Apple Creator Studio

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Subscription model and business strategy

  • Many see Creator Studio as Apple adopting Adobe-style bundling, though others argue it’s closer to classic Microsoft-style suites.
  • Strong resentment of subscriptions surfaces (“renting” tools, perpetual lock‑in via habits and formats), but some accept them as the modern funding model for continuous development and anti‑piracy.
  • Several note this is also about smoothing Apple’s revenue as hardware refresh cycles lengthen, and about strengthening ecosystem lock‑in rather than maximizing software profit alone.

One‑time purchase vs subscription (“for now”)

  • The thread repeatedly clarifies: all Mac pro apps in the bundle still have one‑time purchase options, with long histories of free updates (notably Final Cut and Logic).
  • Many applaud the coexistence of both models and call the pricing “surprisingly cheap,” especially with family sharing and education discounts.
  • A large contingent distrusts that one‑time licenses or full feature parity will last; they expect gradual erosion via subscription‑only features, with some early evidence cited for AI/premium content gating.

Value and competition (Adobe, Canva, Resolve, Affinity)

  • Creator Studio is widely viewed as undercutting Adobe Creative Cloud on price, especially for smaller shops and hobbyists.
  • Several argue Adobe retains a major edge in breadth (fonts, stock, collaboration, deep industry standards).
  • Many professionals say DaVinci Resolve Studio already outclasses Final Cut for serious video work, and Affinity (now Canva-owned) is still seen by some as a stronger Photoshop/Illustrator alternative than Pixelmator.
  • Some see Canva (plus Affinity) as the real competitive target for this bundle, especially on the “easy, template‑driven” end.

iWork, AI, and productivity concerns

  • Keynote/Pages/Numbers remain free, but new AI features and “premium content” are paywalled through the subscription, raising fears that the free versions will become second‑class.
  • Some worry this will push more users to Google Docs or M365; others think Apple will be constrained by that competition.

Trust in Apple’s pro software & product gaps

  • Old wounds from Aperture’s discontinuation and the FCP7→FCPX transition fuel skepticism about investing in Apple pro tools long‑term.
  • Missing pieces noted: no true Lightroom‑class DAM (Photomator’s future seems unclear), no UI/UX design tool, and no serious publishing or drawing/animation counterpart.

Design, icons, and “Liquid Glass”

  • The new unified icon set and “Liquid Glass” visual language are heavily criticized as generic, less legible, and out of touch, though a minority likes the cohesion.
  • Some fear the pro apps’ UIs will be subordinated to this aesthetic at the expense of clarity and ergonomics.