Apple Ending Development on Aperture as Upcoming Photos App for OS X Will Replace iPhoto

[rols]

How long will this last? Who knows…
Q. Will Lightroom become a subscription only offering after Lightroom 5?
A. Future versions of Lightroom will be made available via traditional perpetual licenses indefinitely.

I wonder which of the two meanings of 'indefinitely' should be assumed there. The one which means 'forever' or the one which means 'for a period of time we haven't specified yet'.

Adobe loves the subscription model, they are certainly going to do everything possible to move as many users as possible over to it.

 

[buckwheet]

Photos is definitely not going to be able to replace Aperture for the pro user.

If they can figure out the high-end archival requirements (maybe a $500/yr option), and if they can implement the asset-management/keywording, and perhaps plugin capability, then it MIGHT be able to replace Aperture.

Huh??? "If they can figure out"??? The don't HAVE to figure it out—the ALREADY DID... The wrote Aperture, for **** sake. This is the biggest bitch-fest I've seen since FCPX. Personally, I think it would make a lot of sense for Apple to try to unify their software line for still photos. A really great design should be able to accommodate both consumer and professional needs, depending on how the software's used. With their pro software becoming cheaper all the time, and so many aspects of its most powerful technology being implemented at the framework level, it should be possible for Apple to do a lot of high-end stuff without necessarily spending a ton of money on R&D, or trying to support multiple software platforms in the same sector (e.g., photo editing and management). What people don't seem to realize is that Apple has published an insane number of very sophisticated frameworks, for both OS X and iOS, over the past few years. This means that the most sophisticated functions that programs like Aperture can do are actually supported at system level now, not by application-specific code. So to imagine Apple turning Photos into a highly-sophisticated photo app is not a big stretch at all.

I've noticed a lot of people complaining about Apple no longer "thinking differently", but that's exactly what they're doing, and it's precisely why people are getting so pissy. People want the old pro/consumer division to remain. Apple's trying to get rid of it. By coding all the real power into system level frameworks, they've made this very possible to do, and to do very inexpensively. Things are definitely changing at Apple, and generally for the better, imho. By empowering developers—including themselves—they're going to open up a huge number of options in the next few years. I'm looking forward to seeing how things develop.

 

[Jon-Erich]

Give them time and they'll also kill Final Cut and replace it with some fancy "Movies" app.

Isn't that basically what iMovie is?

 

[rei101]

After the crap Apple did with Final Cut 7 I will never use in any Apple software, they are very irresponsible. It is better to use a software from a dedicated company like Adobe.

 

[phoenixsan]

I dont get it....

really..........Apple used to deliver tools for "creative hubs" or professionals in the creative fields. So Apple developed integrated apps for music, video and photo edition and management. I only can suppose some Cupertino geniuses look in some statistics and say something like "Look, there is no money in photo bussineses" or something like that.....

This like the discussion going on right now about the iPod......albeit in that case is more clear the why....

 

[Mark Booth]

I will NEVER switch to using Lightroom. Ever! Period!

As much as I'm disappointing that Apple is abandoning development on Aperture, I'd sooner use a 5-year-old version of Aperture than give Adobe a single dime of my money. Adobe can stick it!

Mark

 

[Wiyum]

You'd really think that Apple would have learned their lesson after the FCP X debacle. And I hopeful that they have, in a way(I hope they won't be releasing half-baked software)... but they clearly didn't learn their lesson as pertains to properly informing customers and good messaging...

But this is totally out of hand. First of all, did anyone look at the still of the Photos UI? Looks like an updated Aperture with a new name to me.

Did anyone read the TechCrunch article? Because MacRumors misquoted it... it makes no mention of Apple helping migrate users to Lightroom. It only mentions Apple helping migrate users to Photos.

