Apple Launches “Creator Studio”, A Subscription Bundle of its Creative Apps

Apple has just launched a new subscription bundle of creative applications for a pretty low price of $12.99 a month, or $129 a year. Called “Creator Studio”, the bundle includes Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Motion, Compressor, and Pixelmator Pro. Weirdly though, it also includes Pages, Keynote and Numbers, which are already free. The value of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro combined would be about $600, so the subscription price is pretty good.

It’s also important to note that Apple is continuing to offer these applications to buy outright through the App Store, and they claim in the small print that they will continue to update them for current owners. The addition of the former iWork applications, Keynote, Pages, and Numbers is a bit odd, though. These are currently available for free, and according to the Apple website, they will continue to be free. The “Creator Studio” versions will include additional “premium” content and apple intelligence features that won’t be in the stand-alone versions.

Also included is Pixelmator Pro, which Apple acquired about a year ago. This is a Photoshop like application, that’s actually been around for quite a while, but it looks like Apple’s updated it, and there’s an iPad version now too. This appears to be new, and not the same as the version of Pixelmator that was previously available for the iPad (Pixelmator classic - please correct me if I’m wrong on this). Pixelmator Pro previously available (and still is) as a stand-alone purchase of $49 so again, good value when you include everything else in this bundle.

Oddly missing from the bundle is Pixelmator’s companion, Photomator, which is still available as a stand-alone application on the App Store. This hasn’t been updated in over a year since the acquisition, so it’s unclear if Apple intends to just let this die, or if they are working on a new version to be included later.

Overall, I think this is an interesting development from Apple and harks back to the days of Final Cut Studio. It will be fascinating to see how this plays out in the long term, though. Apple will need to keep updating its applications and content for people to keep subscribing to this; otherwise people will get upset. This is unfortunately not one of Apple’s strong points. Remember when they were offering music lessons through Garage Band and promised to keep offering new ones, only for that to peter out and die? On the flip side, if they’re getting constant revenue for this, there is more of an impetus for them to keep updating. Time will tell, I guess.

As for me, I already own many of the applications here, although I was considering purchasing Logic Pro at some point, so I might just go down this route instead. The fact that you get the iPad versions too is pretty good value as well, so it’s something I will definitely consider. It’s good to see Apple actively pursuing the creative market again.

Now just bring back shake and Aperture. Please!!!