Apple rolls out update to iWork apps—face detection, customisable Apple Pencil, and more

A new set of updates to Apple’s iWork apps has arrived, and it will bring added functionality to the entire suite of their productivity-tasked apps. This includes new features such as additional style options and face detection for Pages, Numbers, and Keynote—the updates will come to both iOS devices and Macs.

For face detection, photographs inserted into an object or placeholder space in a document will be positioned so that the faces of the images can be seen. Style options such as text styling now means that users will be able to fill words with images or gradients, or use new outline styles for the letters.

In addition to that, the updates will bring more functionality for the Apple Pencil to iOS devices; you can decide to use it to draw or as a select/scroll cursor (double-tap to switch functions).

The updates are available for download on the App Store now, but before you download any updates, here’s the complete change log for the upgrades:

Pages for Mac (8.1)

• Style your text by filling it with gradients or images, or by applying new outline styles.
• Create links from text to other pages in a page layout document.
• Copy and paste pages or sections between documents.
• Place images, shapes, and equations inline in text boxes so they move with text.
• Using face detection, subjects in photos are intelligently positioned in placeholders and objects.
• Reapply a master page so text and media placeholders return to their default style and position.
• Create books using new templates for novels (available in English only).

Pages for iPhone/iPad (5.1)

• Style your text by filling it with gradients or images, or by applying new outline styles.
• Customize lists by choosing from new bullet types, changing the size and color of bullets, creating custom bullets, adjusting indentation levels, and more.
• Choose Learn Spelling to add a word to the spelling dictionary.
• Create links from text to other pages in a page layout document.
• Copy and paste pages or sections between documents.
• Use new chart editing capabilities to change the style of individual series, adjust spacing between columns, add trendlines, and more.
• Adjust the appearance of cell borders in tables.
• Place images, shapes, and equations inline in text boxes so they move with text.
• Choose whether Apple Pencil is used to start drawing or to select and scroll — or toggle between these options via double-tap using a supported Apple Pencil.
• Using face detection, subjects in photos are intelligently positioned in placeholders and objects.
• Reapply a master page so text and media placeholders return to their default style and position.
• Create books using new templates for novels (available in English only).

Keynote for Mac (9.1)

*These updated features are also coming with the Keynote update for iOS.

• Edit master slides while collaborating on a presentation.
• Style your text by filling it with gradients or images, or by applying new outline styles.
• Place images, shapes, and equations inline in text boxes so they move with text.
• Using face detection, subjects in photos are intelligently positioned in placeholders and objects.

Keynote for iOS (5.1)

• Adjust the appearance of cell borders in tables.
• Choose whether Apple Pencil is used to start drawing or to select and scroll — or toggle between these options via double-tap using a supported Apple Pencil.
• Customize lists by choosing from new bullet types, changing the size and color of bullets, creating custom bullets, adjusting indentation levels, and more.
• Choose Learn Spelling to add a word to the spelling dictionary.
• Use new chart editing capabilities to change the style of individual series, adjust spacing between columns, add trendlines, and more.

Numbers for Mac (6.1)

• Greatly improved accuracy using the enhanced 128-bit calculation engine.
• Style your text by filling it with gradients or images, or by applying new outline styles.
• Create links from text to other sheets in a spreadsheet.
• Place images, shapes, and equations inline in text boxes so they move with text.
• Using face detection, subjects in photos are intelligently positioned in placeholders and objects.
• Improved performance while editing and sorting tables.
• Add rows to filtered tables.

Numbers for iOS (5.1)

• Greatly improved accuracy using the enhanced 128-bit calculation engine.
• Style your text by filling it with gradients or images, or by applying new outline styles.
• Create links from text to other sheets in a spreadsheet.
• Add rows to filtered tables.
• Use new chart editing capabilities to change the style of individual series, adjust spacing between columns, add trendlines, and more.
• Adjust the appearance of cell borders in tables.
• Place images, shapes, and equations inline in text boxes so they move with text.
• Using face detection, subjects in photos are intelligently positioned in placeholders and objects.
• Choose whether Apple Pencil is used to start drawing or to select and scroll — or toggle between these options via double-tap using a supported Apple Pencil.
• Customize lists by choosing from new bullet types, changing the size and color of bullets, creating custom bullets, adjusting indentation levels, and more.
• Choose Learn Spelling to add a word to the spelling dictionary.