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The Macintosh iLife 04: An Interactive Guide to iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, and GarageBand | 
| Author: Jim Heid
Publisher: Peachpit Press
Category: Book
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $22.79
You Save: $7.20 (24%)
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 845164
Media: Paperback
Edition: Pap/Dvdr
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 8.3 x 0.7
ISBN: 0321246713
Dewey Decimal Number: 006.7
UPC: 785342246711
EAN: 9780321246714
ASIN: 0321246713
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 10 to 14 days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
The Macintosh isn't meant to be a computer, really, but rather an appliance that enables you to have more fun, and enjoy yourself in novel ways (hence iLife, Apple's name for a set of hardware and software technologies primarily for home users). The Macintosh iLife 2004 combines multimedia presentations on a DVD with printed illustrations and text. The combination should enable even the most timid technophobe to assemble a new Macintosh, connect it to the Internet, then hook up a digital camera and an iPod to the system--and use the collection of devices to gather music online, edit video, publish photos on the Web, and create multimedia DVDs. The book, in short, covers everything a young family would want to do with their Mac in order to keep the folks at home up to date on the growth of a grandchild. The printed portion of this publication (the book) uses many screen shots. There are often three or four on a single page, cropped to call attention to the important parts of each. Callouts--arrows and captions--highlight key controls and other features on each screen shot; they serve as how-to instructions. The DVD can run on a computer or DVD-equipped television, and includes both video lectures and full-motion screen captures. The DVD helpfully makes reference to pages in the book. --David Wall Topics covered: How to use the iLife series of applications and hardware devices. Coverage touches on iTunes (music, on the Internet and on an iPod), iPhoto (editing, sorting, and publishing photos from a digital camera), iMovie (editing video), iDVD (burning multimedia DVDs), and GarageBand (creating music).
Product Description
The first and best book about iLife is better than ever! The Macintosh iLife '04 is a revised and expanded version of Jim Heid's bestselling book/DVD on Apple's personal digital media studio. The new book is updated to cover the latest iLife '04 applications, including complete coverage of GarageBand, the iTunes Music Store (including iTunes 4.5), and the latest iPod models. Its innovative, full-color design puts everything you need to know about iLife and digital media at your fingertips -- each two-page spread is a self-contained tutorial or set of tips on a specific subject, all written in the friendly, crystal-clear style that has made Jim Heid one of the most admired writers and instructors in the Mac community. The companion DVD-Video disc is all new, and contains two hours of video instruction on all five iLife applications -- watch over Jim Heid's shoulder as he creates iLife projects ranging from slideshows to music videos to original GarageBand compositions. The DVD also includes software, GarageBand loops, and more. Inspiration guaranteed!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 Written Like Apple Designs Computers February 3, 2005
John Matlock (Winnemucca, NV)
Sub-Title: An Interactive Guide to iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie. iDVD and GarageBand
Apple doesn't include much documention with their iLife products. This book is a quick and easy way to learn these packages. The large number of illustrations and the two hour movie that's included with the book is just about the fastest way possible to get started. It's a like the Apple philosophy.
The basic concept of computers, that they aren't very bright and persist in doing just what you tell them to do rather than what you want them to do is very well brought out. There is good reason that this book is the top-selling book on iLife.
The layout of the book is well done. It is intended that each couple of pages covers one task that you might want to do. You could go through them one at a time, but you don't have to. The index will quickly direct you to getting the task done that is the emergency of the moment.
Excellent Guide for All Ages December 28, 2004
Ralph M. Churchill (Tulsa, OK USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Jim Heid's book is a great guide to all the iLife products. I found it to be very helpful for both the complete novice AND the experienced user. For instance, I use iTunes all the time, but still found all sorts for interesting nuggets of information. My son, on the other hand, was able to use the book (and the accompanying DVD) to learn GarageBand in less than an hour! He was quickly on to creating music of his own.
The layout of the book is highly accessible. Rather than imposing pages of unrelenting text, the book is filled with screenshots, diagrams and all sorts of helpful, easy-to-follow instructions. Even with all the pictures, this book is no light-weight. There is a wealth of information on all the iLife products.
In my house, I've heard the following said about this book, "he explains things really well". High praise indeed!
 Many options October 1, 2004
W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
An aesthetically pleasing book. Heid looks at Apple's latest offering, which is a powerful suite of {iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand}. Each of the programs has been well received by Apple's fans. All have Apple's trademark of careful UI design. Plus, the book has numerous screen captures, that are well integrated into the accompanying text. The publisher also deliberately chose high reflectivity paper for the pages. Makes the diagrams sharper and improves the tactile nature of the pages.
A major emphasis of the book is not on each program, per se, but on what iLife represents. A well chosen diagram shows how you can move data from one program to another. The synergy of iLife. It increases the value of each program and the flexibility of the entire package. What Apple is offering is for you to maximise your creativity, by giving as many options as possible.
Excellent beginners step-by-step guide September 17, 2004
Jack D. Herrington (Silicon Valley, CA)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
This is an excellent book for those who are new to the iLife suite of applications for Macintosh and prefer step-by-step guides. Jim has done a great job distilling these feature rich applications down to their essence and teaching you want you need to know to use them effectively.
He also provides helpful tips that apply to each topic in general and not just the application. For example, in the iPhoto section he has tips on how to compose images properly. In the iMovie section he has tips on what chapter markers to use for wedding videos (and other common scenarios). This may seem like nothing but it's the practical hints that allow you to get the most out of these applications. Not just learning about which buttons to push.
The included DVD is well done and augments the book with a step by step explanation that you can follow visually.
This book is not for intermediate or expert level readers. For those folks I would start by recommending an O'Reilly book that covers your specific topic. For example photographers should try Derrick Story's excellent iPhoto 4 book. You will get more in-depth coverage of all of the features of iPhoto in that book.
O'Reilly has an intermediate level book that covers all of the iLife features that was just recently published called iLife '04. I recommend this book instead for beginners.
Author responds: S. Brown reviewed an older edition August 6, 2004
J. Heid (Mendocino, CA USA)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful
I'm the author and host of this book/instructional DVD, and I *greatly* appreciate the kind words written by S. Brown in the adjacent review.
I just wanted to address one criticism: S. Brown said that the book doesn't cover Apple's GarageBand. I suspect he or she reviewed the older edition (also available here on Amazon), because the new edition most definitely covers GarageBand. With the DVD, you even get to watch over my shoulder as I compose and perform a song. (I'll leave it up to other reviewers to judge my musical abilities. :-)
Enough said. I appreciate all feedback and reviews of the book -- but please be sure you're reviewing the latest edition, which has "04" in its title: "The Macintosh iLife '04."
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