The new version is available to buy in the US online store now, and undoubtedly heading to other international online stores soon, though the Aperture site has now got the low-down on the new features.
The print products now have the nice books I've been complaining about.
There's also a list of 100 new features in Aperture, but things like customizable double click behavior isn't a feature.
The Aperture 1.5.6 Update addresses issues related to performance, improves overall stability, and supports compatibility with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Other specific issues addressed in this release include:
- Resolves some minor compatibility issues with iPhoto 7.1, which organizes images by Event rather than Roll.
- Addresses issues related to metadata and sort order when sharing previews with iLife Media Browser.
- Improves reliability of queries based on Import Session.
- Addresses reliability when recovering an Aperture Library from a Vault.
This update is recommended for all Aperture users.
But still no updates to the print products offered.
Apple's next version of it's OS X operating system, Leopard, has 300 features, many of which I couldn't be bothered with. The most interesting is that Mail will have a built in RSS reader. I'd use that if I didn't already shell out $25 for NewsFire. Stationary? Nah, I try to send plain text emails. Forward as attachment? I was wondering when this would show up, Thunderbird and Evolution both already do it. To-do's? Aren't those already there, just in iCal? What other useless features are there:
It seems the overwhelming majority of this list is fluff. I could get it for $107 (corporate discount) but I'd be hard-pressed to justify buying it at even half of that price. Time Machine looks interesting, but I manage my own backups just find, thanks.
Now if only I could get the photo books I want. Apple just isn't offering anything I want, let alone need.
Following up on yesterday's discussion with Apple's print products support group, I've decided to voice my opinion directly to Apple's Aperture group. Hopefully enough people will do this and maybe Apple will update Aperture.
If not, I'll just have to look elsewhere for photo books, at which point, I'd probably have that company take care of normal prints, as well.
So there's new print products from Apple, including photo books that look really nice. The new iPhoto 2008 users can order these as iPhoto 2008 has been updated for these new products. However, the update for Aperture, 1.5.4, only makes Aperture work with all the new iLife crap. It doesn't update the print products available to Aperture users. So I sent Apple's print products support group a message, playing a little dumb:
There are new books described on the Apple site that look really nice. I never liked the way the old ones looked, which is why I've never bothered to order a photo book via Aperture. When will I be able to order the new books through Aperture?
The response I got:
Thank you for contacting Apple Photo Services Customer Support. My name is Mike and I'll be helping you today.
I understand you've been reluctant to order books from Apple Photo Services in the past. I see you've discovered some of the new options available for iPhoto 7 customers and you'd like to know when these designs will be made available to Aperture customers.
Thank you for your inquiry. I'm sorry, but I can't comment on rumors about decisions, products, programs, or promotions that Apple has not officially announced.
By withholding comment, Apple hopes to protect customers from making decisions based on information that is incomplete, inaccurate, or subject to change before the formal announcement. Apple believes this is the best way to ensure that all customers are treated fairly.
Boo. It would suck if paying Aperture users (the prosumers and professionals who pay more, assuming no student discount) didn't get the new stuff that the standard Mac users did. Yes, the upgrade to iLife isn't free. However, in the next moth or so, all new computers will be coming with OS X Leopard and the latest iLife. At that point, if a user buys Aperture, they will have paid for the privilege of having ugly photo books available.
Here's to hoping that Apple puts whatever code is necessary into Aperture to let Aperture users order the nicer books.
