Taking a step back, iWork is preparing to move forward

A recent Apple update office software for OS X is not pleased everyone: some makovody actively using specific functions, from which kupertintsy suddenly decided to get rid of. And on the Internet immediately started talking about regression once a good product - just like at the time criticized iMovie '08 and Final Cut Pro X. However, not everyone thinks that «iWork '13» - beginning of the end of this wonderful package. Matthew Pantsarino with "TekKrancha" expressed on this subject a few unexpected point of view.

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In recent days, a lot of what has been said about Apple changing course with regard to its iWork package, especially applications for OS X. At the presentation of October 22 the company not only announced that iWork will be free for buyers of new technology, but also showed the redesign of programs in which many saw a general regression of the product.

In particular, many who actively use Pages, Numbers and Sports Keynote and, noted the absence of the so-called pro-functions. Common complaints are reduced to that desktop software developers approach their less-functional versions of iOS.

And the thing is that this criticism is justified: and functional content, and the feeling of the product, Apple really did "step back" - very large in some cases. But when the era of free iWork only just begun, too early to worry about the future of these applications.

I understand that the similarity of "desktop" versions of iWork programs with their iOS counterparts-is not accidental. In fact, the new iWork for OS X rewritten from scratch based on the source code, iOS software (now 64-bit). And this decision was dictated by the desire to make the general look and feel interactive application on both platforms, and it was taken for inspiration iOS.

Although iWork is run by Eddy Cue and Craig Federighi did not, it would be foolish to assume that such decisions can not be reconciled with the rest of Apple's top managers. There is easy to see parallels with the concept of "Back to the Mac" in which to "apple" computers, a number of popular iPhone and iPad features - more to make Macs more familiar to those who have begun the "Apple way" with Apple gadgets, but not with traditional desktop computers, or laptops.

Many people think that iWork on all fronts "grows dull," but I feel that it's more like a reboot. Remember Apple work on the re-interpretation of Final Cut Pro X? The application has been presented in a radically simplified form that immediately caused uproar. Apple then began to regularly add the required features that professional users are categorically not enough. A series of hasty decisions, such as withdrawal from the shelves of the previous version of FCP, soon caused a wave of transitions for other products, but FCPX latest updates returned product worthy of professional status tool.

If you attempt to move on Apple Macs feel of iOS can bring to any conclusions, it seems, the company liked start any project in the form of extremely pressed down, and then increase it by adding features thrown back into the general boiler.

Yes, you might say - and rightly so - that it is wrong to deprive some functions of those who work with iWork for days. Yet we can say that Apple is better to leave not only already had a function, but would add something new. In this view, there is nothing strange or unusual. But the fact that Apple does not work - especially when it comes to radical revision of product development and design.

In the latest iWork has a number of serious mistakes and unfortunate missteps, but that's the price of a dramatic break ties with the past. In such things Apple in the past has repeatedly demonstrated strength of character. Unfortunately, it always gives the users a lot of trouble, but this is the situation.

But note that this is not a free software with fewer features, but about changing product focus. Free iWork does not apply to the fact that the latest versions of the application (and also future) should be less functional. This is not a "light version" of the program, and Apple would not have invested so much effort in improving the quality and iWork for iCloud features, if the plan was only in the creation of free software.

As is the case with its other products, Apple is trying to please the most of the majority of users. And if it leads to short-term inconveniences and so-called "regression" - so be it. At the end of the road, as I would like, of iWork not only come to the point where he was - but move on. Already in the next few months.

— Matthew Pantsarino, TechCrunch.