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Apple's 'Creator Studio' App Bundle Now Available for $12.99 Per Month
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Will software update now vanish for users that purchases most of these apps (Logic/Motion/Pixelmator) ?
So if you update Pages, numbers & keynote on macOS, you get a weird message saying you must get the new version that this version is no longer being updated. So apparently we have to uninstall the old version and download the new versions on macOS... Why? Because they wanted to go with Universal Apps, already noticed all the new apps are Universal for both macOS & iPadOS.
As someone who works a lot on games (I'm a one man team) and has to make promotional material (Pixelmator Pro), and edit trailers (Final Cut Pro), this is a fair deal. This is probably because I'm quite new to the Mac, and I haven't bought any standalone apps, but I'm not spending the 4000 NOK for standalone Final Cut Pro (even then it is probably not getting some of the features in Creator Studio) if I can just subscribe to Creator Studio and get the add on apps plus Pixelmator Pro
It's just my preference 🤷♀️
It's just my preference 🤷♀️
Hang on, I don't understand this. There's an update now available to my iPhone Numbers app, which in the App Store is described as "now part of Apple Creator Studio'. So if I update it, do I have to subscribe to that, or is that an optional upgrade via the app?
Oh, Apple. It is becoming more and more difficult to love you. I never thought I'd see the day when core apps were freemium. The "deal" has always been that we pay the "Apple tax" on premium products because of the ecosystem, including free apps. This begins the process of changing that "contract" completely. This is actually a big deal because it is the era of Apple taking customers for granted. I have no doubt whatsoever that this also begins the process of a two-tier macOS, where you will have the option of purchasing advanced features. Remember that Apple executive from previous legal disclosures who advised against "leaving money on the table": this philosophy is on display more and more. Apple, fat with cash, won't leave a penny on that table.
They still are. You can download the new versions and use them for free. You only need to pay if you want to use the AI features.
No, the apps are still free to use. You only subscribe if you want the new AI features.
What's old is new again.
Because you haven't downloaded the new subscription version, "Final Cut Pro: Create Video"
I was wondering the same thing. What time does Apple usually put out globally significant press releases? At time of typing this comment it's a bit before 7:30am in California so maybe there's still time to see it announced via a press release today although I'm not holding my breath on that one.
I'm planning a move to Mac after over 30+ years as a Windows user and I'm waiting for the 14" M5 Pro MacBook Pro to be released before making my first Mac purchase so that is the Apple announcement I'm most eagerly anticipating at the moment.
Sounds like you just updated the existing previous versions with bug fixes. The new versions are separate apps in the App Store.
How many times will people fall for this trap? It has happened so many times, one would think everyone knows what will happen.
You get in the system, you depend on it, they raise the price ridiculously, you spend 50x what you would have before.
Really how do you still fall for this?
There’s a special place in hell waiting for those who continue to push the insidious subscription business model.
Instead of competing with Google Workspace, Apple decided to monetise the three hipsters who still use iWork apps, and I absolutely hate it :/
You used to get the full version without being nudged to upgrade. Now, every time you create a document, you’re forced to see the paid templates...
You used to get the full version without being nudged to upgrade. Now, every time you create a document, you’re forced to see the paid templates...
...for somebody who actually needs Final Cut, and Logic and Pixelmator Pro and iWork.
I'm sure some "renaissance people" who write the script, edit movies, write the score, create the poster and do the accounts will need all of those - but many people are only going to need one or two.
As long as the standalone/one-off versions are only missing AI features, online services and actively curated content libraries then that shouldn't be a problem... Except that now the incentive for Apple is to double-down on AI and online features to drive people to subscriptions rather than improving the core functionality of the apps - so the worry is that is a step towards enshirtification.
So - if you just want Logic Pro on Mac - you can currently pay $200 one-off and (at least until now) have got free updates forever, and even if they dry up you can continue to use it until its borked by a MacOS upgrade that you have to install (which could easily give you 5+ years). Or, you can pay the same $200 spread over 16 months after which you have nothing unless you go on paying.
Trouble is, we seem to have gone from one extreme to the other - $200 for Logic Pro (with no track restrictions and a huge bundle of samples and virtual instruments) is an absolute steal compared to the full versions of Ableton, Pro Tools, Bitwig etc. I got the whole Pro Apps bundle for $200 (I.e. same price as just one app, so why not?) on an Education deal back in 2017 and have received 10 years of free upgrades witout paying a penny. That's nice, but really not sustainable (OK, Apple could treat it as a loss-leader to promote Mac sales - but only if the numbers add up). I'd rather see the old-fangled idea of charging maybe 25% for upgrades than a shift to subscriptions.
But I genuinely doubt if there is one single person that would use all those apps though.
This Icon pretty much sums up my attitude toward the subscription trend.