Photos will be a "new" app "written from the ground up" and offer improved -missing- features.
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The prosumer is DEAD
#iWork #Pages #Keynote
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The prosumer is DEAD
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Apple Ending Development on Aperture as Upcoming Photos App for OS X Will Replace iPhoto
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As a long time Aperture user I am as disappointed as anyone. Lightroom is an improvement in many ways, but in fundamental ways I care about like UI, adjustment handling and cataloguing, Aperture is still miles ahead.
But let's step back a bit and look at what Apple is doing here. I have a feeling that this new Photos app, if only just from looking at the screenshot, is indeed the rumoured Aperture X app. It follows a design principle Apple has been following for a long time: Taking complexity and simplifying AND making them smarter in the UI, exposing complexity if needed. Take a look at Logic X's smart controls and you'll get a feel for what I am saying.
Another goal is of course to unify photo handling across new devices and iCloud (Yes, of COURSE local storage is still part of that).
In the wake of the FCPX fiasco they are simply shifting people's expectation. Aperture X, in being completely re-built from scratch will necessarily not support every feature Aperture did. Quite likely not even every feature iPhoto did. But quite possibly will contain the major set of features used by most of their base.
Apple has most certainly learnt a LOT of lessons from having developed Aperture and iPhoto, so clever things like non destructive smart adjustments they are bringing forward to the new app. You can already see the level of exposed adjustments you can do on iOS8. It is quite powerful. And as the screenshot of Photos shows, you can probably expect quite powerful tools in that as well.
Instead of splitting the apps into separate consumer and pro silos Apple's strategy seems to be to make the power available to those who need it, and making it smart and non-complex for everyone else.
Now as we all can see, each of these shifts in app strategy at Apple can never satisfy everyone. They are trying a different tact this time with EOLing Aperture instead of naming the new app Aperture X. It resets expectations, and by providing upgrade paths to the competition Apple also concedes that some high end professionals WON'T be satisfied with the re-tooled solution.
Unfortunately the side-effect seems to be a lack of confidence in Apple's overall pro strategy and future of other pro apps: FCPX and Logic X. They are well aware of this happening, and are trying to mend that by releasing pro updates along with the announcement of the promise of a secure future for them. But from the mood here I gather that's not quite enough.
Hiding and smartifying complexity are steps which both X versions of Logic and Final Cut took some step towards, but at the same time lays bare the monumental tasks that is in those particular niches. Fortunately neither of those niches are as necessary for unification across iCloud and iDevices as photos are. Photos have way more universality than music and video creation.
It remains to be seen if Apple can keep professional confidence. But as a user of all of Apple's pro applications, I would be more devastated by the end of lifing of Logic X than I am right now of Aperture. And I take way more photos than I make music.
But let's step back a bit and look at what Apple is doing here. I have a feeling that this new Photos app, if only just from looking at the screenshot, is indeed the rumoured Aperture X app. It follows a design principle Apple has been following for a long time: Taking complexity and simplifying AND making them smarter in the UI, exposing complexity if needed. Take a look at Logic X's smart controls and you'll get a feel for what I am saying.
Another goal is of course to unify photo handling across new devices and iCloud (Yes, of COURSE local storage is still part of that).
In the wake of the FCPX fiasco they are simply shifting people's expectation. Aperture X, in being completely re-built from scratch will necessarily not support every feature Aperture did. Quite likely not even every feature iPhoto did. But quite possibly will contain the major set of features used by most of their base.
Apple has most certainly learnt a LOT of lessons from having developed Aperture and iPhoto, so clever things like non destructive smart adjustments they are bringing forward to the new app. You can already see the level of exposed adjustments you can do on iOS8. It is quite powerful. And as the screenshot of Photos shows, you can probably expect quite powerful tools in that as well.
Instead of splitting the apps into separate consumer and pro silos Apple's strategy seems to be to make the power available to those who need it, and making it smart and non-complex for everyone else.
Now as we all can see, each of these shifts in app strategy at Apple can never satisfy everyone. They are trying a different tact this time with EOLing Aperture instead of naming the new app Aperture X. It resets expectations, and by providing upgrade paths to the competition Apple also concedes that some high end professionals WON'T be satisfied with the re-tooled solution.
