Apple initiates mass discontinuation of boxed retail software
Further emphasizing the Mac App Store as the preferred place to get new software for Mac OS X, Apple on Wednesday discontinued a slew of boxed software products.
Virtually all of Apple's retail software was declared "end of life" on Wednesday in a notification sent to resellers. Products that will no longer be available in a boxed form include 'iWork '09, Aperture 3, iLife '11, Apple Remote Desktop, and various Jam Packs for GarageBand.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that the launch of the Mac App Store had hastened Apple's plans to cease the sale of boxed software in the company's retail stores. It was said that boxed software takes up a large amount of shelf space in the company's retail stores, and software is less profitable than devices like the iPhone or iPad.
Apple also moved this year to drastically reduce the number of games made available at its stores, whittling the number down from 32 to 8. Customers are instead advised that they can download titles for Mac OS X from the Mac App Store.
Apple also cut some products from its stores to clear shelf space, including printers and scanners. But unlike the software, which has been removed completely, the hardware options are available for sale if a customer requests them.
The full list of applications declared "end of life" by Apple on Wednesday to resellers is included below:
MC171 Apple Remote Desktop 3.3 10 Managed Systems
MC172 Apple Remote Desktop 3.3 Unlimited Managed Systems
D4222 Xsan 2 VL 10+
D4223 Xsan 2 VL 10+ EDU INST
MC186 Xsan 2 Single License
MC189 Xsan 2 Media Set
D2977 Xsan 2 MAINT 36 MOS SINGLE
D3132 Xsan 2 MAINT 36 MOS SINGLE EDU INST
D2966 Xsan 2 MAINT 36 MOS 10+
D3133 Xsan 2 MAINT 36 MOS 10+ EDU INST
MB957 Aperture 3 Retail
MC455 Aperture 3 ZU Retail
MB959 Aperture 3 Upgrade
MC456 Aperture 3 ZU Upgrade
D4855 APERTURE 3 TRIAL ACTIV KEY RETAIL
D4857 APERTURE 3 TRIAL UPGRADE ACTIV KEY
MC623 iLife '11 Retail
MC625 iLife '11 Family Pack
MA371 Jam Pack : Remix Tools Retail
MA374 Jam Pack : Remix Tools Media Set
D3057 Jam Pack : Remix Tools VL 10-99 EDU
D3059 Jam Pack : Remix Tools VL 100-999 EDU
D3061 Jam Pack : Remix Tools VL 1000+ EDU
MA375 Jam Pack : Rhythm Section Retail
MA378 Jam Pack : Rhythm Section Media Set
D3063 Jam Pack : Rhythm Section VL 10-99 EDU
D3065 Jam Pack : Rhythm Section VL 100-999 EDU
D3067 Jam Pack : Rhythm Section VL 1000+ EDU
MA319 Jam Pack : Symphony Orchestra Retail
MA322 Jam Pack : Symphony Media Set
D3264 Jam Pack : Symphony Orchestra VL 10-99 EDU
D3265 Jam Pack : Symphony Orchestra VL 100-999 EDU
D3266 Jam Pack : Symphony Orchestra VL 1000+ EDU
MA211 Jam Pack : World Music Retail
D3545 Jam Pack : World Music VL 10-99 EDU
D3546 Jam Pack : World Music VL 100-999 EDU
D3547 Jam Pack : World Music VL 1000+ EDU
MA214 Jam Pack : World Music Media Set
MA990 Jam Pack : Voices
D4180 Jam Pack : Voices VL 10-99 EDU
D4181 Jam Pack : Voices VL 100-999 EDU
D4182 Jam Pack : Voices VL 1000+ EDU
MA993 Jam Pack : Voices Media Set
MB942 iWork '09 Retail
MB943 iWork '09 Family Pack
D4831 iWork '09 Retail Activation Key
D4898 iWork '09 Family Pack Activation Key
Virtually all of Apple's retail software was declared "end of life" on Wednesday in a notification sent to resellers. Products that will no longer be available in a boxed form include 'iWork '09, Aperture 3, iLife '11, Apple Remote Desktop, and various Jam Packs for GarageBand.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that the launch of the Mac App Store had hastened Apple's plans to cease the sale of boxed software in the company's retail stores. It was said that boxed software takes up a large amount of shelf space in the company's retail stores, and software is less profitable than devices like the iPhone or iPad.
