Apple has filmed new guided tours to showcase the new functionality in two of its most beloved iLife applications, iPhoto and iMovie. Both videos are in three streaming versions and two downloadable ones, iPod (39MB) and for computer-watch (206MB). Both the iPhoto and iMovie guided tours are delivered by John, one of Apple's retail staffers. John was also featured in the MacBook Air video guided tour, as some may remember.

In a post on its website, Apple reveals that iLife '09 features “major upgrades” to iPhoto and iMovie, but also important changes to GarageBand, iDVD, as well as an updated version of iWeb. According to the company responsible for the Mac OS, iPhoto '09 builds on its predecessor's ability to automatically organize photos into Events by adding two new functions. Faces and Places help users organize and manage their pictures.

But, while iPhoto '09 lets you organize and search your pictures in new ways, iMovie '09 allows for the creation of a movie in mere minutes, in addition to powerful editing options. iMovie '09 also builds on top of the super fast movie creation functionality introduced in iMovie '08, according to Apple. The new version uses powerful new features, such as the new Precision Editor, video stabilization, advanced drag and drop, and animated travel maps.

“iLife continues to be one of the biggest reasons our customers choose to get a Mac,” Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, said in a statement yesterday. “With iLife '09, we’ve made working with photos, making movies, and learning to play music a lot more fun, and iMovie users are especially going to love the advanced but easy-to-use new features.”

iPhoto and iMovie are part of the iLife suite from Apple. iLife '09 will be available for $79 by the end of the month, according to the Mac maker. Both iPhoto and iMovie will require Mac OS X 10.5.6 to run, an Intel-based Mac, or a G4 with an 867 MHz or faster PowerPC processor. The two links below will take you to the iPhoto and iMovie guided tours, where John explains everything you need to know about the media-aimed apps in great detail.