It might take a while

It might take a while for you to decide whether or not you like the new iMac, but two of Apple's other announcements from yesterday are dead-cert Good Things. iPhoto is a new, easy to use photo editing system: the missing link in the i-software lineup. Like the other i packages, it's free - part of the system on new Macs, or available to download. But don't let the lack of a price tag fool you - it's a lovely piece of software, full of nice touches. Simply plugging in your digital camera to your Mac prompts iPhoto to do a bunch of tedious things automatically: like downloading, cataloguing and thumbnailing. One click publishes your photos to the web (only to Apple's web service, granted) any the potentially complex business of persuading an inkjet printer to do justice to your snaps is also simplified. Using your iTunes music collection, you can even add a soundtrack to a slideshow of images. Meanwhile, the iBook range gains a new top-end machine with a 14-inch display. The case is, obviously, going to be larger, but the bigger footprint is a price worth paying.