Apple Adds iMovie And GarageBand To iOS 4.3, iPad 2

Along with announcing the iPad 2 today, Apple introduced that two of its iLife programs, iMovie and GarageBand, are heading to iOS 4.3 on March 11th. Both will cost just $4.99 each, which is definitely a bargain considering that each app has a lot of the same functionality– and then some– of its full-blown Mac counterparts.

First up is iMovie for iPad, which features a precision editor, multitrack audio recording, several new themes, transitions including easy-t0-use cross-dissolve, Ken Burns effect,over 50  built-in sound effects, music loops, the ability to stream your movies to Apple TV via AirPlay, and HD video sharing. Video to be edited can come from your video bin or directly from recordings taken from your iPad 2. While we’ve seen iMovie for the iPhone, the larger screen of the iPad is undoubtedly a big benefit here. Additionally, the idea of being able to touch and grab exactly what clips you want to use and trim seems like it could be even faster than editing with the traditional Mac version of iMovie.

Apple is also bringing GarageBand to the iPad, which just might make this powerful, but not often used, program very popular. The big news here is the touch sensitive instruments including a grand piano, organ, guitars, drums, and bass. The piano will not only respond to your touch, but it will respond to how hard and fast you touch it. In other words, you can compose a soft lullaby or bang out a ragtime diddy and the piano will response like a traditional piano. There’s even a button to activate a sustain pedal.

The program also includes guitar amps and effects, over 250 loops, 8 track recording and mixing, compatibility with the Mac version of GarageBand, and the ability to e-mail AAC files of your song or add it to your iTunes library. Like the Mac version, there are several different types of an instrument available. For instance, there’s an organ, but there’s also a classic rock organ. Up to 8 of these virtual instruments can then be recorded, edited, and mixed within GarageBand. The iPad interface looks very similar to the Mac version, both of which resemble a wood-paneled iMovie editor.

While mobile GarageBand is sure to be a hit with bands looking to quickly  record a song, Apple is also aiming GarageBand at aspiring musicians who, quite literally, don’t know a single chord with the addition of Smart Instruments. For example, with a guitar, the app picks a chord, then chooses complimentary chords. Tap the first chord, then choose a second one and so on. The Smart Instrument will play the chords for you. Three chords and the truth have never been easier.

We can’t wait to get our hands on both iMovie and GarageBand and we really like how Apple is working on turning the iPad from a content consumption device into a content creation device. Hopefully both apps will work as well as their Mac counterparts– stay tuned.