Every Tuesday, I share my thoughts on Family Life.

Can a good piece of software make your family happier?  If your family is as geeky as mine is, the answer is a resounding "yes".  That’s why we’re the proud new owners of a family version of Apple iLife ‘08.  Prior to viewing the product firsthand at my local Apple store, I was a skeptic.  Could this really be that much better than the now "old" version of iLife that came bundled with my MacBook when I purchased it last winter?

After having installed and played with iLife ‘08 for the past 18 hours, the answer appears to be yes - the upgrade was a good investment.  I was thrilled with how seamlessly the new software installed and transitioned all my existing files into the upgraded versions.  So far, I’ve experimented with iPhoto, iWeb and iMovie and have found all three to be vastly improved over their predecessors.  My only snag has come with iWeb and relates to my new podcast at www.CatholicMoments.com - somehow in transitioning to a new theme I screwed up the RSS feed and am still untangling that problem with iTunes.  Thank goodness for the Genius Bar!  The new iWeb allows you to tinker with HTML and to very easily add Google Adsense to your iWeb pages.  The iLife ‘08 programs work so well together than even a pretty tech-dumb Mom can produce a podcast, submit a video to YouTube, or overwhelm family and friends with way too many pictures of her adorable children.

I hope to write a more complete review next week, but for you Mac owners out there I’d give this product two thumbs up.  For the cost of a dinner out in a restaurant, you can upgrade and be stunned by the simplicity and the results.  And hey, if you’re family’s less geeky than mine, there’s always Madden NFL 08 DVD right?

Home-work for Today:

• Have your summer vacation photos been developed and placed into photo albums, or are they still languishing on your digital camera?  Whether you scrapbook, slide photos into albums, stick them in file boxes, or organize them on your computer, take time today to get up to date on your photo organization for the sumer.  School will be starting soon and you’ll have a whole new set of photos to deal with!

On the Hard Drive:

• Apple iLife ‘08

Reading Room Resources:
Blog posts from this week related to Family Life

• 5 Steps to an Efficient Kitchen
• Peter Walsh’s Clever Hanger Trick