Some Apple Apps Will No Longer Receive Every New Feature Without a Subscription

[jdawgnoonan]

I already subscribe to Office 365, do not need FCP, but am very interested in Pixelmator Pro and Logic. I wish/hope that there may be some other options. I would have already bought the one time purchase of Logic Pro if it included Mac and iPad and have debated subscribing to it for some time but the subscription was only the iPadOS version. Now that it appears that the subscription works for Mac and iPad I likely will subscribe if they maintain a stand alone subscription for that tool.

 

[Ubele]

I've got an old copy of Affinity Photo which is no longer being updated, the new version is subscription only.

Do you have Affinity Photo or Photo 2? Version 2 of Photo, Designer, and Publisher came out in 2022 and replaced the original versions. Although I get Adobe CC through my job, I bought the original Affinity products and version 2 to support the company, because they were so inexpensive and I liked that they were a non-subscription alternative to Adobe. The version 2 products still receive updates (or at least they have been).

Last year, Canva acquired Serif, the company that made Affinity products. Canva stopped selling the desktop versions of Photo 2, Designer 2, and Publisher 2, but announced that the iPad versions will be "free forever." The desktop versions are now bundled into a suite called Affinity by Canva. It's free, but advanced features require a Canva Pro subscription. I haven't played with it, so I can't comment about it.

 

[benwiggy]

I've got an old copy of Affinity Photo which is no longer being updated, the new version is subscription only.

No, you can get Affinity app for free. There's only a subscription required for the AI stuff and stock images.

 

[EatinPonies]

I really doubt that e.g. primary schools would switch to Resolve

The ones around me already have...

 

[jole]

Ok I’ll bite. if you want to get granular I do have internet at home (as everybody else in the civilised world, yes I own a phone (not sure the relevance). Anyone with a phone could use WiFi hotspots instead of having a contract btw.
I meant I don’t have any subscriptions with apple adobe Strava etc etc (technology)

Sorry for being snarky—just wanted point out that no-one is safe from subscriptions today.

At least in US is it almost impossible to avoid having at least a phone subscription. Closest would be getting a number from Google Voice, but even requires you to have a conventional line to (a) sign up, (b) direct your international calls to).

And unless you're a nomad, rent and utilities are subscriptions most people need.

In software and devices, most users would like to own over "renting". I have been there as well—fighting against subscriptions. Learning has been that anything that has connected software (or anything else that show as be COGS in vendor's financials), will need continuous revenue generation or the vendor will eventually break it. Few exceptions. Example: Some cameras can still be in the category of "no firmware updates needed ever", but new ones that need to connect to other devices need to maintain software for that connection or eventually become "bricks". TVs seem to be an exception, but even they increase pressure with continuously adding "spam" in their OS updates. Fairly "non-smart" devices like headphones, dishwashers, and even many cars can still live without subscriptions.

With this, subscriptions should probably just be accepted as more predictable value exchange between vendor and customer.

 

[Seoras]

Do you have Affinity Photo or Photo 2? Version 2 of Photo, Designer, and Publisher came out in 2022 and replaced the original versions. Although I get Adobe CC through my job, I bought the original Affinity products and version 2 to support the company, because they were so inexpensive and I liked that they were a non-subscription alternative to Adobe. The version 2 products still receive updates (or at least they have been).

Last year, Canva acquired Serif, the company that made Affinity products. Canva stopped selling the desktop versions of Photo 2, Designer 2, and Publisher 2, but announced that the iPad versions will be "free forever." The desktop versions are now bundled into a suite called Affinity by Canva. It's free, but advanced features require a Canva Pro subscription. I haven't played with it, so I can't comment about it.

I'm on Affinity Photo 1.10.8 which I think I bought some years ago from the App Store when Apple made the move to end support for 32bit apps and I lost the ability to use the copy of Adobe Photoshop I had.

Last time I checked Affinity 2 was a subscription and I decided just to keep the old v1 for now.
You and someone else's comments made me go and look and I see things have changed.
Looks like Affinity 2 is free now and named just Affinity. Cool. 😎

v1 had it's frustrations for me coming from PS but if this new version has fixed them I'll be avoiding the Apple creator subscription for a time anyway.

