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Posts tagged with "iPad"

Apple Creator Studio to Add MotionVFX, AI Assistants, and MCP Support in November

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

In November, Apple Creator Studio will get its biggest update since its release in January. There’s a lot here, so let’s break it down by app.

Final Cut Pro and Motion

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

Back in March, Apple acquired MotionVFX, a highly regarded plug-in maker for Final Cut Pro. The upcoming update to Final Cut Pro will bring MotionVFX’s tools directly into the app for the first time. According to Apple’s press release, the update adds thousands of new elements to Final Cut Pro “including templates with unique themes, stylish graphics, titles, and transitions, as well as tools for rotoscoping, tracking, and color grading.” That will add a lot of value to Final Cut Pro that creators historically paid for separately. The update also adds new content to the suite’s Content Hub like stock videos, images, and backgrounds.

Final Cut Pro will also be integrated more tightly with Pixelmator Pro, allowing images in a video timeline to be edited in Pixelmator Pro without exporting and reimporting the image. The update also includes finer control over animation and 23 new transcription languages for captioning video.

Motion will also gain MotionVFX plug-ins, integration with Pixelmator Pro, and more.

Pixelmator Pro

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

A new Generate Fill feature will be added to Pixelmator Pro. Users circle where they want an edit or use one of the app’s selection tools, describe it, and the app generates the edit. Generated elements will also work with the existing Super Resolution tool and can be merged into a layer or be inserted as a separate layer.

Logic Pro

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

Logic Pro is getting a Liquid Glass redesign, which looks great in Apple’s press release images. For musicians, there will be a new beta chatbot assistant on the Mac that uses Apple and OpenAI models. The app’s Browser is being updated on the Mac, too. It will consolidate loops, instruments, and more, organizing them using music understanding to make finding what you want easier. In addition, Logic’s Stem Splitter will gain the ability to separate drums, and a new Producer Pack from Grammy-winning salsa producer Sergio George is coming too.

Keynote, Pages, and Numbers

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

All three productivity tools will add a beta AI assistant powered by Apple and OpenAI models. Assistants understand the context of documents, helping build slides, write documents, and refine spreadsheets. The apps will also add MCP support on the Mac, allowing users to connect them to external AI agents for the first time. Content Hub will also add stock video footage that can be used in Keynote, Pages, and Numbers, and Keynote will gain a new Keynote Interchange Format that is based on JSON, which should make it more accessible to AI workflows.

Freeform

Freeform will add text styles that can be applied in one step across multiple boards, along with custom and preset background colors. Then in December, Freeform will integrate with Pixelmator Pro for image editing.

I’m glad to see MotionVFX coming to Creator Studio. I also appreciate that an MCP server will be added to Keynote, Pages, and Numbers, something that is sorely missing compared to similar apps from companies like Google. I’m intrigued by the AI assistants coming to Logic Pro, Keynote, Pages, and Numbers, too. I’ve used Codex a lot to help me learn new tricks in those apps and having an assistant like Codex built in has the potential to reduce the distraction of switching between apps.

Existing subscribers will have access to these new features beginning in November. Creator Studio, which supports Family Sharing, is $12.99/month or $129/year, with a one-month free trial or three months free when you buy a new Mac or qualifying iPad. College students and educators can get it for $2.99/month or $29.99/year.

The New iPad mini Adds OLED with a Larger 8.5-Inch Display

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

Apple today announced an update to the iPad mini, one of my favorite iPads. The new mini features an 8.5-inch OLED display, a landscape Center Stage camera, and many other updates throughout. This is a big update, so let’s dig into the details.

The revised iPad mini has a similar, but slightly smaller, overall footprint at 5.4mm thin, but the bezels around the screen are 24% thinner, allowing for the larger 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR screen. That enables a peak brightness of 1200 nits with 600 nits full-screen brightness, which is brigher than the model it replaces. The display is also capable of as little as 1 nit of brightness, supports P3 wide color, and can be ordered with an optional nano-texture finish on the 256GB and 512GB models. However, the new mini’s display is not a 120Hz ProMotion display.

Source: Apple.

Source: Apple.

The chip that drives the new mini is from the A20 Pro line, which is the same chip family that powers the iPhone 18 Pro. The mini also has an N1 networking chip that supports Wi-Fi 7 and a C2 modem chip for users who order the cellular model. The mini also features up to six CPU cores, a 7-core GPU with Neural Accelerators for each core, and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine in the 512GB model.

The 12MP Center Stage front-facing camera is on the long edge of the iPad mini. The rear camera is a 12MP Wide camera that includes Smart HDR 4 and Adaptive True Tone flash and can shoot 4K video at up to 60 fps.

Other details include IP67 water and dust resistance, a new TechWoven Smart Folio case, and continued support for both the Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C).

