Continuing its series on Macworld Expo, Think Secret now reports that Apple will introduce a productivity suite named iWork '05, the application code-named Sugar in the previous report.
The suite will include Keynote 2 as well as a word processor named Pages, once known as Document.
According to the report, iWork '05 will use a software serial number, require a 500MHz system or better, run on Mac OS X 10.3.6 or later, and will likely come with most new Mac models, including the rumored Headless iMac.
Pricing is unknown, although Think Secret speculates that iWork '05 is likely to cost more than iLife ($49) since Keynote alone is currently $99 and AppleWorks is currently $79. The Appleworks 6 suite, which is now five years old, has components for word processing, drawing/pagelayout, painting, spreadsheet, database, and slideshow/presentations.
Chatter surrounding iWork--then called iWorks, as it was speculated to be the successor to AppleWorks--first emerged almost two years ago. Since then, iWork has become a perennial rumor favorite, as AppleWorks 6 continues to show its age and lack of refinement associated with Apple's applications today. Steve Jobs introduced AppleWorks 6 during Macworld Expo San Francisco in 2000, making the application a dinosaur in software years by today's standards.
[Update] MacRumors member spud pointed out that IGG Software, which will exhibit its software products at Macworld Expo, has renamed its time-billing and invoicing application from iWork to iBiz. Member Wes asked the company for an explanation and shared the reply: "We feel that the new name better reflects the direction in which we see our product going, towards business management and not just time-billing." But speculation remains that the name change reflects Apple's intention to use the iWork name.
[Update] Filings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that Apple has applied for registration of iWork:
Serial Number: 78462838
Mark (words only): IWORK
Current Status: Newly filed application, not yet assigned to an examining attorney.
Filing Date: 2004-08-05
Last Applicant(s)/Owner(s) of Record: Apple Computer, Inc.
History: 2004-08-13 - New Application Entered In Tram
and that IGG Software applied previously, with a change in status made last August, apparently based on a request made in February:
Serial Number: 78227786
Mark (words only): IWORK
Current Status: Further action on the application has been suspended.
Filing Date: 2003-03-19
Last Applicant(s)/Owner(s) of Record: IGG Software, LLC
History: 2004-02-20 - Communication received from applicant
2004-03-04 - LETTER OF SUSPENSION E-MAILED
2004-08-20 - Report Completed Suspension Check Case Still Suspended
[Update] MacShrine reports that the word processing application in iWork '05 will be named Notes, that Keynote 2 will have a Media tab with new effects and transitions, and that iWork will include another application related to Keynote.