Apple also moved this year to drastically reduce the number of games made available at its stores, whittling the number down from 32 to 8. Customers are instead advised that they can download titles for Mac OS X from the Mac App Store.
Apple also cut some products from its stores to clear shelf space, including printers and scanners. But unlike the software, which has been removed completely, the hardware options are available for sale if a customer requests them.
The full list of applications declared "end of life" by Apple on Wednesday to resellers is included below:
MC171 Apple Remote Desktop 3.3 10 Managed Systems
MC172 Apple Remote Desktop 3.3 Unlimited Managed Systems
D4222 Xsan 2 VL 10+
D4223 Xsan 2 VL 10+ EDU INST
MC186 Xsan 2 Single License
MC189 Xsan 2 Media Set
D2977 Xsan 2 MAINT 36 MOS SINGLE
D3132 Xsan 2 MAINT 36 MOS SINGLE EDU INST
D2966 Xsan 2 MAINT 36 MOS 10+
D3133 Xsan 2 MAINT 36 MOS 10+ EDU INST
MB957 Aperture 3 Retail
MC455 Aperture 3 ZU Retail
MB959 Aperture 3 Upgrade
MC456 Aperture 3 ZU Upgrade
D4855 APERTURE 3 TRIAL ACTIV KEY RETAIL
D4857 APERTURE 3 TRIAL UPGRADE ACTIV KEY
MC623 iLife '11 Retail
MC625 iLife '11 Family Pack
MA371 Jam Pack : Remix Tools Retail
MA374 Jam Pack : Remix Tools Media Set
D3057 Jam Pack : Remix Tools VL 10-99 EDU
D3059 Jam Pack : Remix Tools VL 100-999 EDU
D3061 Jam Pack : Remix Tools VL 1000+ EDU
MA375 Jam Pack : Rhythm Section Retail
MA378 Jam Pack : Rhythm Section Media Set
D3063 Jam Pack : Rhythm Section VL 10-99 EDU
D3065 Jam Pack : Rhythm Section VL 100-999 EDU
D3067 Jam Pack : Rhythm Section VL 1000+ EDU
MA319 Jam Pack : Symphony Orchestra Retail
MA322 Jam Pack : Symphony Media Set
D3264 Jam Pack : Symphony Orchestra VL 10-99 EDU
D3265 Jam Pack : Symphony Orchestra VL 100-999 EDU
D3266 Jam Pack : Symphony Orchestra VL 1000+ EDU
MA211 Jam Pack : World Music Retail
D3545 Jam Pack : World Music VL 10-99 EDU
D3546 Jam Pack : World Music VL 100-999 EDU
D3547 Jam Pack : World Music VL 1000+ EDU
MA214 Jam Pack : World Music Media Set
MA990 Jam Pack : Voices
D4180 Jam Pack : Voices VL 10-99 EDU
D4181 Jam Pack : Voices VL 100-999 EDU
D4182 Jam Pack : Voices VL 1000+ EDU
MA993 Jam Pack : Voices Media Set
MB942 iWork '09 Retail
MB943 iWork '09 Family Pack
D4831 iWork '09 Retail Activation Key
D4898 iWork '09 Family Pack Activation Key
Comments
Or a reseller, I guess.
The last two items on the list end with "Activation Key". Were they selling boxes with nothing more than activation keys?
Not a fan. I know it's the 'way of the future' but we are too reliant on the internet and this software distribution model. I prefer to have the software on a format that is unlikely to fail.
