iOS Today 786: Apple's Creator Studio
Podcast: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)
Hosts: Micah Sargent & Rosemary Orchard
Date: January 22, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of iOS Today dives deep into Apple's just-announced "Creator Studio" bundle—a suite of creative apps offered under a single subscription, much like Adobe Creative Cloud. Micah and Rosemary breakdown pricing, available apps, subscription vs. standalone purchases, and all the new AI-powered and collaborative features coming to Apple's creative ecosystem on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. The conversation also includes a candid discussion about real-world use cases, implications for students and creators, and audience feedback.
Main Discussion: Apple's Creator Studio
What Is Apple's Creator Studio?
- Announced January 13, 2026, Creator Studio is Apple’s all-in-one subscription suite for creative apps.
- Pricing:
- $12.99/month or $129/year
- Students and educators: $2.99/month or $29.99/year
- Family Sharing supports up to 5 users.
- Included Apps:
- Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Keynote, Pages, Numbers, Freeform
- Mac-only: Motion, Compressor, MainStage
Key Clarification:
"Are we going to make numbers, pages, keynotes unavailable? ...No, those apps are still free, but instead new features will be coming to those apps that will make them part of the subscription." — Micah (03:10)
Standalone Purchases
- You can still purchase Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, etc. individually.
- Existing owners keep their apps—only the new features require a subscription.
Subscription Model Pros & Cons
Upside: Accessibility & Family Sharing
"I think about, especially now...where you do have sort of creator and power user adults with children...having the ability...to let their kids use the apps and get used to them.” — Micah (06:59)
Downside: The "Vimes Theory of Boots"
Rosemary references economic theory from Terry Pratchett to highlight:
- Subscriptions help with upfront cost, but potentially cost more long-term.
- AI features require recurring fees due to server/training costs.
"Subscriptions have their ups and downs...these apps aren't going to switch to a different subscription system...AI inclusion...does actually need a subscription." — Rosemary (05:11)
Cross-Platform Use and Educational Focus
- Versatility:
- Apps like Logic Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Pixelmator Pro available for both Mac and iPad with one subscription.
- Motion, Compressor, and MainStage remain Mac-only.
- Educational Opportunity:
- Low pricing aims to get students and educators entrenched in Apple’s creative ecosystem early—a strategic move for long-term user loyalty.
- "By the time they finish...they’re going to be familiar with Final Cut Pro...afterwards...locked in because that’s the application they’re familiar with." — Rosemary (09:00)
App-by-App Breakdown
Freeform: Whiteboard Collaboration
- Allows for collaborative, visual brainstorming—images, text, links, sticky notes, mood boards.
- Neither Micah nor Rosemary are regular users.
- Micah: "I just have never had a use for it. I kind of feel bad about it." (12:13)
- Rosemary: "Completely Freeform is overwhelming and it freaks me out...I spent 45 minutes rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic and guess what? It still sinks at the end." (12:13)
- Looking for listener feedback/use-cases for Freeform.
iWork Suite Enhancements (Pages, Numbers, Keynote)
- Apps remain free; subscription unlocks:
- Premium templates and themes
- Content Hub: High-quality stock assets
- Image Playground: AI-powered on-device image creation
- Keynote: Generate entire presentation drafts from text outlines via AI
"Please can you take this outline and make it into a keynote for me? That is something that is massively time saving..." — Rosemary (17:49)
Final Cut Pro
- Subscription unlocks:
- Transcript search
- Visual object search (e.g., find all clips with "car")
- Beat detection for syncing video to music
- Montage Maker (AI-edited videos)—especially highlighted on iPad
"I'm very excited about Montage Maker...choose the content...it will use AI to analyze and edit together a video..." — Micah (21:05)
Motion & Compressor (Mac Only)
- Motion: Motion graphics and effects (Apple’s answer to After Effects)
- Compressor: Pro video export/conversion
Logic Pro
- AI Session/Synth Player: Guide AI musicians to jam with your project
- Chord ID: Automatic chord progression transcription
- Music Understanding: AI-powered improved search for loops/samples
MainStage (Mac Only)
- Live performance tool for musicians and DJs
- New AI-powered monitoring and setup features
Pixelmator Pro
- Focused on integrating the photomator features.