Among Apple’s speed claims are:

  • up to 4.5x faster AI performance,
  • up to 2.7x faster graphics performance,
  • up to 60% faster multithreaded CPU performance,
  • 2x Neural Engine processing power on the 512GB model,
  • more than a 2x increase in unified memory bandwidth,
  • up to 50% faster cellular data speeds, and
  • more than 2x higher peak brightness.

The new iPad mini comes in Midnight and Starlight colors (fewer than before) and starts at $699, which is less than some rumors suggested, and can be configured up to $1,249 before accessories. Apple also packs a polishing cloth in the box for the polishing fans out there.

This looks like an excellent update. I’m a huge fan of the iPad mini for writing, other lightweight productivity tasks, reading, watching videos, and playing games. Based on the specs, the new mini should be more capable than ever. I’m looking forward to trying it myself.

Hands-On with ChatGPT Work’s New Cloud Browser Feature

Yesterday, OpenAI introduced a new ChatGPT Work feature designed to let it navigate websites that require a login without revealing your credentials to the model.

Like a lot of people, I spend far too much time clicking around websites that require a login, looking at analytics and other data, checking whether new sponsors have been booked for our podcasts, and more. It’s a tedious but necessary part of my week that slows me down and takes me away from writing and other creative work. ChatGPT’s new Work feature is designed to handle that sort of work for you.

The feature works by signing into websites using a virtual, cloud-based computer. That separates the browsing session from any browsing session on your local computer, walling the agent’s computer use off from your open tabs, cookies, browsing history, passwords, and other data. Because the login and browsing happen in the cloud, that also means work can continue whether you close the ChatGPT app or power down your computer.

According to OpenAI, an additional review model checks the sign-in request and credential destination for signs of phishing or deception. ChatGPT Work then pauses while the user signs in. Credentials entered through its secure sign-in form go directly to the cloud browser and are not visible to the model. After the user authenticates, ChatGPT resumes its work.

OpenAI also explains that its cloud-based browser doesn’t store your username and password. Instead, it saves cookies that allow you to return to a previously authenticated session. If you don’t want to remain logged in, ChatGPT’s cloud browser settings allow you to clear browser data for individual websites or all sites.

Similar to other features in ChatGPT and Codex, users have choices when it comes to which sites ChatGPT Work can access. “Always ask” is the default, requiring the agent to check with the user before using a website, but the permission level can also be set to “Auto approve” after ChatGPT checks a site for relevancy and risk or “Always allow,” which OpenAI discourages. Individual websites can also be allowed or blocked. These settings control website access, but consequential actions require separate confirmation.

ChatGPT Work's browser control works best on a mobile device and with simple login systems.

ChatGPT Work’s browser control works best on a mobile device and with simple login systems.

I gave ChatGPT’s browser use a try and the results were mixed. I wasn’t able to get the feature to work at all using ChatGPT Work in Safari on my Mac. Some websites had security measures in place that prevented me from logging in. Other times, the cloud browser asked me to take over manually, but I was unable to do so because the UI was frozen or login panels didn’t appear.

Logging into a site with a CAPTCHA required manual intervention.

Logging into a site with a CAPTCHA required manual intervention.

I had better luck using my iPhone. On one site with a simple username and password system, a login sheet appeared. I entered my credentials, was logged in, and the agent navigated the site to answer my queries. On Apple’s affiliate link dashboard website, I had to take over the browser interaction manually to satisfy a CAPTCHA, which worked after several challenges. Once logged in, the agent pulled and analyzed the data I requested. Also, after I’d signed in to both of those sites on my iPhone, I remained logged in to ChatGPT’s cloud browser, which meant I could also use them from my Mac.

In its current form, the idea of having ChatGPT Work browse signed-in websites on your behalf is better than its implementation. If you can get logged in, having an agent collect and analyze things like analytics data is fantastic. However, getting past the initial login screen is still too frustrating. That said, I’ll be keeping a close eye on the feature, which is available on eligible plans depending on rollout and workspace settings, for future use collecting and analyzing data that would otherwise require a lot of clicking around.

Apple Updates a Power Adapter for the EU and Vietnam and Drops the Price of Its Polishing Cloth

The Magic Keyboard isn’t the only accessory Apple updated today. As Juli Clover reports for MacRumors, the 40W Dynamic Power Adapter that can charge up to 60W was also updated for users in Europe and Vietnam:

The updated variant of the power adapter has a retractable two-prong design. The prongs pop back into the power adapter’s enclosure, making it easier to tuck into a bag or a pocket. Apple previously debuted a standard U.S. variant in September 2025 alongside the iPhone 17 models, and a type G plug version in November 2025.

At this price, why not buy two?

At this price, why not buy two?

