iWork on iPhone 4

Finally, iWork was released for iPhone 4.                                                                                                       

 

iPhone 4 users have been waiting patiently for a version of the iWork suite since Apple’s latest wonderphone was released. Now, almost a year on, Apple has let smartphone users in on the document-tweaking action. Read on for more on what iWork for iPhone involves.

Reducing the work load
If you’re unfamiliar with Pages, Numbers and Keynote, these programs collectively known as iWork are Apple’s own word processor, spreadsheet and presentation tools respectively. They’re incredibly powerful document-creating programs, in other words, and just the sort of thing business and power users want to be able to access on the go.

Of course, iPad owners have had a version of iWork to call their own from day one. Apple being the perfectionist that it is, though, clearly wanted to ensure that the experience could be made to fit on a 3.5-inch screen. That’s no mean feat when you consider that the iWork suite has been designed primarily with keyboard and monitor in mind.

Understandably, then, you won’t be wanting to compose complicated documents or spreadsheets from scratch on this iPhone version (though you can if you want to). Rather, it’s a handy tool for making last-minute tweaks and edits to pre-existing documents.

According to Apple’s Philip Schiller, Apple has utilised the iPhone 4′s “incredible Retina display” and “revolutionary Multi-Touch interface” to make this transition possible.
The Retina display lets you see your documents (and text in particular) in full detail, while Smart Zoom “automatically zooms in to follow the cursor while you’re editing and zooms back out when you’re done.” Meanwhile you can use the usual touchscreen gestures to pan around; select, copy and paste text; resize text boxes or images and double tap to edit specific elements. This new version of iWorks also lets you use AirPrint to print your documents wirelessly from your iPhone.

Making light work of it
Apple has completely redesigned iWorks for mobile usage, making it easier to navigate then you might expect. According to the Apple press release, “all iWork apps now include improved document management with thumbnail images that let you find your files quickly, organize them and group them into folders using intuitive gestures.”


Sharing documents, too, has been given the customary iOS treatment: “from the Tools button in the toolbar, you can easily share any presentation, document or spreadsheet without leaving the app,” says Apple.
The Keynote app in particular creates the possibility of not only tweaking your presentation – importing pictures from your camera roll, changing text fonts and the like – but also delivering it from your iPhone 4. Simply connect it up to an HDTV or projector and you’re away, eliminating the need to lug your laptop around with you.

Each of the three iWork apps can be bought for £5.99 from the App Store. If you’re an iPad or iPad 2 user who’s already bought the apps for your device, however, you’ll be able to download the equivalent iPhone versions for free.

If you’re the kind of person who leaves it late when delivering documents, or who wants to make those little pockets of dead time in between work or school a bit more productive, the iWorks suite (in whatever combination you choose) should be considered essential.