More Macworld Expo Keynote Coverage: iChat and iLife

It's 9:39am, and we're getting a demo of Tiger's version of iChat, Apple's AIM-compatible chat client. It now has multi-user video chatting--Steve is talking with a colleague in Paris and Apple's marketing honcho, Phil Schiller. They're all showing up in 3D windows, and the video quality is extremely good. Classic knock-your-socks-off Steve Jobs demo stuff.

9:43: Apple will relase an HD version of Final Cut Express, its midrange video editing tool, in February.

Next up: iLife '05, the new version of Apple's creatvity suite. iPhoto will have "much better organizing and searching," plus full-fledged photo editing. And Steve assures us it'll be even easier to use.

Interesting--iPhoto now supports the little MPEG4 videos that many digital cameras can produce. It also supports RAW format for serious photographers. The editing features look pretty good--iPhoto seems to be going head-to-head with midrange photo editors such as Adobe's Photoshop Elements. The slideshow features are beefier now, too, as our those for building photo albums. And--iPhoto users will know this is important news--the program's performance appears to be better than that of the current version.

As ususual with a Jobs keynote, there's much "oohing" and "ahhhing" from the audience.

iPhoto looks nifty, but I'll bet the audience is wondering when/if Steve will start talking about flash-based iPods, $500 Macs, and other rumored wonders.

"What's new in iMovie?" It's going to be faster, with more transitions and effects. It'll also support MPEG4 and have an auto-editing feature called Magic iMovie.

But Steve says the biggest news is that iMovie will support HD video. He says that's "unbelievable." I'd say it's, well, believable--but it's still pretty neat that we live in an era when an entry-level movie editor is doing high-def. Kudos to Apple for doing it early, a little before many consumers will actually be shooting HD--they will be, soon enough.

Steve's saying that Apple is anxiously awaiting high-def DVD--me too.

Now he's talking up a non-Apple product, the new Sony HD camcorder (we liked it too--in fact, we gave it one of our Digital World Innovations awards). And he's introducing Kunitake Ando, the president of Sony, who's coming onstage to talk about HD video. He says, "It's very exciting to see the real Steve Jobs making an onstage presentation." There's a lovefest going on--Apple loves Sony, Sony loves Apple, and they both love HD.