Let's face it, iPhoto and Aperture were both in need of a significant update. New software to replace both is exactly the best thing to do. The important functions in terms of image editing (including RAW conversion) have been built into the OS for years anyway, Aperture was just a front end for OSX's RAW conversion tools. Photos will undoubtedly be the same. As for the digital asset management aspect of Aperture, since version three that has dovetailed very nicely with iPhoto. Given their promises of an easy migration into Photos from both apps, and the Cloud system they're pushing, I'm guessing Photos will only improve the DAM side of Aperture.

And ars technica reporting that Photos will include support for 3rd party plugins as well... this clearly isn't a dumbed down iPhoto replacement.

They're bringing their (very compelling) new Continuity/Cloud syncing approach to Photography and doing it by building from the ground up. But by all appearances, this is going to be the Aperture X people have been waiting for, not a regression to iPhoto.

Again, they need to work on messaging. Imagine how differently this story would have played if the headline weren't "Aperture cancelled" but was instead "Aperture updated for free with new software."

Time will tell, of course. But look at that image of the UI, think about the plugin support, and tell me it really looks so bad.

Meanwhile, what we do know is that Aperture will be updated to Yosemite, and RAW conversion updates are OS updates, not Aperture updates. So as long as you're happy with Aperture and with Yosemite, you'll be able to keep using both of those, with support for new cameras, for years and years to come.

My guess: very few people will find Photos insufficient.

-and FCP X is way better than the competition for most video editing jobs. It wasn't when it launched, but they've been dogged about getting it up to spec and for at least a year, it has been terrific.

-and Apple's most recent image editing software, iPhoto for iOS, was surprisingly robust and felt a lot more like Aperture-lite than a port of iPhoto to iOS. I expect Photos for OSX to be more robust, but it's an interesting indicator of Apple's priorities in this space.

 

[Zaphodsplanet]

This is disappointing. Aperture wasn't quite there yet, but it had potential. I loved the interface.

Lightroom is a powerful and robust program. It has many features, but it sometimes feels clunky and bloated. I hope Adobe will use this momentum of new customers to really step up their game.

With Aperture out of the picture, Lightroom needs to take this to the next level.

Bummer, Apple.

You're kidding right. With no competition, don't count on any major improvements in LR. What point is there for Adobe to improve something there's zero competition for? I like Aperature, but I'm not a pro photographer. I bought it over LR. Poor form on Apple's part IMO to kill this. I also don't give a crap about storing any of the data for anything I do on my computer via iCloud, or any "cloud based" service.

 

[00sjsl]

Just use it for the amount of time an average version of Aperture lasts. Once it seems that it's lacking the features you crave, switch to Lightroom. Which by the way, will have been updated by then.

I don't quite get all these comments that talk of switching between Aperture and LR as if it was trivial. I know that it is possible to export meta data from Aperture and import it in to LR, but AFAIK you cant do the same with adjustments and adjustment are a big part of what these tools do.

 

[simonmet]

OMFG. This is unbelievable.

If this new Photos app can't do everything Aperture can (which we know it won't) then Apple has seriously ****ed off a huge amount of people.

Alright I gave Tim Cook the benefit of the doubt. Now he should be on the chopping block. Who cares if he understands numbers and accounts and profits. He doesn't understand Apple.

Jobs made a mistake putting that guy in charge.

They **** up iWork and now this.

 

[G4DP]

Are you enjoying that all-or-nothing thinking, ignoring the fact that Apple is developing _new_ applications to replace these aging ones? Unlike Adobe and Microsoft that let their software grow and grow and grow and grow until they are usability nightmares?

They are not replacing Aperture with anything. They are replacing iPhoto. If Aperture we're being replaced they would not need to help people with the transition to LightRoom.

As for software continually growing? iTunes is a bigger problem than anything from Microsoft or Adobe.

 

[hulk2012]

I have been a Professional Commercial Photographer for 29 years, I moved to Digital 100% 14 years ago..



NOBODY I know in the Industry has ever used Aperture!! NOBODY!!



We all use Photoshop!!



So, Pros out there are NOT going to miss something they never used..





