Apple Offering 'Free' Updates to All Owners of Aperture, iWork, and iLife; Not Worried About Unethical Users

IworkAs part of its efforts to ensure that all eligible software owners are able to upgrade to the latest versions of its software on the Mac App Store, Apple is intentionally allowing users with any version of Aperture, iLife and iWork installed on their system to upgrade to the latest versions on the Mac App Store -- even illegally acquired or trial versions.

In order to ensure that no legitimate software owners are left behind, according to MacTrast, Apple has eliminated its legacy software update mechanism entirely and is instead pushing all software updates onto the Mac App Store.

According to a MacTrast source at Apple:

It’s no coincidence that Apple’s support site doesn’t have downloads for the new Aperture, iWork, and iLife updates. They aren’t in our Software Update system either – and there’s a good reason for that. With Mavericks, we have changed the way we distribute updates for legacy versions of our apps

Rather than maintain separate updates for these in addition to the Mac App Store versions of each app, Apple has decided to eliminate their legacy software update system for apps entirely. Instead, when Mavericks discovers legacy apps installed on your Mac, it provisions them as a Mac App Store purchase using your Apple ID. It saves us a lot of time, effort, and bandwidth. After the provision is complete, it will appear in your Mac App Store history as though you have purchased the Mac App Store version of the app.

While we are aware that this enables piracy of our apps for unethical users, Apple has never taken a strong stance or action against piracy in the past. We like to believe that our users are honest, even if that belief is in vain.

When the new apps were released on the Mac App Store, many users with legitimate copies were unable to upgrade to the latest versions, though many users who were having difficulties seem to be able to upgrade now.

As a result of Apple's changes, all users with older versions of Aperture, iWork or iLife installed -- even if acquired through less-than-ethical means -- should be able to upgrade to the latest versions through the Mac App Store.

Top Rated Comments

Virtualball Avatar
116 months ago
We like to believe that our users are honest, even if that belief is in vain.

Damn. A+ for Apple!
Score: 109 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BeyondtheTech Avatar
116 months ago
Unlike Microsoft, where all customers are treated as criminals.
Score: 101 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Klae17 Avatar
116 months ago
Free software to sell the sexy hardware. I'm liking this entire week.
Score: 78 Votes (Like | Disagree)
britboyj Avatar
116 months ago
Good. Can we stop people from making Powerpoint presentations that look like a middle schooler made them and have people start using Keynote now please?
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gnasher729 Avatar
116 months ago

DO YOUR RESEARCH. Do NOT upgrade iWork yet unless you want to be severely disappointed.

I did upgrade and I'm not disappointed. And my text is bigger than yours.
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)
djtech42 Avatar
116 months ago
Thumbs up for Apple! :)
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

apollo pixel pal zoom

Apollo App Adds 'Pixel Pals' to the iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

Friday September 16, 2022 1:49 pm PDT by
Popular Reddit app Apollo was today updated with support for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, and Apollo developer Christian Selig decided to implement a fun little feature -- a "tamagotchi" for the Dynamic Island. The app update adds a small little creature into the area above the Dynamic Island on the new iPhone models. It can be customized into a cat, dog, hedgehog, fox, or axolotl, and the ...
iphone 14 pro max deep purple

10 Settings to Check Out on iPhone 14 Pro

Saturday September 17, 2022 4:53 pm PDT by
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have started to arrive to customers around the world. For those who have upgraded to one of the devices, we have put together a list of 10 useful settings that are worth checking out below. Some of the settings are exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro models, while others were introduced in iOS 16 for a wider range of iPhones. New Settings for iPhone 14 Pro...
iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island Maps

Warning: iOS 16.1 Beta Breaking GPS on iPhone 14 Pro Models

Saturday September 17, 2022 7:10 am PDT by
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max owners should be aware that the iOS 16.1 beta is preventing the GPS from working properly on the devices for many users. Anyone who relies on location tracking should avoid the beta for now. Bugs are common with beta software, but this issue affects a core function of the iPhone, prompting us to share this warning. iPhone 14 Pro users who already installed ...
airpods pro 2

AirPods Pro 2: Six New Features If You're Upgrading

Monday September 19, 2022 4:26 am PDT by
The new second-generation AirPods Pro will begin arriving to customers on Friday, September 23. For customers still using the first-generation AirPods Pro or older AirPods models, there are several new features and changes you can look forward to using. We've outlined six new significant features, changes, and improvements that the new second-generation AirPods Pro offer compared to older...
iphone 14 pro dynamic island

Dynamic Island Expected to Expand to All iPhone 15 Models

Sunday September 18, 2022 7:06 am PDT by
Apple plans to expand the Dynamic Island to all four iPhone 15 models released next year, according to oft-accurate display industry analyst Ross Young. The feature is currently exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. In a tweet, Young said he expects the Dynamic Island to be available on the standard iPhone 15 models next year. However, he still does not expect the standard...
iPhone 14 Pro Rear Camera

iPhone 14 Pro Camera Shaking and Vibrating in Apps Like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram for Some Users

Sunday September 18, 2022 7:53 pm PDT by
Following the launch of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, some early adopters of the devices have noticed that the rear camera's main lens vibrates uncontrollably when the camera is opened in apps such as Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, resulting in shaky video. The issue does not appear to affect the built-in Camera app. The issue has been reported by users across Twitter, Reddit, Ti...
ios 16 clipboard prompt

Apple Executive Responds to Annoying iOS 16 Copy and Paste Prompt: 'Absolutely Not Expected Behavior'

Monday September 19, 2022 6:49 am PDT by
Apple has responded to user complaints regarding an annoying pop-up in iOS 16 that asks for user permission if an app wants to access the clipboard to paste text, images, and more. The new prompt was added to iOS 16 as a privacy measure for users, requiring that apps ask for permission to access the clipboard, which may have sensitive data. The prompt, however, has become an annoyance for...
iphone 14 lineup

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro Max Charging Speeds Tested: Here's What to Know

Sunday September 18, 2022 1:15 pm PDT by
Chinese website Chongdiantou has tested a variety of Apple power adapters with the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro Max, providing useful data about charging speeds and revealing which charger is the most valuable for fast charging. The short answer is to choose Apple's 30W USB-C power adapter, which at $39 is the company's lowest-priced charger that can charge the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro ...
iphone 14 pro max deep purple

Apple Investigating iPhone 14 Pro Models Freezing After Data Transfers

Sunday September 18, 2022 7:47 am PDT by
Apple is investigating a bug that may cause iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models to freeze after customers transfer their data from an older iPhone, the company said today in an internal memo obtained by MacRumors. In the memo, Apple says it is "aware of this issue happening and is investigating." Apple specifically says that some customers may find their new iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 ...