“Pro” vs. “None-Pro” Apps: Pixelmator’s Transition
- Pixelmator (classic) and Pixelmator (iOS) are being sunsetted.
- Pixelmator Pro to be focus; photomator future unclear.
“Non Pro is going away on iPhone as well, which is kind of sad...But what I feel really good about here is the one-time purchases are still available for people.” — Rosemary (26:59)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the value for students/educators:
“$2.99 a month or $29.99 a year for students and educators means that they're going to get a lot of people who want something that's a little more powerful...” — Rosemary (09:00)
-
Rosemary on Freeform’s chaos:
“I spent 45 minutes rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic and guess what? It still sinks at the end of the day because I was busy rearranging the content instead of creating the content.” (12:32)
-
Micah's Template Hack:
“I have made a custom template when I am doing recipe cards...for my specific Avery labels...” (15:14)
-
AI’s transformative role:
“Keynote...you’ll be able to use Apple Creator Studio features to generate a first draft of a presentation from a text outline. I think that’s interesting...” — Micah (17:35)
-
On Montage Maker in Final Cut Pro:
“...choose the content that you want to be part of your montage, and it will use AI to analyze and edit together a video...” — Micah (21:05)
-
On App and Purchase Options:
“You can always purchase Final Cut Pro. It's $300, $299.99; Logic Pro $200; Pixelmator Pro $50; Motion $50; Compressor $50; Mainstage $30 individually if you would like...” — Micah (29:22)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Apple Creator Studio announcement & pricing: 01:17 – 04:09
- Standalone purchases & subscription model explained: 04:09 – 09:00
- Apps available and cross-platform use: 09:00 – 10:08
- Freeform—opinions & open discussion: 10:08 – 14:46
- iWork suite/Keynote AI features: 14:46 – 19:00
- Final Cut Pro new features & Montage Maker: 19:00 – 21:05
- Pixelmator’s transition, app sunset & impact: 26:59 – 29:22
- SetApp mobile app store news: 29:22 – 35:37
Listener Feedback & Shortcuts Corner
-
Transitioning from iPad Pro to iPad Mini:
- Micah and Rosemary offer practical advice: try during the return period and compare screen utility differences with your phone and laptop.
- Rosemary: “I like having a dedicated device for that thing...My iPad Mini is more than good enough for this.” (41:54)
-
Shortcuts Request for Ham Radio Logging:
- Listener Andrew requests a Shortcut for quick location logging while driving.
- Rosemary gives a step-by-step on creating a Shortcut that captures location, timestamp, and voice input into a note or spreadsheet.
“We need to start our shortcut with...get current location. And then after we've got the location, we can do everything else and we can log it.” — Rosemary (48:03)
App Caps Segment (Fun Picks)
- Rosemary:
- Amazon iPhone 17 Pro Case with 360° Spin Stand
“...a ring built into the back of the phone case which rotates at basically any angle...It still works with my MagSafe Pop socket...less than 20 pounds...” (54:01)
- Amazon iPhone 17 Pro Case with 360° Spin Stand
- Micah:
- Spigen Classic LS Case
“...looks like an old school Mac...off white color...heavy, heavy texture...built-in magnets...cover over the camera control button...machined buttons...side button has hello engraved on it...” (56:43)
- Spigen Classic LS Case
Final Thoughts
- The hosts will continue monitoring Creator Studio’s rollout and user feedback (full availability January 28, 2026).
- Standalone, one-time app purchases remain available, but only the subscription unlocks new AI and advanced features—especially crucial for power users and educators.
- Community invited to share their use cases and Creator Studio experiences: iostoday@twit.tv.
Closing + Contact Links
- Club TWiT: Ad-free and premium podcast content for members.
- Contact:
- Email: iostoday@twit.tv
- Rosemary: rosemaryorchard.com
- Micah: @micahsargent or chihuahuacoffee.com
For Listeners Who Didn’t Tune In
This episode clearly details new opportunities and changes in Apple’s creative software lineup. The hosts take a balanced view of pros and cons, share personal anecdotes, and provide practical advice and creative solutions—making it a must-listen for Apple fans, students, and creative professionals navigating Apple's evolving ecosystem.