I'm in the process of Moving my RAW Process to Lightroom 5, Nikon is NOT supporting new Bodies with their RAW Converter Capture NX2 and Beta Testers for the new OS say that Capture NX2 DOES NOT work at all!! Nikon's new Converter is an overly simplified and Dumbed Down Version of a previously good Converter!! One of the Main Reasons I dumped Canon was because their RAW Converter was just useless!!

Do you know what DAM is Mr Pro?

 

[MRU]

This new Photos app better be DAMN good if they're killing off Aperture.

Well new iWork was arguably a step down over the 5 year old version
Final Cut Pro X on release a step down for many from the previous version

My prediction....

It'll be a nice app, but considerably less feature set than Aperture. There will be public outcry and then over the course of 18-24 months various fixes and patches will nearly the point of Aperture current .....

Time for me to boot up Lightroom 5.5 and start migrating .....

 

[laurihoefs]

Do you know what DAM is Mr Pro?

Something that both Adobe Bridge and Lightroom can handle quite well?

(Answer: Yes, as both are made for that purpose.)

 

[MacsRgr8]

iPhoto + Aperture -> Photos

iMovie + Final Cut Pro -> Movies?

Garageband + Logic -> Music?

 

[thekeyring]

It's just occurred to me that the Photos app which is replacing Aperture is going to be more advance than just a photo viewer.

I wondered why they said it was coming 'early next year' when there's already a Photos app on iOS, so building one for OS X shouldn't have been too challenging - why wasn't it ready for the Yosemite betas?

I guess this is the answer... It will have a ton of editing and organisation features.

 

[hachre]

I am a Prosumer and I would be happy with a new Photos app IF it had the features that Aperture had in terms of layering an infinite amount of adjustments on top of your picture. That is the main feature that I used, and the one that was far too basic in iPhoto where the adjustment amounts + choices were very limited.

iPhoto + Aperture -> Photos

iMovie + Final Cut Pro -> Movies?

Garageband + Logic -> Music?

These 3 fields are very different from one another and require different solutions for different target audiences.

Music
When it comes to Garageband vs Logic, Logic is clearly better in every possible way and the people doing Music both as a Hobby as well in the Pro World are usually quite eager to learn their tools really well. So simply making Garageband + Logic -> Logic would be a better choice here than trying to fuse them together in some awkward way which might piss off both consumers and pros. This is especially true since Logic X has brought quite some "Prosumer" capability to Logic, which really made me question the continued value of Garageband back then already.

Movies
I don't know pro film editors myself, but I know that the moment you wanted to create something half way decent, iMovie was too bug riddled to allow you that. Music tracks couldn't be synced within 5 seconds of the Movie they play on top and other such problems made using iMovie a constant chore. Yes these tools are light years ahead of competitors "Consumer" tools, but they are also light years behind the pro tools. I think Final Cut + iMovie have similar enough interfaces and workflows that you could make a great "Final Cut Mini" out of it, stripping out all the real pro features like that universal format in which to deliver your cuts and so on, make a more complete standalone product so that you don't need the external compressor, and release that as a new Movies for consumers, at a much lower price.

Photos
When it comes to Aperture vs iPhoto, both apps have been a nightmare for quite a while now. iPhoto has always had the more up-to-date feature set, but far fewer options and adjustment potential, while Aperture had those options, but outdated features. Also Aperture had until the very end quite a bit lower performance than the current iPhoto. You can't clearly pick a winner between the two like you can in the other segments, so starting from scratch was the right decision here. Also the two apps were never differentiated enough to warrant having two separate apps in this segment in the first place. If Apple manages to combine the UI simplicity of iPhoto with the adjustment power of Aperture they will have created a much better app as a replacement for either of the two.

 

[baryon]

I think this is a good thing in the end. The point is, Aperture and Lightroom both try to do the same exact thing and Lightroom is the one that's coming out as the industry standard winner. There's no point in having Aperture continue to try and compete with Lightroom. Lightroom is cross platform and uses Adobe's RAW engine, I think you can't beat that no matter what you do in the professional world.