CD's fail more often than the Internet.
Not a fan. I know it's the 'way of the future' but we are too reliant on the internet and this software distribution model. I prefer to have the software on a format that is unlikely to fail.
So download it and then put it on NAND, optical disc, HDD, magnetic tape, or stone tablets as a series of 1's and 0's.
CD's fail more often than the Internet.
I have plenty of install CDs that are still good. One uses a CD install disk maybe once and it gets put away. Why would they fail?
Meanwhile, I have a client moving into a new facility of 50,000 square feet outside of Petaluma, CA. All they can get is a T1 line at 3Mbps. The Internet availability is pathetic in this country. Give me a disk. I can't wait days to download and install Lion on five Macs.
How is one supposed to buy Jam Packs now? Are they available on the App Store?
Not at this time. Also, the link in Garageband » Learn about Jam Packs links to http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/jam-packs.html but is now a dead page on Apple's site. Makes me think Jam Packs are going away or there is an update to Garageband that will put Jam Packs within the app much like Lesson Store.
This could be significant if others follow, reducing the environmental footprint of the software industry.
The last two items on the list end with "Activation Key". Were they selling boxes with nothing more than activation keys?
YES, when you could buy MobileME, it was a box with an activation code inside and nothing more. I have one still at home.
I have plenty of install CDs that are still good. One uses a CD install disk maybe once and it gets put away. Why would they fail?
Meanwhile, I have a client moving into a new facility of 50,000 square feet outside of Petaluma, CA. All they can get is a T1 line at 3Mbps. The Internet availability is pathetic in this country. Give me a disk. I can't wait days to download and install Lion on five Macs.
1) Technically 3Mbps is two DS-1(T1 lines) and is slightly over 3Mbps. This is a solid connection and the not the shared, burst connections of consumer DSL, cable, or cellular.
2) Lion is 3.6 gigabytes which is 29491.20 megabits. Divide that by 3 equals 9,830.40 seconds; divide that by 60 equals 163.84 minutes; divide that by 60 equals is under 3 hours.
3) Now that you have the file you can follow any one of the many simple instructions to create a bootable installer.
CD's fail more often than the Internet.
But it is much easier to replace a CD than the internet. Plus, after you use the CD, put it in a sleeve and file it safely away. How is the disc going to fail exactly?
Not a fan. I know it's the 'way of the future' but we are too reliant on the internet and this software distribution model. I prefer to have the software on a format that is unlikely to fail.
I thought the same when music downloads first came along - absolutely hated the idea of not owning something physical.
Once I got over that, it's given me no problems at all. In practice, my music is much safer now than it was, in that I have it on the hard drive of my Mac, and the Time Machine drive, whereas I only used to have one copy of a very damageable CD.
The thing I will miss is mindless browsing of the shelves in a software shop, but I'll get over that as well.
But it is much easier to replace a CD than the internet.
But it is much easier to replace a CD than the internet. Plus, after you use the CD, put it in a sleeve and file it safely away. How is the disc going to fail exactly?
If it's a burned disc instead of a stamped retail disc, the dye degrades over time making it unreadable. All discs of course have their usual failure points: scratches, unreadable sectors, laser error, etc...
But it is much easier to replace a CD than the internet. Plus, after you use the CD, put it in a sleeve and file it safely away. How is the disc going to fail exactly?
Well, considering you can redownload apps bought on the MAS, short of Apple going out of business, I don't see how your filing away a CD (which still degrades, even when filed away) is safer than redownloading from Apple's servers.
The full email from Apple didn't say it was discontinuing the boxed versions, just no longer stocking them in brick and mortar stores. They specifically said that the software is still available at the Apple ONLINE Store. Not the app store, the online store which is store.apple.com. And sure enough, all the boxed software like SL and iWork is still available there - you can still buy them, you just need to order online and have the boxes mailed to you.
They also specifically mentioned Logic, it will still be sold in boxes in apple stores and other resellers.