Apple Is Discontinuing Its Physical Photo Printing Service
Credit: AppleToggle Dark Mode
Apple will be discontinuing its first-party physical photo printing service later this year, according to a pop-up message present in the latest version of macOS.
A new message in macOS 10.13.6, first spotted by 9to5Mac, states that final orders using the built-in service must be made before September 30, 2018 — suggesting that Apple is phasing out the service completely this year.
In other words, Mac users will now need to opt for third-party options to continue making physical photo books, calendars, prints and cards.
The pop-up message also includes a recommendation by Apple to download a Photos Project Extension from the Mac App Store. The API was first introduced in macOS High Sierra, and allows for third-party services to integrate their user interface within the Photos app.
Some apps that support Photos Project extensions include Shutterfly, Mimeo Photos, Wix, GoodTimes, and WhiteWall.
It’s worth noting that beta versions of macOS Mojave don’t have any references to Apple’s first-party photo printing service.
What Is It?
Apple’s Photo Print products have been around since 2002. When it launched, it was integrated within the native iPhoto apps. It even stuck around when Apple switched from iPhoto to the Photos app around the time of OS X Yosemite.
Over the years, the physical printing service expanded its offerings from simple prints to photo books, albums and calendars. The platform made it easy and simple to create physical products directly from a native Apple application.
For some, it was a quintessential part of the Mac experience. But the service was never available on iOS devices, perhaps hinting at its eventual discontinuation.
Can I Still Order Photos?
If you’d like to order physical photo books directly from Apple, you have until the end of September to do so.
As far as pricing, print cards start at 99 cents, software landscape-style books start at $9.99, calendars start at $19.99, and panoramic posters range from $12.99 to $17.99.
