Ondrej Holzman Apple has been waiting for many years to show the "new generation" of its iWork office suite. Practically before every keynote in recent years, there have been speculations that the new Pages, Numbers and Keynote, last updated (meaning a new version, not minor updates) in 2009, could finally appear. It finally happened last week, but the user response isn't nearly as positive as one might expect...
Although Apple has indeed introduced a brand new trio of applications from the iWork package, or rather six, because the iOS version has also received changes, but so far it is receiving praise mainly only for the graphic processing, which fits into the concept of iOS 7 and also has a much more modern impression in OS X. On the functional side, on the other hand, all applications – Pages, Numbers and Keynote – are limping on both legs.
Due to the required compatibility between iOS, OS X and even the web interface, Apple decided to unify all applications as much as possible and now offered users practically two identical applications for both iOS and OS X. This has several consequences, both positive and negative.
The same file format for both Mac and iOS plays a big role in why Apple decided to take such a step notes Nigel Warren. The fact that Pages on Mac and iOS now work with the same file format means that it will no longer happen that you insert an image into a text document on the Mac and then not see it on the iPad, and editing the document will be far from full-fledged, if not impossible.
In short, Apple wanted the user not to be limited by anything, whether he works from the comfort of his computer or edits documents on an iPad or even an iPhone. However, due to this, certain compromises had to be made at this time. It would not be a problem if the simple interface from iOS was also transferred to Mac applications, after all, the user does not have to learn new controls, but there is one catch. Together with the interface, the functions also moved from iOS to Mac, so they didn't actually move.
For example, while Pages '09 was a relatively advanced word processor and partially competed with Microsoft's Word, the new Pages is more or less just a simple text editor with no advanced features. The Numbers spreadsheet met the same fate. At the moment, iWork for Mac is practically just a converted version from iOS, which understandably does not offer as much as full-fledged desktop applications.
And this is precisely the reason why a wave of user resentment has risen in the past week. Those who used iWork applications on a daily basis have now most likely lost a large number of functions that they can hardly do without. For such users, functionality is often more important than compatibility, but unfortunately for them, Apple does not follow such a philosophy.
How apt notes Matthew Panzarino, Apple has now had to take a few steps back to take one forward again. While users have the right to protest, since Pages, Numbers and Keynote have indeed lost their stamp of more professional tools, it is too early to panic about their future. Apple has decided to draw a thick line behind the past and rebuild its office applications from scratch.
This is also indicated by the deletion of the price tag, which points to a new era. At the same time, however, this era should not mean that since iWork apps are now free, they will not receive the care they need and advanced features will be forgotten forever. The fate of Final Cut Pro X, as a much more professional application, can also suggest that there is no reason to worry (at least for now). Apple made a radical change two years ago, too, when many advanced functions had to go aside at the expense of a new interface, but even then users rebelled and in Cupertino over time most of the important parts were returned to Final Cut Pro X.
In addition, the situation with iWork is a little different in that, in the case of a professional video editing tool, Apple was radical and removed the old one immediately upon the arrival of a new version. . So those who need can stay with apps from 2009 for now. That's Apple's philosophy at the moment and users can't do anything about it. It seems to be a question of whether it is fair to long-time users of Pages or Numbers, but Apple is apparently not dealing with this anymore and is looking ahead.
I'm currently writing my thesis at Pages. Although I was a little scared at the beginning, because after the update my pictures were scattered, but otherwise it's OK. I like the new Pages because, for example, the Inspector in a separate window did not suit me. The application behaves a little differently, but that's just a matter of habit. Rather, I value full compatibility between OS X and iOS.
I also found Inspector to be a bit outdated, stupid solutions. But good luck with the diploma, I wrote my bachelor's in LaTeX :D
I also wrote my bachelor's thesis in Pages, without any problems ;-) Thanks to that, I already had a ready-made template, so for me the diploma, in terms of formatting, indentation, etc., is completely fine. You might think it's silly to write something like that in Pages, but it's really well written. Word would make me gray and LaTeX doesn't suit me.
Well, LaTeX isn't much about preferences. Few people write in it because they enjoy it, writing it is a necessity, especially if you have a couple of equations in the document.
I used to write such a smaller paper in Pages and it was also completely fine. I even edited it in the old iOS version of iWork. And it worked too.
Well, I think it depends which degree. If it's a more or less simple text, like humanities, then it's probably not a problem
Computer science, but it's purely just text with pictures. Having a lot of formulas a lot, I would definitely look for another solution.
So I'm going to turn gray writing my diploma in Pages. All the formatting that I had to follow breaks down in word and some things cannot even be achieved or I can't do it. For example, cross-references to quotations and other nonsense.
Agreed, for larger works it is better to use TeX, with Pages the writing can still be quite OK, but when the proofreading of removing parts etc. comes, it all starts to fall apart...
It's also a regime. In my opinion, they really had to take a step back in the Mac versions to unify everything - but I definitely don't feel that this is the final feature set. Considering how iWork for iCloud has evolved in 4 months!! from scratch, so I'm not worried.
My guess? Within a year, most functions from the former iWork 09 will be back not only on Mac, but also in iOS and on the Web. And that, in my opinion, is the only way to deliver the first truly universal office platform in the world. Who would have expected it to be Apple, right? Before, I would have expected it to be Microsoft or Google, but neither of them was able to make mobile devices more than just a small PC.
Microsoft customers will never lose a single function, but then it leads to the impossibility of making any major changes for better or better compatibility with mobile devices. Maybe that's why the Microsoft Surface is just a Windows PC - because Microsoft itself is not able to write Office on a mobile device so that the files and functions are compatible.
