iPhoto gets update in iLife 09 release

Macworld 2009: Faces, places and more

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6 January 2009 17:24 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Apple has announced a new version of its multimedia software package iLife at the Macworld 2009 event in San Francisco.

iPhoto will get the ability to let you track faces and places rather than just storing them by date.

Faces will allow you to organise your pictures via faces of people that you know. Using face detection technology the software will automatically work out who people are once you've told the software and then allow you to find that person in your photos.

For places, the software will use geotag information taken from devices such as the iPhone, Nokia N96 or Nikon P6000 digital camera and display them on a Google-powered map within the application.

Users importing photos with geotag metadata will automatically have images placed on a map within the software. For images without a geotag information users will be able to assign information to current photos based on users typing in where the photo was taken.

Other features include Flickr and Facebook support that will automatically sync with your contacts and share details, such as the geotag and face support, with the social networking sites.

Users will also be able to make slideshows with new templates and then transfer them to their iPhone or iPod touch in the same format.

iMovie has also been updated with a new feature that Schiller said would blow users away.

These include a precision editor feature, advanced drag and drop functionality including for audio, dynamics themes, animated maps and automatic stabilisation.

Elsewhere Apple is hoping users will sign up to GarageBand 09 and its ability to teach you how to play guitar and piano.

Giving away nine free lessons to start with, Apple has signed big names like Norah Jones and Sting to help you learn to play musical instruments.

The lessons will cost $4.99 each. No UK pricing has been set as yet.

The software will come free with all new Macs and ship at the end of January.

iLife ’09 will be available this month for £69 through the Apple Store.

The iLife Up-To-Date upgrade package is available to all customers who purchased a qualifying new Mac system from Apple or an Apple Authorised Reseller on or after January 6, 2009 for a shipping and handling fee of £7.95.