Apple Announces GarageBand, iMovie for iPad

An all-new version of GarageBand and an updated iMovie are on track for a March 11 release alongside iOS 4.3 and, of course, the official launch of Apple’s iPad 2, Steve Jobs has confirmed.

During the iPad 2 launch at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts yesterday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs took the stage to unveil his company’s latest developments.

After enjoying a standing ovation on behalf of the attending crowd, Jobs went ahead with the updates, which included (among bigger things), GarageBand and iMovie for iPad.

Set to become available for 5 bucks a piece, the app’s are specifically designed to take advantage of the iPad’s 9.7-inch screen with their various specific features focusing on creating and editing music and video.

GarageBand, an application that originates on Mac OS X as part of the iLife suite, is a music creation program that turns the iPad into a collection of touch instruments and 8-track recording studio, allowing users to perform with onscreen keyboards, guitars, drums and basses using multi-touch gestures.

iMovie, already available for some iOS devices, will be updated to support the iPad, as well as to add specific functions.

These include a precision editor, multitrack audio recording with more than 50 sound effects, new themes, AirPlay support for streaming content to the Apple TV, the ability to share HD movies and YouTube uploading, as well as support for Facebook, Vimeo and CNN iReport.

There will also be an option to send creations directly to iTunes.

Whether or not the apps will require iOS 4.3 is uncertain, but they will be released in tandem with the new software update scheduled to arrive March 11 - at the same time iPad 2 will be released across the U.S.

Good news for owners of an original iPad, as Apple has confirmed GarageBand support for the aging tablet.

The same thing cannot be said about the upcoming iMovie for iPad, which only supports iPhone 4, the fourth-generation iPod touch, and iPad 2.