Jul 21, 2011 09:10 GMT  ·  By

Apple has announced End of Life (EOL) for several boxed software titles, including Mac OS X, iLife, iWork, and Aperture. The discontinuation entered in effect yesterday, July 20, 2011.

According to a note issued by Apple yesterday, the Cupertino, California company will be discontinuing boxed versions of several programs at Apple retail stores and Authorized Resellers.

“Effective July 20, 2011, the following select boxed software products are end of life (EOL) for resellers and Apple Retail Stores:

· Mac OS X Snow Leopard · Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server · iLife · iWork · Aperture · Apple Remote Desktop · Xsan · GarageBand Jam Packs · Mac Box Set”

Apple goes to note that “these products are now only available through the Apple Online Store, with the exception of GarageBand Jam Packs and Mac Box Set, which are EOL in all channels.”

Still available in all channels are retail box copies of Logic Express and Logic Studio, Apple confirmed.

The company is allowing resellers to sell their remaining inventory, and is even giving them the option to return all boxed software to Apple, if they wish to do so.

Resellers must review the standard policies and procedures regarding returns before proceeding with any action.

“Also effective July 20, 2011, configured-to-order preinstalled software is no longer available on the Apple Store for Resellers or the Apple Online Store,” the Mac maker added.

Apple has been actively phasing out boxed software for a long time now.

This became most visible when the company introduced the Mac App Store earlier this year. The Mac App Store now even allows users to download and install the latest Mac OS - Lion.

More indication that CDs are a thing of the past at Apple is the recently upgraded Mac mini which does away with the optical drive.

The Mac mini is Apple’s first desktop computer to ditch optical media, with the iMac and Mac Pro sure to follow in on its footsteps in the coming years.