Apple's 'Back to the Mac' Event: Live Blog
By: 2:03 PM/ET: It looks a lot like the app-buying experience on an iOS device... But Mac-sized.
2:02 PM/ET: Apple has unified a lot of the interface features in Lion in something called Mission Control, to help people navigate through what's running on the computer.
One of Jobs's deputies will do a demo...He's showing the Mac App Store.
2:00 PM/ET: There will be one-click downloads, free and paid apps where developers get 70% of the revenue, automatic installation, automatic updates, and apps licensed for use on all of your personal Macs.
Users will be able to put them in a LaunchPad that's a place to put them.
1:59 PM/ET: Some of the most important things to come to the Mac: Multi-Touch gestures, the App Store, app home screens, full-screen apps, auto-save, and apps auto-resume when launched.
This means Apple's not going to do touch screen Macs that sit vertically.
Jobs on App store: There will be an Mac App Store as part of Lion.
1:55 PM/ET: Jobs: Today, the eighth major version.
The big idea? Back to the Mac.
Apple started with Mac OS X, repurposed it into the iPhone, used it in the iPad as well. Now it's bringing some of the iPhone and iPad ideas "Back to the Mac."
1:54 PM/ET: Jobs notes that there have been 7 major releases of Mac OS X in the last decade —"I don't think anyone can match that track record."
1:53 PM/ET: Apple will release a beta of FaceTime for Mac today
Now, a sneak peek at Mac OS X...
1:50 PM/ET: Jobs has the engineering manager for iLife stand up. "Thanks to Greg and everybody on his team."
Next up, FaceTime.... Jobs says in the last four months Apple has shipped 19 million devices with FaceTime. Today, Apple is adding the Mac to FaceTime.Jobs is going to give a demo....
1:49 PM/ET: The remarkable thing about this is the high sophistication level of this artistic software. Each of these products on its own would be an interesting entry in the consumer software scene.
Again, Jobs is back on stage... And announces that iLife is free with new Macs, $49 for a boxed copy, available today.
1:47 PM/ET: Now Soren's showing the music lessons in GarageBand. Apple recorded a chamber orchestra in Vienna to help with this. The software will check how well you're playing — hitting notes, timing, etc. — versus the sheet music.
1:43 PM/ET: Soren plays a few tracks together that are out of rhythm. With the new Groove Matching feature, he can sync all the other instruments to the drums.
"It's kind of like an automatic spellchecker for bad rhythm."
1:41 PM/ET: Jobs is back.
"Randy, along with his team, invented all of this stuff," Jobs says.
Next, GarageBand. The music recording app now has more guitar amps and effects, features to fix timing, and more. Xander Soren, a product marketing manager, will demo it.
1:37 PM/ET: Ubillos plays a trailer made in iMovie. The room erupts in applause. I'll editorialize a bit here and say it is pretty awesome.