 

[MacHeritage]

Smart move. You won't need to pay the sub for the AI extras.

I'm tempted to buy FCP and Pixelmator Pro now, because it may be the last chance to buy them outright.

They will all be available to buy outright on the Mac App Store, as always. They are not changing that as they know people on the Mac want to own it outright and not do subscription.

 

[Slartibart]

Last time I checked Affinity 2 was a subscription and I decided just to keep the old v1 for now.
You and someone else's comments made me go and look and I see things have changed.
Looks like Affinity 2 is free now and named just Affinity. Cool. 😎

Affinity 2 is/was no subscription. The new Affinity (Studio) is actually v3 - the free version includes quite a bit of new tools like the vectoriser.

 

[Lioness~]

I would like to have the possibility to only subscribe to one of these apps with AI in periods, not the whole bundle.
Hope Apple will offer that later.

 

[benwiggy]

They will all be available to buy outright on the Mac App Store, as always.

It wouldn't be the first time a company promised to always offer something and then quietly withdraw it a year or so down the line.

Hope for the best, but plan for the worst!

 

[Neil J. Squillante]

You can always drop Apple Music, Apple News+, or Apple TV to keep your subscription budget the same. Creator Studio is more productive than any of those.

 

[amancalledsun]

In my post I said "iWorks threesome", which doesn't include iMovie or Garageband which I also never mentioned.
You've quoted my post but I'm left wondering if you actually read it.

I was responding to your points about FCP and subscription being a gateway for people who buy pro-level hardware, not the iWork piece. I use to wonder if you actually read my post as well.

 

[panjandrum]

Somewhere back in these threads I guessed that Apple would **ck up Pixelmator, and they did.

 

[VulchR]

Maybe read the article / the Apple News story, because you'll still get Keynote, Pages and Numbers free.
...

Only neutered versions.

 

[Lone Deranger]

Shame on Apple for monetising Numbers, Pages and Keynote. This is such a disappointing turn of events. 👎

 

[ThrawnTHX]

And this was the nudge to start canceling other Apple subscriptions. Thanks, you greedy pricks.

 

[alFR]

Only neutered versions.

No, the same ones as you get now.

Shame on Apple for monetising Numbers, Pages and Keynote. This is such a disappointing turn of events. 👎

They're still free.

 

[tranceme]

I thought the subscription was having to buy a new mac every few years because I don't get security or OS updates after Apple obsoletes them. Now, I have 2 subscriptions?

 

[Killbynumbers]

I thought the subscription was having to buy a new mac every few years because I don't get security or OS updates after Apple obsoletes them. Now, I have 2 subscriptions?

I won't be playing Apples game. I refuse to pay subscriptions and I don't even stream music because it's a monthly charge.

 

[Lone Deranger]

They're still free.

The difference is simple: everyone used to be the same kind of customer, with access to the same features. That will no longer be true. The free versions will no longer reflect Apple’s best effort. You now have to pay to receive that. That is the point. It degrades the value Apple offers its customers.

 

[MNLondon]

cheaper than microsoft office 365 and adobe suite….

For now....

 

[MNLondon]

If you are not interested in subscribing to the new Apple Creator Studio bundle introduced today, you will officially start to miss out on some new features.

Apple said some "exciting new intelligent features and premium content" in Pixelmator Pro, Keynote, Numbers, Pages, and Freeform will only be accessible with a Creator Studio subscription. In the U.S., a subscription costs $12.99 per month, or $129 per year, while college students can pay a lower $2.99 per month or $29 per year.

This means that if you bought Pixelmator Pro via one-time purchase, which will still be an option going forward, you will no longer have access to every new feature. However, Apple promises the app will continue to receive updates.

The one-time-purchase version of Final Cut Pro for Mac will also miss out on "premium content."

From the Final Cut Pro page on Apple's website:Apple told CineD that Final Cut Pro's new "intelligent" features Visual Search, Transcript Search, and Beat Detection will be included in both the Creator Studio and one-time-purchase versions of the Mac app, but it is not entirely clear to us if Final Cut Pro for Mac will receive every additional "intelligent" feature that follows in the future.

