Apple has killed further development of Aperture and iPhoto. Both programs will be replaced by the built-in Photos app that is coming to OS X next year.
I know a lot of readers will but saddened by this. I frequently get questions asking about when the next iteration of Aperture is coming.
Here’s the statement from Apple on the matter:
With the introduction of the new Photos app and iCloud Photo Library, enabling you to safely store all of your photos in iCloud and access them from anywhere, there will be no new development of Aperture. When Photos for OS X ships next year, users will be able to migrate their existing Aperture libraries to Photos for OS X.
What do you think about the loss of Aperture in the market? Will the new Photos application be enough to keep you on Apple’s platform?
[via 9to5mac]
Their professional software lost me when they abandoned FCP7 and released FCP X. Their latest updates bring “X” a lot closer to what it should have been when first released, but the damage had already been done at that point – and I had moved on.
This situation looks very similar. They dummy down the user interface, remove some pro features, kill the pro-version, and then bundle the new concoction into a consumer-based app. It’s sad, especially for professionals who use the software. But the old software will still work (for a little while), and if you haven’t moved on by now, or at least tested the waters to see what else is out there, then I’m not sure you’ve done your part to stay “professional”. There are other options out there, and now let’s board the I hate subscription software bandwagon…
Brian,
I more than agree with you. The entire “i-Cloud” business smells like Big Brother.
Edmund
I am of the same mind. Though not a professional, I prefer to maintain my data and editing application on my desk as opposed to up in the cloud. And I really don’t care for subscription software for this purpose or any for that matter. We, as consumers, the ones holding the money, should have the option to choose the means by which we perform these tasks. I don’t understand were the benefit to all this lies for me. Give me a multi Terra byte solid state storage device versus the cloud. With the cloud, I don’t feel that I have the same control and sense of possession of my images or data.
Aperture died a long time ago, but people just didn’t want to admit it. I moved on months ago myself.
Randy, you realize it’s not going to be ONLY cloud storage right? It will be like photstream is currently, where it syncs across devices. Apple is not forcing you to use cloud storage. It’s more of an offsite backup.
Can’t say I’m surprised… Aperture fell so far behind its competition it’s not funny.. And sad. My first foray into the pro photography world was supported by my MBP and Aperture. In 2007 when I started there was no other more comprehensive raw workflow and postprocessing software available. It even had album design software which remains to this day better than LR’s. Those features alone made me switch an entire network onto Apple products as the integration of hardware and software was seamless and without peer.
It’s unfortunate but not unexpected Apple cares less and less about its pro base and more about its cash cow consummer products.
Without platform dedicated pro software, macs and OS X will fall by the wayside at some point. And that’s a shame.
As for me, all the heavy lifting of my wedding business has been shifted to LR/ Adobe CC Photo and a decent 8 core Dell workstation… I’m already considering Asus as my next power laptop… Without dedicated pro software the Apple hardware platform becomes less and less relevant, at least for me…
Sad. Especially that cloud storage is (at least in my opinion) completely not adapted for pictures storage (I don’t know for the rest of the world, but here most providers limit the download/upload to about 15-60 Go per month). Also, is there any information on what is going to happen to Apple Print Services (pictures books, cards, etc.) ?
Everyone, it will not be cloud storage only. it’s a moot point though as Photos.app won’t be pro level initially, if ever.
I really think Apple acknowledged how far behind they were with Aperture and realized there was no way of getting it up to snuff for their unified access across multiple devices direction they have been going. The only thing they have done is update RAW compatibility really for over a year.
I knew it was coming. I am sad as I spoke to all that Aperture was great. Now how do I move the 30,000 images to Adobe ??
LR will get even more sales! :)
Adobe invest heavily in Photoshop and Lightroom and their CC package runs on both OS platforms. Killing Aperture removes Apple from that market until a very serious workflow replacement appears. It cannot be free. Apple have made a mistake.
I bought my first Mac in 1985 and have been through most of the other generations – what Apple fails to acknowledge is that without people like me, over the years, there would be no Apple. They might like to think that Jobs, Scully and the rest brought it to its current position BUT without their loyal customer base it would have failed years ago. Unfortunately, just like Adobe, Apple are now inebriated with their success and believe that their customer base counts for nothing – WRONG! This autocratic attitude of – we will decide what is best for our customers has a touch of the Henry Ford syndrome about it and they are doomed. I have bought my last Mac. my loyalty counts for nothing – so why should I maintain it. I will now embark upon creating my own RAW and JPEG libraries and take every opportunity to kick Apple and use software which promises some longevity.