Wednesday, June 01, 2011, 06:00 pm

Apple updates iOS versions of iMovie, GarageBand

By Daniel Eran Dilger

Apple has updated iMovie for iOS devices, adding support for audio and video output via HDMI, as well as updating GarageBand for iPad with new support for AirPlay and audio file importing.

iMovie 1.2.1 for iOS

Apple states that the new iMovie update now delivers audio playback through the Apple Digital AV Adapter, and can similarly play full screen videos to an HDTV from the Marquee page.

The update also "resolves some cases of missing media in projects," "provides more accurate clip grouping by date in Video browser," "fixes an issue where a project's background music would not fade in or out," and addresses other performance and reliability issues.

iMovie for iOS debuted on iPhone 4 and the fourth generation iPod touch last summer, and was expanded for use on the new iPad 2 at its launch this spring.



GarageBand 1.2.1 for iPad

The new update for GarageBand, which was first launched alongside the iPad 2 this spring (and also works with the original iPad), brings support for audio playback via AirPlay, Bluetooth devices and to HDMI devices when using the Digital AV Adapter. External audio playback must be turned off (via Song Settings, pictured below) to record audio with the Sampler.



The new version also supports import of Apple Loops; AIFF, WAV, and CAF audio files as well as uncompressed 16-bit, 44.1 kHz raw audio data (the format of CD audio). Users can import audio data files into GarageBand on an iPad using the File Sharing pane of iTunes to sync the data to the device.

Users can now also copy and paste audio into GarageBand projects from other iOS apps that support sending audio data to the clipboard.

Apple notes that the update also "improves overall stability and addresses a number of minor issues," including "occurrences of GarageBand freezing while playing Smart Instruments."