Apple iWork ‘09 is the latest productivity suite for Mac users and features some significant updates to its core functions.

Those core applications are Pages (word processing, similar to Word), Keynote (a presentation program, similar to PowerPoint) and Numbers (a spreadsheet program, similar to Excel).

Pages: New features include a full-screen view, dynamic outlines and support for EndNote X2. Information added to Pages from Numbers is updated automatically when changes are made to the original Numbers document.

Keynote: New templates for common spreadsheets have been added, formulas have been simplified and the function browser has been upgradaed.

Keynote: New animation and transition effects have been added. Magic Move allows greated automation of graphics and text. 3D effects have also been improved.

Another new feature tied to the release is iWork.com, an online sharing site that lets you share your documents online so other users can comment on them (but not edit). It also lets you download in either iWork, Office or PDF format. iWork.com is free at this stage.

iWork ‘09 files are compatible for Office users and it can be installed on most newer Macs. Pricing starts from $129 for the standard iWork pack and $169 for the family pack.

Click here to find offers on iWork from retailers near you, or try it for free for 30 days here.

By Caroline Warnes