The Macintosh iLife 06
by Jim Heid
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jim HeidEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-06-02
ISBN: 0321426541
Number of pages: 408
Publisher: Peachpit Press
Book Reviews of The Macintosh iLife 06
Book Review: Maximize your use of iLife '06
Summary: 5 Stars
The Macintosh iLife '06 by Jim Heid covers all the applications that Apple had the great idea to include for free on every new machine: iPhoto lets you manage your digital photos in a breeze, iDVD lets you create full fledged DVDs with all the bells and whistles, iMovieHD allows you to create/edit movies with whatever you imported from your camera, Garageband is Apple's recording studio for the musical fans out there - and now for '06 it also lets you taste the magic of podcasting, iWeb now lets you make a great web site in minutes without ever having to type in a line of code or HTML, and last but not least we find the ever so famous iTunes that takes care of all your music/podcasts/TV shows and now movies right of the iTunes store.
Needless to say iLife '06 has a lot to offer and even if each application is more than simple to use right away there are a lot of useful shortcuts or "secrets" that can take months to discover yourself. That's where Jim Heid's book comes in and takes you by the hand for each and every application.
The book actually starts off with a broad introduction to iLife (from the history of Personal Computers to the right way to outfit your Mac for digital media) and how it fits in our digital way of life.
Then come the sections devoted to each of the iLife '06 programs. Each section starts off by an introduction and an overview of the particular topic. Then comes the good stuff; instructions on how to start off, then some background info (which can be fairly large and very often fascinating) that you can skip if you want and then tips. But after all since we're talking about digital and considering things evolve so fast (for example as I write this Apple released iTunes version 7 that has many new features compared to the version that is dealt with in this book) Jim Heid refers to his website to get updates and more information as things evolve.
I can't describe all the sections so I'll limit myself to the first two.
The first section is probably the most famous program (it even exists on the Windows platform!) in iLife '06 - iTunes and the iPod.
This section starts off by having a glance at the iTunes window and an explanation of what the different buttons do, the pretty basic stuff. Then comes importing music from your CDs - what many refer to as ripping. Now if this is as simple as inserting your CD and clicking on import the big question on some of our minds is how to choose the right audio format. This is typically the type of chapter that you can skip if the factory settings are just fine for you, but if you're an audiophile of just curious it's a plus to know all about the different formats and encoding settings that iTunes support. The author goes even further and explains how audio compression works in terms that pretty much anyone can understand.
Now once your music is on your computer you learn how to edit the songs' information and "voilà" you now have a digital Library.
But iTunes is far from being only a way to import an play your music. The book then covers the iTunes store (formerly the iTunes Music Store), from signing in and browsing to shopping (be it music or TV shows or just recently, movies) and even tips to make your musical experience even more fulfilling.
Now you could stop reading this section and skip to the next program in iLife, or learn more about playlists and their management, searching tips, EQ settings for improved sound quality, burning CDs, listening to internet radio etc... There's just so much to do with iTunes and this book covers every aspect. It even goes as far as 13 pages about the iPod and its integration with iTunes. Like I said there's so much to do it can be overwhelming!
The next section covers iPhoto and digital photography. Just like in the iTunes section, the iPhoto section starts off with the basics (like importing from your camera, organizing and browsing) and gradually evolves towards more "complicated" tasks such as photo editing and working with RAW mode. Being an intermediate photographer myself (and using iPhoto for the past 2 years) I thought I knew pretty much all there was to know about iPhoto, but this book was filled with little tips that made my iPhoto experience even more enjoyable.
Now for my impressions.
I have a sweet tooth for technology (being an engineering student it's not all that surprising), music (I almost made it as a guitarist in a more than semi-pro rock band) and recently photography, so I've spent countless hours on internet learning about the programs that could help me enrich theses passions. When I started using iLife's programs I was already familiar with many of the concepts behind the apps so I rapidly went to the end part of each section.
This is what I find great about this book, it will please the total newbie that just bought his first computer and accompany him all along the way, and those who have more background will also find tons of tips and interesting knowledge. Plus, since you can also go check on the website you can never run out of things to learn.
I can tell you that reading it made me want to try the apps that I don't commonly use (namely Garageband and iDVD) and for the programs that I do use everyday, they became even more powerful.
If I do have a gripe, and it's not really the author's fault, it's concerning the iWeb section that is too short for me. Even if I've been using iWeb for at least five months now I would've liked this section to dig a little deeper. But after all it's brand new for iLife '06...
In conclusion I'll say that if you wish to make you Mac experience even more enjoyable then it already is I highly recommend this book. You'll learn how to really maximize your use of the apps you draw on every day and will want to try out the other ones just because they're so fun (and because they have great results too).
Julien M. for lesmuug
Summary of The Macintosh iLife 06
The definitive iLife reference, completely updated and revised. The Macintosh iLife ?06 is the ultimate iLife learning experience, a lavishly illustrated handbook packed with easy-to-follow instructions, essential technical background, and tips for iLife users of all levels.? Shop ?til you drop at the iTunes Music Store
? Take your iPod beyond music?watch videos, view photos, store contacts and calendars, and more
? Improve your photography and video-shooting techniques
? Create spectacular slide shows, photo books, calendars, and greeting cards
? Refine your photos to perfection with iPhoto 6
? Share photos via email, Web albums, and cutting-edge photocasts
? Explore the latest video formats with iMovie HD
? Record and arrange your own music with GarageBand
? Create and publish your own Web sites, blogs, and podcasts
? Preserve the past: digitize old records, photos, and movies
Each two-page spread is a self-contained tutorial or set of tips. Everything you need is at your fingertips, and every page is updated for iLife ?06.
The Web site: Get updates, tips, and much more at this book?s companion Web site, www.macilife.com.
Jim Heid is one of the most admired writers and instructors in the Mac community.
A contributing editor of Macworld magazine since 1984, he has been using and teaching each of the programs in the iLife suite since its debut.
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