Unfortunately the side-effect seems to be a lack of confidence in Apple's overall pro strategy and future of other pro apps: FCPX and Logic X. They are well aware of this happening, and are trying to mend that by releasing pro updates along with the announcement of the promise of a secure future for them. But from the mood here I gather that's not quite enough.
Hiding and smartifying complexity are steps which both X versions of Logic and Final Cut took some step towards, but at the same time lays bare the monumental tasks that is in those particular niches. Fortunately neither of those niches are as necessary for unification across iCloud and iDevices as photos are. Photos have way more universality than music and video creation.
It remains to be seen if Apple can keep professional confidence. But as a user of all of Apple's pro applications, I would be more devastated by the end of lifing of Logic X than I am right now of Aperture. And I take way more photos than I make music.
Lightroom kills Aperture for features (I mostly don't need) but Aperture's workflow and usability were massively nicer. Plus Aperture integrated like iPhoto into various other Apps, such as Final Cut X (which is now surely for the chop soon?)
Apple will eventually pay for becoming a 'lifestyle brand'. Consumers are fickle. Serious users and pros not so much.
Apple will eventually pay for becoming a 'lifestyle brand'. Consumers are fickle. Serious users and pros not so much.
I think this speaks volumes, Professionals kept Apple alive for years because consumers were fickle. They were able to provide the pros with tools that were powerful and yet simple (relatively) to use.
Now with apple going all in on the consumer market you exchanged stable long term sales for higher but riskier sales. I cannot see why they could have both. There's no reason why Apple couldn't have a professional applications department dedicated to doing actual improvements to their pro apps (instead of gutting them) and a consumer division.
Alas, its a moot point since they're killing off Aperture - a bitter pill to be sure.
Wtf!?
I have been using Aperture every day for the last 8 years. I have about 500,000 images across about 20 libraries!? This is an absolute pisstake. I have had Apple everything for years, every single thing. My whole workflow revolves around aperture. Their stupid libraries system means you can't even access the files outside aperture. Moving to another system will be an absolute nightmare. There are terabytes and terabytes of data! All of the 'lossless' adjustments will be completely lost.... Not to mention the many years of experience and workflow shortcuts that will be cut down to the stump. ****** you Apple. This is the absolute worst thing you could possibly have done, you absolute inconsiderate scumbags. That is people's livelihoods you are messing with
I have been using Aperture every day for the last 8 years. I have about 500,000 images across about 20 libraries!? This is an absolute pisstake. I have had Apple everything for years, every single thing. My whole workflow revolves around aperture. Their stupid libraries system means you can't even access the files outside aperture. Moving to another system will be an absolute nightmare. There are terabytes and terabytes of data! All of the 'lossless' adjustments will be completely lost.... Not to mention the many years of experience and workflow shortcuts that will be cut down to the stump. ****** you Apple. This is the absolute worst thing you could possibly have done, you absolute inconsiderate scumbags. That is people's livelihoods you are messing with
This is me described to a T. I agree Lighroom is a superior product but what Aperture brought to the table in UI, workflow, design and integration, made it a great product for meeting my needs.
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I'm in the same exact boat as you. I'm thinking that I'll slowly move my current stuff on Lightroom and keep an older mac just for aperture. That is no updates and just use that for maintaining or slowly migrating to LR. That means no system updates until I'm sure it won't break Aperture.
I have images dating back to before Aperture was unveiled. It took a bit of work to get them into aperture now I have even more work to migrate to LR.
I loved the feature of using different libraries, and I have multiple libraries as well. I guess that might make the transition a bit easier in the long run though
I am not thrilled with this news, but I love the combined library idea that syncs across all devices. I have been wanting something like that for years.
Apple needs one thing for me to be happy with this though:
Organization: I only went to Aperture in the first place because I was able to create folders, subfolders, move projects around and have an organized project library. That was something iPhoto didn't have for years because everything was just in the camera roll or later events, but no folder structures. It also allows you have have multiple libraries, merging libraries (although that never worked properly) and more.
For most cases of editing and projects I found iPhoto easier. It was the folder structure that moved me over.
That scares me, because Apple likely doesn't want users having that level of control in a consumer app. If they do something like FCP X and have keyword collection (albums) that's fine, but those albums need to be able to be placed into folders and subfolders. Also, having multiple or selectively syncing of libraries would be great, but I DOUBT THIS WILL HAPPEN THOUGH.