However, from what I then found, no function disappeared for me (due to lack of use), and if I also read articles by people like Horace Dediu, who, for example, use functions in Numbers that most people don't even know about (he is very demanding user), so he didn't miss anything important before either. So it might just be another overblown sensation after all. Something has definitely gone down, but it will be back in a while (like with Final Cut).
So I would like to complete the title - not only did simplicity temporarily win over functionality, but above all the future and unity won over the past and let go with fear.
Do you also not save the set window size in the new Numbers? Whenever I start Numbers again, I have to expand its entire window manually.
iWork on Mac OS and iOS are still not up to par. Still the iOS version can't do what the Mac OS version does. Pages on iOS is still just a handy notepad, you can't create any serious document there. If I am left with short prepositions at the ends of lines and cannot be connected to the subject with a fixed space, I will never write a diploma there like on Mac OS. I am not unhappy with the new design of iOS applications, the old one had something wrong with it. And if simplifying it for iOS devices at least helped performance, then so be it, but the previous version of the applications runs more smoothly on a year and a half old iPad than the new version on the current iPad, which is really sad. Why should I look at jerky movements on the new iPad, when the functionally almost identical application runs beautifully smoothly on a device with lower performance? No, I will not update this. On the other hand, many errors that jumped out at me with the arrival of iOS 7 have been corrected. Even so, there are still a lot of them. Quite pointlessly, the keyboard often does not allow me to write a comma above the "u" in the standard way where it should be. He forces a ring on me. But I can still deal with it, I just need to keep an eye on it.
I agree with the article, I think the same thing happened with iOS7, when a number of functions were cut in order to accommodate the new interface, the new system, and now for a few years (I hope not too long) the functions that were there in iOS6 will return. I have to name a calendar for all of them
hello guys, how do I set my pages to check Czech spelling?
Edit > Spelling and grammar > Show spelling and grammar > select Czech x . . .
And I just want to ask if anyone has figured out how to use English quotation marks in the text? It writes to me in Czech, even though I speak English.
Settings (OS) > Keyboard > Text > select style for double or single quotes.
I hope that's it. ;)
I miss the option to "categorize by column" in numbers. :-/
This is a big minus. I'm a fan of iWorks, but I don't know how to replace it.
The new iWorks are quite nice, it's a matter of habit... I just haven't figured out how to put a picture on the background.... I just keep it above the text... the only option we found is to make it a transparent watermark, but that's not a solution....
I don't know about anyone, but I work with a lot of different text from a lot of different copywriters, and in the less than four years I've been on a Mac, no one has ever asked me for anything in Pages, Numbers, or Keynote. So I don't know how it is with the penetration of iWork here in the Czech Republic and the nearest Central European area...
A few weeks ago, I received an assignment for a written work at a university in Brno, and I was quite surprised that Word was no longer included in the processing conditions. I thought it was just an omission, but in the end the question was asked if anyone intended to use something other than Word. I hesitated for a moment, I could have written it in Pages, but for several reasons I preferred to leave it alone and write it in Word. First of all, I would be the only one, it would draw attention to me, the prepared recommended template was created for Word and, after all, I have already written quite a lot in Word, so I don't want to solve any possible Pages mysteries under the stress of the approaching submission deadline. But the fact that they don't stick to Word as much in college surprised me. It didn't used to be. Although who knows - maybe they expected to use some common Word alternative and if I pulled Pages on them, maybe I wouldn't go with it.
In universities it may be more relaxed, but in business or government these formats are almost dead. Even with customers who I know work on a Mac - they also prefer to send me a DOC.
I don't mind cutting functions. But that will probably be because I don't need to create any more complex and demanding documents, maybe I would run into some problems as an older person.
And it's also amazing that a table created on the new Numbers on iOS 7 cannot be opened on an iMac with Leon
Thanks Apple a lot. That really helped me Thanks
Can export to legacy format.
Well, is that great? I have an ipad rv2010. It's probably a very old device for Apple. Now, unfortunately, I can't open anything on the iPad because I opened it on an iPhone with sevens and now it asks me to update the iPad to sevens, but the iPad is not supported. So, beware, after three years you have to upgrade all Apple hardware to open a stupid spreadsheet from Apple's paid software. After three years, it makes about CZK 70.000 a day.
1) it's only for devices that have insufficient speed - the 1st generation iPad is not that fast even on iOS 5 let alone iOS 7. The 1st generation iPad is an exception.
2) when opening the given documents on an iPhone with iOS 7, it says that it is needed with iOS 7 or OS X Mavericks. For EVERY file in the old format. The problem here is that what is written is not read.
3. not all iron, Macs are supported for a long time. And I would say that the better the HW in the devices, the longer they last, ie. The iPhone 4 will probably fail, but the 5 will last longer than the 4.
I went back to iWork 09. I claimed the purchase of all 3 new applications and yesterday they wrote to me that they would refund my money. At least that way.
Unfortunately, the SW part of Apple began to focus on uncluttered simplicity instead of user friendliness. It started with MacOS 10.7 and now it has reached the new iWork. This is sad and will not enrich the user's life.
Hi guys :)
I'm dealing with another matter. Wasn't it said that new mac and ios device owners would get these kits free?
I just have a macbook air 2013 and he wants to pay for it.
for new ones - from I guess September or October. I don't know how long you've had it. Or try asking Apple support.
Hi, just a question, does it support output to a format like PDF or something that I can also play on Windows? Thanks a lot.
Yes, it does. This is done by putting in pages: file => export to… (PDF, MS Word, Pages 09, plain text, epub)
Could someone give me some advice on how to do fractions, square root numbers, etc. in Pages? Is there a solution other than Math Type?