In an event today unveiling a new iPad mini with Retina display, Apple also announced new versions iLife (iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand) and iWork (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote), Apple’s suite of personal and work-related software.

The company also announced the updated versions will be free with the purchase of every Mac computer and iOS mobile device (iPad and iPhone), a move designed to appeal to consumers and small businesses.

Apple has not followed Google and Microsoft on their evolution of office software as a web browser-based subscription service. However, the Apple suite of desktop software and device apps utilizes a cloud approach to synch documents and files so that they can be accessed from any computer or mobile device with the iLife and iWork software.

Once a category dominated by Microsoft’s Office suite of software, Google’s subscription service, Google Apps for Business, has encroached on Micirosoft’s share of the enterprise market.

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