Apple needs one thing for me to be happy with this though:
Organization: I only went to Aperture in the first place because I was able to create folders, subfolders, move projects around and have an organized project library. That was something iPhoto didn't have for years because everything was just in the camera roll or later events, but no folder structures. It also allows you have have multiple libraries, merging libraries (although that never worked properly) and more.
For most cases of editing and projects I found iPhoto easier. It was the folder structure that moved me over.
That scares me, because Apple likely doesn't want users having that level of control in a consumer app. If they do something like FCP X and have keyword collection (albums) that's fine, but those albums need to be able to be placed into folders and subfolders. Also, having multiple or selectively syncing of libraries would be great, but I DOUBT THIS WILL HAPPEN THOUGH.
Why? Lightroom runs in OS X as well
Given apple's recent track record, I'd not hold my breath on the new app being as feature rich as Aperture. In fact it will be more slanted towards iCloud then having actual DAM features that made Aperture so great.
I'm thinking how Apple released the updates to FCPx and iWork where they lacked a lot of features when upgraded. Apple over the course of time did improve things, but the fact remains they lacked a lot of the features the older version already had.
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I've been thinking about this. The only tie that binds me to OSX is Aperture. As much as I love OSX, I can now look towards other options, in the future. Apple has just set me free!
My understanding is people can still get to older, dead, programs and even versions of OS X (if they cannot support the current OS X).
You can also use Migration Assistant to move things from an old computer to a new computer. It might even be possible to find and copy all the files manually though that would be a chore.
You can also use Migration Assistant to move things from an old computer to a new computer. It might even be possible to find and copy all the files manually though that would be a chore.
lJoSquaredl said:
you know, as sad as that is, it describes me to a Tee. Aperture was the only major app that I needed in OS X.
This is too true for me. I've used Aperture from the beginning. It's the only OS X app I really need. I'm very frustrated, as I'm sure others are, as I have a huge Aperture library, closing in on 1TB, with tens of thousands of images perfectly organized, adjusted etc. etc. This is very, very disappointing news indeed.
I've tried many other photo apps and nothing even comes close to Aperture in terms of organizational capabilities, key wording, batching, automated workflow setup etc. That's what I will miss most.
Praying the new "Photo" app will have at least a good portion of that functionality.
For the fact you are using Windows more and more... you have had problems.
And I am having problems with Apple lately. They seem to be on a path to abandoning actual power computer users and starting to favor casual and mobile users. They are dumbing down all aspects of their software, and now their hardware (recent iMac update). At this rate, in the next 5 years, content creators will have to go back to Windows if this keeps up, especially when trying to deal with first party apps.
I've always said, the day I have to jailbreak my Mac OS is the day I'm gone. Sadly, if Apple keeps this course, I think that day would come sooner than later. All the beginnings are there, and they can pull that string anytime in the future.
Apple feels that pro users aren't worth their time, and guess who's next?
As for Aperture going, if the new Photos app gives me the features of Aperture, that's great. But if the new Photos app just gives me a bunch of filters, well Apple is way off course. And I don't see how the new app is going to give me anything that Aperture offers, because the casual/mobile user doesn't want/need those features. They just want to slap a filter on a picture and share it.
Mac apps are 1000x more beautiful than Windows apps. If I had to go back to Windows, I would probably hate every minute of it. Just bland, and blah. I hope that day never comes. But Tim seems to be heading down that road.
Could have used this announcement last week! Recently got into photography and spent several days last week deciding between Aperture and Lightroom. Ended up with Lightroom ($79 off Amazon with the student discount!)
Phew
Phew
Go to Capture One Pro 7. It's the best RAW photo processor out there. Use it with Photo Mechanic if you need to.
Lightroom 5 might be an option but who is to know if LR will be compatible with Yosemite. Or the next OX. If not, then what? You have to upgrade to LRx? Or use their LR CC? Folks with Aperture knowing that Apple will make it work for Yosemite will be in the same boat after that. So making a decision isn't going to be easy. The nice thing about Aperature to this point is that at least you knew the version you are using would still work when Apple comes with a new OS. Now it's problematic no matter which solution one chooses.
