Related coverage
Apple today updated Pixelmator Pro, the popular image editing app that it purchased in 2024 . Pixelmator Pro includes RAW image support for more cameras, new templates, improved support for SVG file exports, new keyboard shortcuts, and more. Some of the features like the keyboard shortcuts are limited to the Creator Studio version of Pixelmator Pro. Pixelmator Pro has a template and mockup section, which includes new app screenshot options and devices to use for app mockups on Apple devices. Apple has added support for the latest iPhone 17 models. SVG files exported from Pixelmator Pro will have fewer issues when opened in Adobe Illustrator, and there is an option to touch and hold an image on the canvas to see before and after edits from Color Adjustments and Effects tools. The sidebar is customizable using the toolbar setting options, and there are keyboard shortcuts for changing layer opacity, selecting layers when using Select Subject, cycling through blend modes, and swapping between layers. Apple's release notes for the Creator Studio version of Pixelmator Pro are below. Enjoy full support for compressed RAW images from Sony Alpha ILCE-7M5, FUJIFILM GFX 100S II, and FUJIFILM GFX 100RF cameras Work with High Efficiency (HE) and High Efficiency Star (HE*) RAW images from Nikon Z5II and Nikon Z50II cameras Open and edit RAW images from Panasonic LUMIX DC-S1RM2 cameras captured in High Resolution mode Discover the updated template and mockup categories, including App Screenshot, Bento Grid, and Devices, now featuring new iPhone 17 mockups Open SVG files exported from Pixelmator Pro in Adobe Illustrator with improved compatibility Touch and hold an image on the canvas to instantly compare before and after edits from Color Adjustments and Effects tools You can now customize the Pixelmator Pro Tools sidebar from the menu bar by choosing View > Customize Tools The iPad app was also updated with some of the keyboard shortcuts that were previously available in the Mac version of the app. New Keyboard Shortcuts Press and hold the Option key when choosing Select Subject to base the selection on all layers in a document Easily change layer opacity using number keys 1 through 9 in all supported tools Cycle through layer blend modes using the Shift-Plus and Shift-Minus keyboard shortcuts in all supported tools Use the Command-J keyboard shortcut to duplicate and Command-Shift-J to cut and paste the selected area Use the Option-Comma and Option-Period keyboard shortcuts to quickly switch between selecting topmost and bottommost layers in a document Use the Space bar to play or pause video playback in documents containing video layers The non-Creator Studio version of the app includes the same RAW image support and the new templates, but it lacks the other options that Apple added. Photomator, a photo editing sister app to Pixelmator Pro, was updated with the new RAW image support. Apple introduced Creator Studio earlier this year, and it incorporates apps like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. Because many of these apps existed before Creator Studio was developed, Apple offers a Creator Studio version and a standard version, which can be confusing. Unlocking Creator Studio features requires a Creator Studio subscription, priced at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. For Pixelmator Pro, Creator Studio-exclusive features include a warp tool, apparel mockups, and a dedicated ‌iPad‌ app. Related Roundup: iPhone 17 Tags: Apple Creator Studio , Pixelmator Buyer's Guide: iPhone 17 (Neutral) Related Forum: iPhone This article, " Apple's Pixelmator Pro Update Brings iPhone 17 Mockups, Keyboard Shortcuts, and Expanded Camera Support " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Apple today updated several apps designed for creators, including Logic Pro, Compressor, MainStage, Motion, Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Camera, Numbers, Keynote, and Pages. Apple has pushed updates for the iOS, iPadOS and macOS versions of the apps where applicable. Logic Pro includes a Step Reflex: Modern Garage Pack, featuring two-step beats, deep basslines, synths, and more. The update also includes an option to export a shareable file to preview how a spatial audio mix will sound when streamed on Apple Music . Preview of Dolby Atmos Mix Export a lightweight, shareable file to preview your spatial audio mix as it will sound when streamed on Apple Music -- playable on iPhone, iPad, or Mac Step Reflex Pack Get ready to bounce! Step Reflex: Modern Garage adds pristine polish to the iconic sound of '90s/early 2000s UK garage with gritty bass-heavy energy, immersive ambient atmospheres, and a sprinkle of EDM magic Whether