Apple updated its iWork suite of productivity apps on Tuesday with helpful new features and tweaks that make the apps easier to use. Most notably, the iOS apps now have “Precise editing controls in the Arrange Inspector” to make it easier to fine-tune projects without a Mac. The update to version 11 affects the iPad, iPhone, and Mac versions of Keynote, Numbers, and Pages. The apps jumped to version 10 last March from 8.2.1.
iPad and iPhone iWork updates
According to the release notes, the iOS iWork apps all have the following updates:
- Precise editing controls in the Arrange Inspector for adjusting the look and placement of objects
- Onscreen keypads for entering exact values for text size, spacing, table size, and more
- Ability to add or remove objects or table cells from a selection by tapping or dragging across them
- Setting to always open documents in edit mode
- Ability to add phone number links to table cells, text objects, and shapes
Numbers specifically now has the option to exclude the summary worksheet when exporting your spreadsheet to Microsoft Excel.
Check out Keynote, Numbers, and Pages on the App Store.
Mac iWork updates
Here’s what’s new across all the iWork Mac apps, according to the release notes:
- Updated media browser offers enhanced search options and new content categories such as Recents, Portraits and Live Photos
- Ability to add phone number links to table cells, text objects, and shapes
- AppleScript functionality to change a presentation password or open password-protected presentations
Keynote for Mac specifically has two additional updates:
- View your presenter notes, current slide, and next slide in a separate window while presenting
- Thumbnail images in the build order window make it easier to edit complex sequences
Roman has covered technology since the early 1990s. His career started at MacUser, and he’s worked for MacAddict, Mac|Life, and TechTV.
