If you sold the shares 1/1/18, there’s nothing to be decided now.
You can elect with the tax return to pay all the tax on the gains in the first year, or prorata to the principal payments received (over the 10 years). You’ll have taxable interest income each year, regardless.
There’s an intervening schedule for an installment sale, but the income ultimately ends up in the same place as Apple sold through a brokerage, yes.