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Apple Acquires Photo Editing App Maker Pixelmator
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Kinda, but Apple is no different than other big tech companies in purchasing full products or patents.
iMovie was produced separate of Macromedia in-house by Apple.
Claris is also a grey area as it was originally a subsidiary of Apple Computer, that later spun off (mostly FileMaker). Other products were effectively re-absorbed back into Apple.
Many of your footnote items are more patent purchases than fully developed services or functions that Apple uses now.
Sheesh! All the pessimism. I guess it’s to be expected in MacRumors forums. 🥲
This is good news! People seem to have forgotten why Aperture was discontinued. Apple acknowledged that it needed a ground up rebuild and Apple didn’t want to take it on, specially given their warm relationship with Adobe at the time that has since cooled.
Apple now has a ready-made Aperture replacement in Photomator that already plugs into the Photos app in a seamless cross-app editing workflow.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pixelmator’s clumsy name replaced with “Aperture” or new branding while retaining its UI pretty much as is and with Apple’s resources giving the app room to grow into the future.
As a photographer and a Pixelmator user, I’m excited for what’s to come!
This is good news! People seem to have forgotten why Aperture was discontinued. Apple acknowledged that it needed a ground up rebuild and Apple didn’t want to take it on, specially given their warm relationship with Adobe at the time that has since cooled.
Apple now has a ready-made Aperture replacement in Photomator that already plugs into the Photos app in a seamless cross-app editing workflow.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pixelmator’s clumsy name replaced with “Aperture” or new branding while retaining its UI pretty much as is and with Apple’s resources giving the app room to grow into the future.
As a photographer and a Pixelmator user, I’m excited for what’s to come!
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I don't believe Apple will introduce a subscription model for software just yet. This already could have done that with Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro. But will do put features of Pixelmator/Photomator into Photos, and might create a new software out of it. Maybe to replace iMovie, since Pixelmator Pro has some video editing functionality. I might even be free. But it won't be good for competition.
A lot of people are mentioning Aperture, which keeps making me blink. Pixelmator and Pixelmator Pro aren't simple photo editors – they're full-fledged paint, draw and graphic design apps. Apple has never really had one of these to offer, and the Pixelmator team have always embraced and emphasized Mac-native technologies and presented themselves in Apple's own spirit and style. It's felt like their mission has always been to provide the built-in Mac graphic design app simply because Apple hadn't.
A couple of people have mentioned Logic as well, and this feels much more like that. Logic is a true pro app that Apple has nurtured and developed into something far more powerful and valuable for its price.
It also reminds me of the good old iWork apps: Pages, Keynote and Numbers – the point at which they decided they shouldn't have to rely squarely on Microsoft for only halfway Mac-like office productivity apps. (It even reminds me of the first version of Safari – the same idea with respect to Internet Explorer.) This seems like that, but for Adobe and Photoshop.
A couple of people have mentioned Logic as well, and this feels much more like that. Logic is a true pro app that Apple has nurtured and developed into something far more powerful and valuable for its price.
It also reminds me of the good old iWork apps: Pages, Keynote and Numbers – the point at which they decided they shouldn't have to rely squarely on Microsoft for only halfway Mac-like office productivity apps. (It even reminds me of the first version of Safari – the same idea with respect to Internet Explorer.) This seems like that, but for Adobe and Photoshop.
I hope you’re right, and I agree with you. Unfortunately, once Apple takes hold of something, they often add extra features. 🤦
You do know that Photomator already existed and was available on the market, right?
Just noticed that Pixelmator closed their community today also.
Greed knows no borders, apparently. If you’re a Pixelmator user you shouldn’t be happy about this at all.
They will. Never forget the perfect Dark Sky.
NO!!!
Apple, just let the Pixelmator team do their jobs. Don’t come up with things to make it magical, or dumb it down in exciting ways you think we’re gonna love…
Apple, just let the Pixelmator team do their jobs. Don’t come up with things to make it magical, or dumb it down in exciting ways you think we’re gonna love…
Photomator, DxO PhotoLab, ON1 Photo Raw, Capture One, Darktable, there are plenty of options!
Noooooooooo!
Ok, thinking about it, this is pretty good for Apple customers who dont currently use Pixelmator- Its great.
For existing Pixelmator users like myself, not as great. Developer responsiveness will decrease, if the acquisitions of Logic and Final Cut are any measure, and the app will be absorbed into the Apple ecosystem will all the caveats that come from that.
Ultimately I dont see Apple putting tons of effort into developing it, and will more likely reign in its development.
Mighty be wrong, and they want to build a Photoshop killer, but hey.
Ok, thinking about it, this is pretty good for Apple customers who dont currently use Pixelmator- Its great.
For existing Pixelmator users like myself, not as great. Developer responsiveness will decrease, if the acquisitions of Logic and Final Cut are any measure, and the app will be absorbed into the Apple ecosystem will all the caveats that come from that.
Ultimately I dont see Apple putting tons of effort into developing it, and will more likely reign in its development.
Mighty be wrong, and they want to build a Photoshop killer, but hey.
Affinity was just purchased by Canva, a subscription design software company. While they've committed to maintaining perpetual licensing, that could change down the line.
My thoughts exactly. I've been using it since it came out and has been a pleasure to use. I use it to create svgs for 3d printing and clickable web graphics in django. Does it just fine.
From the release:
There will be no material changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator apps at this time.
Please, Apple, don't Californicate it...
Same here. I bought the lifetime version; I hope Apple doesn't sunset it and replace it with a subscription.
OTOH, if the made it part of iWork I'm cool with that. Photomator probably would be a good candidate for that.
Just don't dump it down to the point where it wants to do everything the way it thinks is best.
One of the best purchases by Apple ever.
All these years, and I yet have to find something as good as Logic.
Maybe some can find happiness in alternatives. I so far couldn't
I'm concerned. I actually use Pixelmator Pro pretty every single day for my work. I've recommended it to countless friends and clients and in many cases just bought them a copy as a gift. In fact, one whole studio I freelance at sometimes, uses PP daily for production. So yeah, concerned. I hope there's a new Resolve-like software on the way from Apple, once that rolls Final Cut, Motion, Pixelmator Pro, and an audio editor all into one. I'd pay for not (but not a subscription) but I doubt it.
Such acquisitions typically mean the opposite.
Hopefully the regulators block this. We don't need more conglomeration. If anything, conglomerates like Apple should be broken up to improve the job market and competition
Theres no chance this will even be more than a blip on their radar. There's no reason that could be justified this could be blocked. It's not like other trying to buy Adobe.
Wow! I've been using Pixelmator since around 2009 or so I think! I hope they keep the model of pricing the same - it's one of the key reasons I suggest Pixelmator Pro to so many people.
Actually, I'm quite ok with this. I've used Pixelmator/Pixelmator Pro for 15 of those 17 years after using GIMP for years, and It's been great - great GUI, consistent updates, great MacOS integration, great support, and much easier learning curve than Photoshop and GIMP without breaking the bank. If acquisition by Apple secures Pixelmator's (or whatever it eventually becomes...) future I'm all for it... as long as I don't have to repurchase it.
I don’t use iCloud at all for anything important either because its data storage and synchronization are too opaque for my taste