Having been an iWorks fan from the very beginning, I’ve been waiting for a solid update/upgrade since iWorks `09. What a disappointment. Instead of finding new features or ease of use, I find a screen realestate waisting and cumbersome reshuffle of tools.
Worse, some key features in Pages and Keynote are missing or broken. For example, the vertical ruler in Pages has gone missing (used to be settable in Preferences). In Keynote, you can no longer have a graphic element on a Master Page arranged to the front (which I used frequently as a frame in presentations).
Has anyone else “upgraded” to iWorks 5.0 and experienced any great benefits?
Noticed the missing rulers as well. I was hoping for some better page setup tools like the option to add page bleeds. The old Pages was closer to a page layout program and I was hoping the new version would be a strong challenger to ditch InDesign. We could have used the collaboration features as a real advantage instead of the cumbersome and convoluted Indesign/InCopy interface.
The fact that iWork on the Mac has lost functionality isn’t because Apple is blind to power users. It’s because they’re willing to make a short-term sacrifice in functionality so that they can create a foundation that is equal across the Mac, iOS, and web versions. It will take time to bring these new versions of iWork up to parity with what the Mac used to have. In the meantime all platforms have to live with the lowest common denominator.
This is what I think, too. Doesn’t make it any easier to stomach if you relied on features that have gone away though. And let’s see how long “short-term” is.
Gruber later pointed out this is the same thing that happened to iMovie in the 08 version and Final Cut Pro X. Later versions brought back most key features.
I had the same feeling when I upgraded my iPhone to iOS 7.
Perhaps it’s because I’m older, but the light fonts and the low contrast of the new iOS just don’t work for me. It’s one of those form versus function discussions and while both are important, the older me tends to put a little more weight in the latter.
Hopefully, Apple will see its iWorks 5.0 shortcomings and release an update soon. Be sure to add your voice to the Apple Discussions Forums. I’m sure somebody has already started a thread.
Be sure to add your voice to the Apple Discussions Forums. I’m sure somebody has already started a thread.