Overall, both versions of Final Cut Pro for Mac will continue to receive updates.

Fortunately, Apple's website says Logic Pro and MainStage will have all the same features whether they are subscription or one-time-purchase versions.

As for Keynote, Numbers, Pages, and Freeform, those apps will remain free, but some new intelligent features and content will likewise require a Creator Studio subscription. This means these apps are now effectively "freemium."

Here are a few of the first new features coming to Creator Studio subscribers:

• Pixelmator Pro: A new Warp tool lets you twist and shape image layers.
• Keynote, Pages, and Numbers: A new Content Hub provides access to high-quality photos and graphics, and there are new premium templates and themes.

In summary, existing users of Final Cut Pro and Pixelmator Pro never had to worry about paying extra to have every new feature or content pack, but that is no longer the case going forward. And while the Keynote, Numbers, Pages, and Freeform apps never cost money, some new features will now be locked behind a subscription. These changes will undoubtedly disappoint some Apple customers, while helping to boost the company's services revenue.

This article has been revised.

Article Link: Some Apple Apps Will No Longer Receive Every New Feature Without a Subscription

I think th

 

[MNLondon]

If you are not interested in subscribing to the new Apple Creator Studio bundle introduced today, you will officially start to miss out on some new features.

Apple said some "exciting new intelligent features and premium content" in Pixelmator Pro, Keynote, Numbers, Pages, and Freeform will only be accessible with a Creator Studio subscription. In the U.S., a subscription costs $12.99 per month, or $129 per year, while college students can pay a lower $2.99 per month or $29 per year.

This means that if you bought Pixelmator Pro via one-time purchase, which will still be an option going forward, you will no longer have access to every new feature. However, Apple promises the app will continue to receive updates.

The one-time-purchase version of Final Cut Pro for Mac will also miss out on "premium content."

From the Final Cut Pro page on Apple's website:Apple told CineD that Final Cut Pro's new "intelligent" features Visual Search, Transcript Search, and Beat Detection will be included in both the Creator Studio and one-time-purchase versions of the Mac app, but it is not entirely clear to us if Final Cut Pro for Mac will receive every additional "intelligent" feature that follows in the future.

Overall, both versions of Final Cut Pro for Mac will continue to receive updates.

Fortunately, Apple's website says Logic Pro and MainStage will have all the same features whether they are subscription or one-time-purchase versions.

As for Keynote, Numbers, Pages, and Freeform, those apps will remain free, but some new intelligent features and content will likewise require a Creator Studio subscription. This means these apps are now effectively "freemium."

Here are a few of the first new features coming to Creator Studio subscribers:

• Pixelmator Pro: A new Warp tool lets you twist and shape image layers.
• Keynote, Pages, and Numbers: A new Content Hub provides access to high-quality photos and graphics, and there are new premium templates and themes.

In summary, existing users of Final Cut Pro and Pixelmator Pro never had to worry about paying extra to have every new feature or content pack, but that is no longer the case going forward. And while the Keynote, Numbers, Pages, and Freeform apps never cost money, some new features will now be locked behind a subscription. These changes will undoubtedly disappoint some Apple customers, while helping to boost the company's services revenue.

This article has been revised.

Article Link: Some Apple Apps Will No Longer Receive Every New Feature Without a Subscripti

I think we are bring forced to pay for Apple's failure to create an Ai service of its own. I imagine hundreds of millions would have had to have been invested before the brakes were put on, and losses cut, in favour of pairing with an established Ai company. Siri continues without any development and will probably be cut loose in its current almost worthless form, as soon as possible.

 

[webkit]

Apple also under Steve Jobs….stopped charging for iWork, iLife, MobileMe and OS X updates.😉

iWork, iLife, and OS X didn't become "free" until after Steve Jobs' death

 

[webkit]

Timmy's greed is going right back to Apple's core service offerings. The next CEO is really going to earn his/her money unf**king Crook's disgusting dressing down of Apple.

The basic apps are still free. It was under Steve Jobs that Apple charged for Keynote, Pages, and Numbers as well as other apps like iMovie, GarageBand, etc.