iCloud Is Coming
In June 2011, Apple announced its iCloud service, available in Fall 2011, with the introduction of iOS 5. This free service will affect iWork users through the new "Document in the Cloud" feature: If you have the same app on more than one device, iCloud-aware apps will automatically push documents wirelessly up to Apple's iCloud servers, and then synchronize the document with all your devices. If you change a presentation on your Mac, for example, iCloud will immediately push the new version to your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. You don't have to worry about copying the files; all the work happens behind the scenes. The current versions of Keynote, Pages, and Numbers are already iCloud-aware, and Apple is making the "Documents in the Cloud" feature available to all developers.
Keynote for iOS has changed in many ways since it first became available when the original iPad shipped. The trend is clear: This new version of the app is closer to the capabilities of Keynote for Mac, while still retaining the strengths of the iPad and iPhone's touch interfaces. Now that Apple is moving the user away from worrying about file management, soon you'll be assured that your presentations will always be with you, up to date, on any of your devices. In my opinion, anything that lets you worry less about the mechanics of your presentation and instead focus on giving the presentation is a great development.
Tom Negrino is the author of more than 40 books, covering such diverse topics as Dreamweaver, JavaScript, Keynote, Microsoft Office, CSS, and more. He is a longtime contributor to Macworld and other magazines. He has lived in Northern California's wine country with his wife and frequent collaborator, Dori Smith, since they fled the Los Angeles area in 1999.