Oct 25, 2010 09:29 GMT  ·  By

With a new version of Mac OS X already introduced, Apple seems to be leaving Leopard users behind, pretty much the same way it did with OS X Tiger. While some may judge Apple harshly for their decision to move forward, others will praise the Mac maker for just that.

The specs page for iLife 11 on Apple.com reveals a sad truth for people stuck on a G5 iMac capable of barely running Mac OS X Leopard - iLife 11 requires Mac OS X 10.6. Snow Leopard as a minimum spec.

On the other hand, those owning hardware that can barely even handle Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) weren’t likely to have had a decent iLife 11 experience anyway. Therefore, Apple said “moving on.”

And move on they did, with multiple enhancements to iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand, now the three pillars of iLife which seems to be focusing less and less on iDVD and iWeb.

Not to worry, the apps will likely still exist even when Apple releases iLife 12, or iLife 13. By that time, however, they will be available as individual downloads from the Mac App Store, as will the more exciting trio of apps mentioned above.

Reports also indicate another sad truth concerning those who are more than equipped to run 64-bit apps - iLife 11 is not 64-bit.

According to Gear Live, which posts a screenshot of the Mac OS X Activity Monitor showing iLife 11 apps running side by side with other programs, it appears that the suite is still not ready to do 64-bit.

For all those interested in learning more about iLife 11, Softpedia has posted the entire set of system requirements below (OS X spec highlight ours).

Also noteworthy is that Apple has a special upgrade program for those who’ve recently bought a Mac but didn’t get iLife 11 pre-installed (more on this here).

iLife System Requirements

- Mac computer with an Intel processor. - GarageBand Learn to Play requires an Intel-based Mac with a dual-core processor or better. - AVCHD video from supported video cameras requires a Mac with an Intel Core Duo processor or better. Visit the iMovie ’11 Supported Cameras page for additional details. - 1GB of RAM. - Approximately 5GB of available disk space. - DVD drive required for installation. - Display with at least 1280-by-768-pixel resolution. - Mac OS X v10.6.3 or later. - 24-bit recording in GarageBand requires a Mac OS X-compatible audio interface with support for 24-bit audio. Please consult the owner’s manual or manufacturer directly for audio device specifications and compatibility. - Some features and third-party services require Internet access and/or MobileMe; additional fees and terms apply. MobileMe is available to persons age 13 and older. Annual subscription fee and Internet access required. Terms of service apply. - iPhoto print products are available in the U.S., Canada, Japan, and select countries in Europe and Asia Pacific. - GarageBand Artist Lessons are sold separately and are available directly through the GarageBand Lesson Store in select countries. - Burning DVDs requires an Apple SuperDrive or compatible third-party DVD burner. - Third-party services may not be available in all languages or in all countries. Use of these services requires Internet access and may require you to accept additional terms.