Our Verdict
When Apple inaugurate Keynote for the iPad last twelvemonth , it did a terrific job translating the desktop app ’s routine to the tablet ’s multi - touch interface . But the iPad imposed limitation that made the iOS version less - than - ideal for creating or editing presentations on the go .
Subsequent updates remedied some of Keynote ’s shortcomings , add support for giver note , physical object grouping , AirPrint , and improved PDF exportation . The recent 1.4 update bringsKeynoteto the iPhone for the first metre and impart a twosome of new features , but the mobile app still suffer from restrictions imposed by the computer hardware .
Although the iPhone and iPad apps are identical internally — Apple distributes Keynote as a universal binary that runs on any compatible iOS gadget — the exploiter interface changes to oblige the iPhone ’s much smaller screen . Unlike Keynote on the iPad , the iPhone version does n’t have a toolbar icon to animate physical object . Instead , you beg on the Tools icon and blue-ribbon Animation Mode from the list of options . Many other interface factor are arranged differently on the iPhone , so I had to hunt around a act to come up correspond functions .
Tight Fit: The iPhone’s small screen limits the size of the slide navigator and canvas in Keynote.
Tight Fit : The iPhone ’s small screen limits the size of the slide navigator and canvass in Keynote .
The iPhone ’s CRT screen hampers Keynote in other ways , too . On the iPad , the slide sailing master has room for eight gross slide thumbnail , compared to barely four on the iPhone , and the iPhone ’s thumbnail are smaller . Because there ’s no slideway sorter , it ’s severe to obtain an overview of a introduction , an essential perspective when you ’re mix slides around . I ’d wish to see Apple add a full - projection screen sorter sight with slightly large thumbnail that you could hang back - and - drib . The tiny screen also make it more ambitious to move , resize , or rotate objects on a slideway . As on the iPad , you’re able to extend the lantern slide canvas by pinching it heart-to-heart with two digit , but it ’s still unmanageable to control objects as on the button as you’re able to on a enceinte display .
Like in the first place iOS versions , Keynote 1.4 does n’t support all of the background app ’s features . Sometimes , you could forge around the limitations without much effort : for example , it ’s normally not too unmanageable to discover an satisfactory iOS equivalent for a missing desktop font or chute modulation . But many effect , such as Smart Builds , audio tracks , object hyperlinks , and some animations , are completely wanting from Keynote 1.4 . The lack of Move actions , which let you choreograph complex movements of microscope slide object in the desktop version , is particularly frustrating . you may sometimes achieve alike results with Magic Move changeover , which are supported in Keynote for iOS , but in many cases , there ’s simply no suited option .
Matters of Import: Keynote warns you about unsupported features when you import a presentation created on the desktop.
Matters of Import : Keynote warns you about unsupported features when you spell a introduction create on the screen background .
If you spell a presentation containing an unsupported effect or typeface , Keynote does its best to replace it with the near equivalent weight and display a inclination of word of advice . But , depending on the effect , the transposition may be barely acceptable or even ruin a masterwork . If you transfer the emended slideshow back to your Mac later , the substitutions remain entire . That ’s a serious problem if you expend your iPhone to tweak presentation that you create on your Mac . As a workaround , you could export just the slides that you need to edit ( once you ’ve verified that they do n’t let in any unsupported effects ) , but that ’s not practical .
Importing media into presentations is far less unlined than it should be as well , a upshot of the deficiency of an accessible file repository on the iPhone . Keynote only lets you grab images and picture from the iPhone ’s photo albums . Adding audio clips to glide is even more awkward . To insert auditory sensation on a slide , you have to first spell a intro that contains the audio filing cabinet , then cut - and - paste it onto the sliding board . These limitation are particularly surprising , since you may already copy entire slideshows from iTunes , iDisk , or a WebDAV server . Keynote ought to permit you do the same with look-alike , movies , and sound filing cabinet .
I put Keynote through its paces on a two - year - old iPhone 3GS , which sports a dim processor and less memory than the iPhone 4 . Despite the quondam ironware , Keynote ’s performance was usually adequate . The app occasionally struggled to keep up while editing complex playground slide with many builds , but it mostly fared better than I expected .
In addition to iPhone compatibility , Keynote 1.4 brings two unexampled features to iOS . Keynote now lets you organize presentations in folders by sweep up them on top of each other , just like you could drag - and - drop apps on the iPhone or iPad . It also adds support for Apple ’s Keynote Remote app ( available severally in the App Store for $ 1 ) , which allow you keep in line a slideshow on one iOS twist from another one over a Wi - Fi or Bluetooth connection .
If you have an Apple Digital AV or VGA adapter , you’re able to view Keynote presentation on compatible projectors , display , or HDTVs . Unlike the original version , which only displayed small thumbnail and a slide sideboard , Keynote 1.4 includes an enhanced Presenter Display with an adjustable layout that lease you show the current and upcoming slides or the current frame and presenter greenback . extraneous display is n’t supported on the iPhone 3GS or third - generation iPod touch , however .
Malus pumila touts Keynote for iOS as a mode to regard and edit Keynote ’ 09 intro , but the app remains a work - in - progress as it sputter to keep up with its more capable desktop sibling . That ’s not unreasonable give current ironware constraints . As long as your presentation are comparatively simple and do n’t rely on features that are n’t supported on the iPad , Keynote mostly lives up to Apple ’s promise . And , if succeeding enhancements to the iPad let Keynote indorse even more of the desktop variation ’s feature set , and Apple provide better options for import media , Keynote will become an splendid presentation tool for iPad substance abuser . On little iOS gadget , the pocket-sized screen door will rest a substantial impediment until fold - out displays debut . For the prison term being , Keynote is deserving bear on your iPhone or iPod touch when you do n’t have a better option .
[ Franklin N. Tessler is a Birmingham - based university radiologist who frequently write and lectures about presentations . ]
