Apple Updates iMovie and GarageBand for iOS With New Features

Apple today updated iOS video editing app iMovie to version 2.3, introducing a number of new features to the app. There's support for viewing, editing, and sharing High Dynamic Range videos from the Photos library. There's also an option to import and share 4K videos at 60 frames per second.

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Titles can be customized using built-in fonts with easy tools for adjusting title style and capitalization, plus there are three new animated title options including dual-color chromatic.

A slider allows photo and video filter intensity to be adjusted as needed, and solid, gradient, and patterned backgrounds can be added to a movie.

- Customize any title by selecting from dozens of built-in fonts
- Adjust the color of any title by selecting from a grid or spectrum of presets, adjusting numerical sliders, or using the eyedropper in the viewer
- Quickly change a title's default style, capitalization and duration
- Pinch and drag to adjust the size and location of any title
- Choose from three new animated titles: Slide, Split and dual-color Chromatic
- Add solid, gradient, and patterned backgrounds to your movie
- Use the color picker to customize the colors of any background
- Drag the slider to change the intensity of any filter applied to your photos and videos
- Import and share 4K videos at 60 frames per second*
- View, edit, and share High Dynamic Range (HDR) videos from your Photos library**
- Tap the new options button at the top of the Share sheet to share a project or video file and choose properties including resolution, frame rate, and HDR**

* 4K at 60 frames per second requires iPod touch (7th generation), iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 7 or later, iPad (6th generation) or later, iPad mini (5th generation), iPad Air 3 or later, 10.5-inch iPad Pro or later

** Editing and sharing HDR video requires iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X or later, iPad mini (5th generation), iPad (7th generation) or later, iPad Air 3 or later, 10.5-inch iPad Pro or later

Apple has also updated GarageBand for iOS with an option to start new audio recordings from the Home Screen by touching and holding the GarageBand app icon, and maximum song length at the default tempo has been increased from 23 to 72 minutes. Apple also added a new "Keyboard Collection" sound pack that features more than 150 keyboard loops.

- New audio recordings can be quickly started from the Home screen by touching and holding the GarageBand app icon
- Maximum song length at default tempo has been increased from 23 to 72 minutes
- The ruler now offers an option to switch from musical bars and beats to minutes and seconds
- New downloadable "Keyboard Collection" sound pack includes over 150 keyboard loops and 50 instrument patches like pianos, organs, and electric pianos

GarageBand and iMovie are both apps that Apple provides to all of its customers for free.

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Top Rated Comments

4God Avatar
69 months ago
Great.....but now how 'bout Final Cut Pro for iPadOS????
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mcdawg Avatar
69 months ago

iMovie is such a great app.

I remember when "clips" came out and some people started to predict the death of iMovie, and I stuck to iMovie and couldn't ever really figure out how to even use clips... Glad that Apple is continuing to innovate in iMove.
Me too, although as a straight-up amateur who ends of making a lot of movies, I got finally tired of iMovie's arbitrary restrictions and thought I'd give Final Cut Pro a try... and dang, I totally love it. The amount of creative and technical control and freedom it allows over and beyond iMovie is near-infinite.

I'm glad Apple still supports and updates iMovie, as they absolutely should fully embrace the entire spectrum of their broad customer base... but dang, after using FCPX, I don't think I'll be able to go back to iMovie. But I think my amateur-looking-for-more-features profile will forever be dwarfed by the amateur-seeking-simplicity demographic, and so hope Apple gives iMovie even more and better support.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Klae17 Avatar
69 months ago
can we export vertical videos yet?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
longofest Avatar
69 months ago
iMovie is such a great app.

I remember when "clips" came out and some people started to predict the death of iMovie, and I stuck to iMovie and couldn't ever really figure out how to even use clips... Glad that Apple is continuing to innovate in iMove.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lounge vibes 05 Avatar
69 months ago

still missing loads of stuff that the Mac version can do like adjust brightness, saturation, temperature, stabilising video, reduce background noise, most filters from the Mac app are missing, no audio effects, only a few of the titles, sound effects and transitions are available.

This. The Mac version has 520 sound effects, including 200 jingles. It’s infuriating that the iPad version only has 50 sounds.
Come on Apple, lets fix that. I know all the sound effects and jingles are overused, and are literally heard in every Facebook video and commercial, but still. I love them, and I want them on my iPad. Please?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Macropanda Avatar
69 months ago

Yeah, iMovie on iOS still feels like an app from 2013.
I think 2013 is being generous. The news looking theme looks straight out of 1998.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)