I'm using an iMac with OS 10.5.8 and Iphoto from iLife 09 is version 8.0. I heard there is an 8.1 update available for the program yet when I do the Software update, it doesnt appear. I found the update on the Apple site and downloaded it yet when I tried to install it, it said the update applies only to iPhoto 8.0 thru 8.04, part of iLife 09. Thats what I have- so why wont it update? The features promissed in the update to not appear in the version I currently have. Any suggestions?

You may already have it. While my iPhoto says it is v8.04 in the Finder, the "modified" date id 8/18/09, the same date as is on the 8.1 update. Also, the "About" box in iPhoto says it is 8.1.

Have you checked the version in the "About" box to verify which one you have?

Have you moved iPhoto from the "Applications" folder? If so, move it back. iLife apps (and most other Apple apps) must always be in the Applications folder. You may have to re-install rather than just move it back.

I have checked the About box and it says I have Iphoto 8.0. I have not moved it out of the application folder. One of the promissed changes from 8.1 is to offer a choice of an 11 x 13 book and I dont have that choice, indicating the update has not been applied. Has anyone had success in applying the 8.1 update? I guess I may just have to do without it if I can't figure out why the update won't apply.

Just checked, and mine say 8.1 in both places. Does the update only work on Intel systems, maybe?

Try trashing your current iPhoto (this will not affect your photo library), reinstalling, then see if you can apply the update.

I solved my problem and thought I'd describe what caused it. It was my own fault. When I installed the iLife 09 suite, iMovie,iPhoto and others showed up in the Application folder as just plain iMovie, etc. I changed that to read iPhoto 09 so I'd know I had the up-to-date program. But when I went to do a program update, it was looking for iPhoto but found iPhoto 09. I removed the "09" from the programs and all updates went as expected. So don't do what I did and change the program names. grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.