So Apple is smart here by giving users an app that does as much or as little as they want: You want iPhoto-like photo organizing with some simple adjustments? Use Photos and you've got it. You want to do more serious adjustments? It does that too. Why have two apps that overlap each other, with one simply having more limited features? Just let people not use the advanced features if they don't like them.

In the mean time I'm just sticking to Adobe Bridge and Photoshop.

 

[GrumpyTrucker]

A few things spring to mind:

I too was concerned at first about what Adobe will do with the Lightroom pricing now that Aperture is dead. However, it struck me that this announcement has come not long (less than 10 days) after Adobe finally decide to leave the Photographer Bundle of Lightroom and Photoshop at $9.99 / £8.78 per month as a permanent thing. Before, it was always due to end soon I think. Maybe there was some link there? Doubt it, but possible.

As for the new Photos app. I'll agree that it does seem very....erm....basic compared to Aperture but here's the thing: the new Photos app in iOS 8 allows extensions. They even showed them at WWDC. I'd be surprised if developers of apps that will extend the functionality of the iOS app won't be advised that since the photos are cloud based and accessible everywhere that they'd be well served to make Mac versions of the same extensions so that a photo edited on iOS will still retain its edited - and editable - state when viewed on OS X.

Now, I doubt that means that the more powerful plugins people have got used to will still be available but maybe similar things will. And maybe that's one of the reasons the release of Photos for OS X is being delayed until 2015? To give devs the time to make cross platform compatible extensions? I guess we won't know until next year. Or when the devs start getting pre release versions to work with.

Personally I use Lightroom and I doubt I can see me migrating all my RAW files up to the cloud - well, as anything other than an additional backup option - but the convenience of being able to export a 'keeper' out of Lightroom into Photos and have it immediately available on all my other devices to view, further edit etc is something I'm looking forward to trying.

 

[mjmatsen]

So to summarize... Aperture (Which compared to the likes of Lightroom wasn't all that great) is being ditched, for a variant of iPhoto, which would utilize storing pictures in an iCloud account.....? iCloud being one of the most expensive $ per GB on the planet..... I think I'll pass.... haven't used iPhoto in years... I try it every time they update it to see if it is any good...... still batting zero.

 

[newyorkguy]

ok, crap.
whats the way to migrate most of settings, photos and folders to LR without loosing too much?

 

[maflynn]

ok, crap.
whats the way to migrate most of settings, photos and folders to LR without loosing too much?

File-Export->Originals

Be sure to include the sidecar file as well

----------

iPhoto + Aperture -> Photos

iMovie + Final Cut Pro -> Movies?

Garageband + Logic -> Music?

Except they're not merging the pro apps, in Aperture's case they're just ceasing all development. I don't expect to see all the functionality found in Aperture to make its way to Photos (or what ever name it may be).

I also expect version 1 to lack many of the basic features found in iPhoto (and Aperture). I'm just looking back at how Apple handled FCP and iWork. Release a barely functional app feature wise and then slowly and incrementally improve it.

Either way, I'm not wanting to use iCloud nor their app. I'll switch over to Lightroom

 

[stevielatphoto]

Not happy

As a professional that has invested countless hours using aperture, I am fuming with Apple today. So what everyone is saying on here 'wait and see what the new photos app will be like', I'm sorry that's NOT the way i run my business. Aperture was groundbreaking in it's day, Apple are leaving professionals behind. Will I be sucked into any of Apple's new releases from this day forth NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

 

[Meister]

Glad I am already using Lr.

 

[maflynn]

I'm sorry that's NOT the way i run my business.

I'm not waiting, I'm a hobbyist not a pro, but I still have over a 100gb of images in Aperture.

Apple's abandonment of the pro market and their embrace of the cloud both point me to LR. While Adobe is pushing their cloud and subscription model you still can buy LR as a stand alone product without a subscription..