When Will Apple Integrate Pixelmator's Features into Its Apps?

Technology
Nov 04 2024 01:57 PM
P C Thomas

On November 1, 2024, the photo editing platform Pixelmator announced that it would be acquired by Apple. The company mentioned in a blog post that there will be "no material changes" to its Pixelmator Pro, iOS, and Photomator apps following the acquisition. Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.

Founded in 2007 in Lithuania, Pixelmator is renowned for its image editing software, including Pixelmator and Pixelmator Pro, which compete with Adobe Photoshop. The company also offers Photomator, a popular photo editing application. Apple has previously showcased Pixelmator apps at its keynote events, notably naming Pixelmator Pro its Mac App of the Year in 2018.

In its announcement, Pixelmator expressed admiration for Apple, saying, "We’ve been inspired by Apple since day one, crafting our products with the same razor-sharp focus on design, ease of use, and performance."

The acquisition is still pending regulatory approval, but Pixelmator reassured its users that current applications will remain unchanged for now, while hinting at "exciting updates to come."

Experts believe that Apple's acquisition of Pixelmator aligns with its strategy to enhance its artificial intelligence capabilities and integrate advanced features into its imaging apps. This follows a pattern seen with other tech giants who have invested in AI technologies.

Apple's previous acquisitions include the weather app Dark Sky, which was integrated into its native weather app, and the automation app Workflow, which evolved into Shortcuts. Many expect that Pixelmator's features will soon be integrated into Apple’s Photos app.

Unlike larger tech companies such as Microsoft and Google, Apple typically focuses on smaller acquisitions, with its most significant purchase being Beats in 2014 for $3.2 billion. The acquisition of Pixelmator marks another step in Apple's ongoing effort to strengthen its software offerings.