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Is Capture One going to work with Yosemite? Or "Santa Clara" or the next name Apple comes up with for future OS?
This kind of thing happened while Jobs was CEO. (Final Cut Pro X).
That aside, I've noticed a trend on this forum:
Every bad thing in the Cook Era: "Tim Cook doesn't know what he's doing!"
Every good thing in the Cook Era: "Well, it must have been in development since before he became CEO."
Just taking this one aspect of this post, I can't help wondering if this is what you get for caving and giving shareholders dividends. All the calls then are for more profit = larger payouts. The quickest route to this is simplify the OS to be more like iOS in operation which brings the phone and tablet users flooding in. I saw one yesterday being sold a MacBook Air. It took less than 5 mins sales-speak from the Blue Shirt proclaiming the virtues of it being easy to use if you've used iOS etc etc and boom, they walked out with an £850 purchase that in all honesty an iPad or even a Windows cheapo laptop would have done what they were after.
Add to that making the machines non serviceable and with built in "obsolescence" for want of a better term that means you need to be looking at replacing a £1000 - £2000 machine every two years or so (or face being left behind security wise at least, even if you can do without new features) and you can see how profit shaping is where they're heading.
Someone said earlier - what happens in a year or two when OS X Mojave (or whatever) is released and Apple update their cloud services to work with OS X 10.12 making any OS lower than that incompatible? I believe we already have a situation right now where if you install Yosemite and choose to sign into iCloud on boot it warns you all your old iCloud stuff will be inaccessible on older OSes because they've changed how it works. It will happen again.
And by that time all your photos will be sitting on their servers and the only way to get them is a new Mac with OS X 10.12
I'm hoping this is fear over practicality, but it does make me pause a little.
The combination of Capture One Pro and Media Pro could be a great combo of great raw converter and dedicated catalog management, but it hasn't been able to convince me and I can't stand the UI.
For now I will wait and see what happens to Lightroom (version 6 should be around the corner, so I am certainly not switching now to the standalone version) and maybe Apple's Photo app isn't that bad at all.
But it is a good moment to re-organize and clean up my image library (+ 100K photos) and at least prepare for a migration.
If what you're postulating is true, then the real screw-up is Apple's (lack of) communication and unnecessary deprecation of Aperture (which they could have done when Photos is released).
I think that EricGrim raises a lot of good points. After thinking about it a little more, I am looking forward to revisiting this discussion after Photos is released. And, isn't lack of coherent communication a cornerstone of the Apple business model?
But what about iPhoto?
There are few details across the web about iPhoto's compatibility with future Mac OS's. While not an expert photo editor, I get by. I have accumulated many family and hobby photo library's over the years and keep them organized using the very capable iPhoto Library Manager. I respect the needs of those requiring greater editing capabilities but I'm guessing most fall into my category.
I have absolutely no need or desire to migrate my photo's to the cloud and pay for the cost of subsidizing Apple's or others server farms. I may be missing something but I'm not aware of any ISP providing USB3, Firewire or Thunderbolt upload speeds. Thats what I keep my very inexpensive and reliable hard drives for. Security? Did I say I liked my inexpensive and reliable hard drives that nobody else has ownership of and access to but myself?
There are few details across the web about iPhoto's compatibility with future Mac OS's. While not an expert photo editor, I get by. I have accumulated many family and hobby photo library's over the years and keep them organized using the very capable iPhoto Library Manager. I respect the needs of those requiring greater editing capabilities but I'm guessing most fall into my category.
I have absolutely no need or desire to migrate my photo's to the cloud and pay for the cost of subsidizing Apple's or others server farms. I may be missing something but I'm not aware of any ISP providing USB3, Firewire or Thunderbolt upload speeds. Thats what I keep my very inexpensive and reliable hard drives for. Security? Did I say I liked my inexpensive and reliable hard drives that nobody else has ownership of and access to but myself?
The handwriting had been on the wall for a long time. IMO, anyone who didn't see this coming was in denial.
At the same time, however, no Aperture user has to make a change right now. Aperture still works until it doesn't, and that could be a few years or more from now.
At the same time, however, no Aperture user has to make a change right now. Aperture still works until it doesn't, and that could be a few years or more from now.