Apple buys the Pixelmator app, good news or bad?

The developers of the superb image editing appPixelmatorhave itannounced last night: they signed abuyout agreement with Apple, pending approval from the competition regulatory authorities.

Obviously, the amount of the operation remains secret. Another unknown: the future of the application…

Apple x Pixelmator: for better or for worse?

Apple regularly acquires brands, applications and services to enrich its teams and its own products.

Some of the best-known buyouts includeDark Sky in 2020, the weather application,Shazam in 2017,Workflow en 2017also (the iOS automation application which gave birth to Shortcuts), Camel Audio in 2015 (audio effects which were subsequently integrated into Logic Pro), but alsoBeats en 2014(for 3 billion euros, one of the largest operations of its kind for the Californian firm), Siri in 2010 or even Emagic in 2002 (music production software).

If we look at the applications that Apple has gotten its hands on lately, we realize that from time to time,the evolution remains positive:the application continues its journey without too much change and above all without necessarily moving to a new financing system. Let's cite Shazam as an example here.

But there are also cases where the app simply disappears from the radar without any clue about a potential return as a native Apple service. We think of Dark Sky here.

And then, in between, there are apps like Workflow which are transformed into native functionality of Apple software (goodbye Workflow, hello Shortcuts).

So what can we hope for Pixelmator? Ideally, we would like the app to remain as is. This is a superb alternative to Photoshop, powerful, without being gas-factory or too inaccessible, and above all remaining financially affordable. Obviously, fear remains great about his disappearance. Some imagine a return of the Aperture app (former image processing software from Apple) thanks to the integration of the Pixelmator teams. Which could constitute an acceptable in-between, if the soul of Pixelmator remains present, with its three pillars:ease of use, successful ergonomics and advanced capabilities.

What do you say? Do you fear for the future of Pixelmator Pro?

Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.