Apple ships Aperture 1.1, reduces price
updated 09:00 am EDT, Thu April 13, 2006
Apple ships Aperture 1.1
Apple today released Aperture 1.1, a major update to the all-in-one post production tool for photographers that runs natively on both Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs. Aperture 1.1 features dramatically improved RAW image rendering and a new set of advanced RAW adjustment controls. Aperture 1.1 also delivers impressive speed gains on any Mac including desktop performance on a MacBook Pro with image adjustments and searching up to 4x faster, according to the company. Apple also reduced the price of the application to $300 to put it into "reach of anyone shooting with a digital SLR camera." In addition, early adopters of Aperture 1.0 can claim a $200 coupon ($100 for education users) redeemable at the Apple Online Store as a "thank you for their support," the company said.
"Since Aperture launched just over four months ago, we've been incredibly focused on improving image quality and performance, working closely with pro photographers to get it right in 1.1," said Rob Schoeben, Apple's vice president of Applications Marketing. "With the RAW quality and overall speed of Aperture 1.1 and its new low price, there's never been a better time for pros and hobbyists alike to take the art and craft of photography to the next level."
The company said that RAW image rendering in Aperture 1.1 is greatly improved in areas such as noise reduction, sharpening, and highlight recovery. The tool now features new RAW Fine Tuning controls that allow photographers to tweak decode settings such as boost, sharpening and chroma blur. Version 1.1 also offers a new built-in color meter that displays pixel values in RGB, Lab or CMYK in the Adjustments HUD (heads up display) or in Aperture's Loupe magnifying viewer.
The update also brings enhanced export controls that make it easier to output images at specific resolutions and improve the handling of layered Photoshop files. In addition, Aperture 1.1 offers support for the Nikon D200 and Canon 30D, as well as dozens of reliability and performance improvements.
Apple also said that Aperture 1.1 delivers significant performance gains on both PowerPC-based and new Intel-based Macs. The company also touted performance gains on a MacBook Pro--on common repetitive workflow tasks such as Lift and Stamp and searching--of up to 4 times faster than on a PowerBook G4.
Price is right... finally
04/13, 10:12am reply
I've been to a live Adobe Seminar on their LightRoom ßeta product. Not once did it bug out during a one hour demo. It was very fast on the MacBook Pros they were using while hooked up to projection monitors and the demonstrator kept whispering to himself "damn, this is fast" (without realizing his mike was picking that up). The product's new interface and work-flow on Beta2 was incredibly similar to Apple's Aperture. However... their product has a long ways to go. The depth to work-flow is not there yet and the colour correction controls are far from being as slick as Apple's, etc. However, that doesn't mean they're not giving Apple a run for their money - which is now obvious with the new price drop and improved performance. Consumers are the ones who will win in the end with these two wonderful products.
DahlBryn
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2004
refund!!!
04/13, 10:29am reply
How many companies do you know that will offer a refund to early adopters when they drop the price of an update. What's seldom is wonderful! An outstanding and honourable move by Apple! Might just nip out and buy a copy now!
Feathers
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 1999
feathers is right
04/13, 10:48am reply
Yeah, classy move. I'm much more tempted by Aperture now, too. Too bad my PowerBook won't run it. But a new MB Pro would do rather nicely....
beverson
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Oct 1999
What about CAN customers?
04/13, 01:09pm reply delete
What about CANADIAN early adopters? Rebate coupon on apple.com is for US only? No mention on apple.ca except price has been changed to 349$ (down from 599$) on canadian store... Quite unfair if it stays that way..?
SIMPLEDETAIL
Joined:
makes me very happy
04/13, 01:19pm reply
was frustrated by the price, and the lack of D200 support. this makes me a very happy camper. can't wait to have my workflow streamlined down to one app, versus the multiple i have to use now: Nikon Capture > Adobe Bridge > Photoshop.
and the rebate is a classy move :-)
where's Testudo to come in and talk trash about how they never should have released it in the first place. and how microsoft paint is a much better option for most users???
rtbarry
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001