Apple to stop making boxed software?

Thursday 10 February

Boxed Apple software could soon be a thing of the past

You know that nice feeling of cracking open the packaging of a shiny new piece of software and checking out the goodies inside? Well, Apple may be about to yank it away from you.

According to MacRumors, Apple is considering eliminating boxed software from Apple Stores altogether, steering consumers towards the new Mac App Store instead while also clearing up floorspace in stores for shiny new Macs and iPads.

The site’s sources claim a move to all-digital software could be coming “sooner rather than later”, and noted that new Mac sales now come with a personal set-up service to help you find your way around in the Mac App Store.

However, going all-digital does have the odd logistical issue. To start with, not all Apple software is even available for direct download yet, including iLife and iWork, Final Cut Studio, Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite, not to mention Mac OS X itself.

But with Apple clearly looking to cut out the middleman from software sales wherever possible right now, not to mention reduce overheads, we wouldn’t be surprised to see this rumour become a reality in the not-too-distant future.