you're crafting a dancefloor anthem or an introspective groove, this comprehensive collection is filled with punchy, two-step beats, rave-ready synths, deep basslines, and infectious vocal chops that will make your tracks pop Compressor, Motion, Final Cut Camera, Final Cut Pro, MainStage, Numbers, Keynote, and Pages have no new features, and the release notes only mention stability improvements and bug fixes. Apple's apps are included as part of the Creator Studio subscription that's priced at $12.99 per month or $129 per year, but apps like Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro can also be purchased standalone. Numbers, Pages, and other apps are free to use, but some features are limited to those who subscribe to Creator Studio. Tag: Logic Pro This article, " Logic Pro Updated With Step Reflex Sound Pack, Apple's Other Creator Apps Get Bug Fixes " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
With the MacBook Neo , Apple's A-series chips came back to the Mac, completing a lengthy journey from experiment to fully finished product. The MacBook Neo traces its roots to the 2020 Developer Transition Kit. Apple Silicon on the Mac began with an iPad chip, and now the MacBook Neo has taken things to the next level with a chip originally designed for an iPhone . Since 2020, every Mac, from the entry-level Mac mini to the powerful Mac Studio , has been powered by an M-series chip. The M1 was the first Apple-designed ARM chip made with the Mac in mind. It spearheaded the company's move from Intel, but it didn't start the transition to Apple Silicon . Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
In late March, Apple notified the winners of the 2026 Swift Student Challenge , who each received a complimentary one-year Apple Developer Program membership, AirPods Max 2, and a special certificate. A smaller group of Distinguished Winners were also invited to a three-day experience at Apple Park during WWDC 2026 in June . The annual Swift Student Challenge gives eligible student developers around the world the opportunity to showcase their coding capabilities by using the Swift Playground or Xcode apps to create an interactive "app playground." Despite receiving many incredible submissions, Apple can only select a limited number of winners due to WWDC space constraints. Below, we have highlighted three young developers who did not quite win, but still deserve attention for their efforts. Teddy For the 2026 Swift Student Challenge, UC Santa Cruz student Morris Richman submitted Teddy , a voice-controlled camera app that uses Apple Foundation Models to help those with touch-related accessibility issues take photos. "There is a strong overlap between those who have touch issues and those who have difficulty learning accessibility focused features such as VoiceOver," said Morris. "Teddy addresses this issue through Apple's Foundation Models and SpeechAnalyzer APIs to take action on behalf of the user through natural language processing and tool calling." Morris created the app after being inspired by his grandfather, Larry. Teddy is available in beta via TestFlight and as an open-source project on GitHub . ActivTimer MacRumors reader Kate 's first-ever Swift Student Challenge submission was ActivTimer, an iPhone app designed to help reduce your screen time and increase your activity. The app was built with SwiftUI and other modern Apple technologies. Kate describes the app as a "screen time tracker and workout app all in one." "It keeps track of how long you're on your screen and alerts you with a sound to get up and move, or to do some mindfulness," said Kate. ActivTimer is not available in the App Store, but the project's source code is available on GitHub . Write: A Literary Journey Victoria Ali is a young developer from Argentina who created Write: A Literary Journey , an iPhone app that she describes as a narrative puzzle experience. The app tasks you with solving puzzles to reconstruct the portraits and legacies of history's most influential female authors. Victoria said the app both demonstrates her coding skills and serves as a tribute to her late grandmother and writer, Rosa. When you first open the app, you are presented with a 3D onboarding experience that allows you to explore Rosa's desk. "Through an immersive 3D onboarding I designed in SceneKit with models I built in Blender—like her vintage Remington typewriter and her yellow tulips—I wanted to create a bridge to feel her close again," she said. Related Roundup: WWDC 2026 Tag: Swift Student Challenge Related Forum: Apple, Inc and Tech Industry This article, " 2026 Swift Student Challenge: Three Apps Created by Young Developers " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums