on iPad (all models), iPhone 3GS or later, and iPod touch (3rd generation) or later. Some features require an iCloud account. Some features may not be available on all products.So, what do you guys think about these new updates for iOS? Let us know in the comments section below.