Making good on its promise to deliver Mac OS X-compatible versions of three cornerstone applications, Apple today released new versions of iTunes, iMovie and AppleWorks. All of them are available for download from a Downloads page on Apple’s Web site.
iTunes 1.1 for Mac OS X is similar to its Mac OS 9 counterpart; it’s Apple’s hugely popular digital music software. Unlike the Mac OS 9 version of iTunes, iTunes for Mac OS X lacks the ability to burn CDs. It also lacks the OS 9 version’s ability to display full-screen visual effects. Apple indicates that a patch is coming to enable iTunes to burn CDs.
iMovie 2 for Mac OS X doesn’t sport any special limitations; it’s simply an OS X-compatible version of Apple’s consumer-grade digital video editing software. With iMovie 2, users of FireWire-equipped Macs can download digital video from their DV camcorder or other FireWire-equipped video device; edit the video, add titling, transitions, audio and special effects; and export the finished product to tape or to QuickTime.
Apple notes that neither iTunes nor iMovie for Mac OS X will work with the public beta version of Mac OS X. These versions are for the final release version of Mac OS X only.
AppleWorks 6.1 Preview for Mac OS is actually a pre-release version; it will expire on Sep. 1. The new version of Apple’s integrated word processing, spreadsheet, database, and page layout application is distributed as an update to AppleWorks 6.0.4. AppleWorks 6.0.4 is the latest full release version developed for use with Mac OS 9 and lower.