Plus, as Chance Miller covered for 9to5Mac, there’s a new Apple Polishing Cloth. It’s not clear whether the new cloth is different from the one that came before it, but in one respect it’s a big improvement. The updated Polishing Cloth has dropped in price to $9 from $19. In a world of high-priced memory and storage, I’ll take the pricing wins where I can get them.

Apple Upgrade Trades Ownership for Lower Monthly Payments

Apple has revealed its new hardware leasing program called Apple Upgrade, which is being offered in collaboration with Klarna. This is Apple’s pitch:

Introducing Apple Upgrade, a new way to always have the Apple products you love. Lease a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch with pocket-friendly payments and terms that work for you. Then easily upgrade to something new at the end of your lease, and return your current device. It’s that simple.

That pitch comes with a footnote that includes other details worth considering:

  • The program is U.S. only (excluding U.S. territories).
  • You need to be a U.S. resident who is at least 18 years old, or whatever the legal age is where you live.
  • There are eligibility and credit approval requirements and you must have a credit or debit card and an Apple ID.
  • When a device is returned, it must be in good condition or damage fees will be assessed.
  • Upgrades require a new lease subject to whatever eligibility and credit requirements apply at that time.
  • For iPhones, you have to have a carrier and can’t use a prepaid plan.
  • The program isn’t available for refurbished devices or through the Apple Employee Purchase Plan, corporate Employee Purchase Plans, Apple at Work, Government, Education, or Veterans and Military Purchase Programs.

Okay, so maybe it’s not “that simple” after all.

The program is available for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch product lines. For the iPhone, monthly payments start at $17.99 for an iPhone 17e and start at $34.99 for an iPhone 17 Pro Max, for leasing periods of either 12 months or 24 months.

For iPads, the starting prices range from $12.99/month to $24.99/month, Macs range from starting prices of $24.99/month to $48.99/month, and the Apple Watch ranges from starting prices of $11.99/month to $47.03/month. But again, these are just starting prices. You can configure a fully loaded 16-inch MacBook Pro that is just under $230/month, and it won’t include AppleCare.

As a point of comparison, under the current program that is being discontinued, I pay $69.50/month for an iPhone 17 Pro Max, but I have a 512GB model, so my lease price for the same phone would be $40.83/month, significantly lower, but keep in mind that doesn’t include AppleCare+, which would add $13.99/month or $139/year for that iPhone. On a monthly basis, that puts a new iPhone 17 Pro Max with 512GB of storage and AppleCare+ at just under $55/month. Still a superior deal, but not nearly as good as the landing page might initially lead you to believe.

At the end of your lease you’ll have six months to decide to return the leased device, during which you’ll continue to make monthly payments, or pay a fee equal to the difference between the original purchase price and your lease payments to buy it outright. Your other option is to enter into a lease for a new device. If you return your leased device in poor condition, Klarna will charge you a damage fee. You can also terminate your lease early if you pay the remaining lease payments in full plus any taxes and fees.

If you lease accessories for your device, those don’t have to be returned. Why? Presumably because they have no value to Apple or Klarna.

Of course, if you have a device to trade in, that monthly figure could be significantly reduced. If I had the iPhone 16 Pro Max I had last year to trade in and leased a 17 Pro Max for 12 months, my monthly payments would be under $1. However, keep in mind that once you’re on the leasing train, you no longer own your iPhone, so future upgrades won’t reduce your payments the next time you swap your device for a new model. If you don’t own it, the value isn’t yours to trade in.

If you’re on the existing iPhone Upgrade Program like me, it’s being discontinued, but Apple has a transition offer for you. The old program spread payments over 24 months with the option to turn in an iPhone for a new one after 12 months. That’s not changing. If you’re paid in full on your first 12 months of an iPhone, you can sign up for the new program, get a new iPhone, and return your old iPhone to Apple, which will close your old account but won’t reduce your lease payments. You’re not obligated to join the new leasing program, though. You can also trade in your old iPhone, ending your finance contract, and buy a new full price iPhone.

As you may have figured out by now, I’m not a fan of this program, though I expect it will be successful.

Apple products, like all consumer electronics, are getting more expensive every day. The monthly payments on a leased device look very attractive compared to the pay-up-front price. For years, car leases have induced people into monthly payments that can become a burden when their financial situation changes. Now the same will be true of iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches.

Maybe as a practical matter this program isn’t that different from the old financing program, but at least there, you owned your device at the end and could just keep using it indefinitely. With the new program, that’s not an option. When your lease is over, you’re empty-handed and faced with leasing again, buying out the lease, or buying at full price with no trade-in, which is objectively worse.

Ultimately, Apple isn’t responsible for customers’ bad financial decisions, but this program feels like Apple is putting its customers in harm’s way.

Headless Macs and Hamstrung iPads

My Codex setup.

My Codex setup.

In the current era of coding agents becoming productivity assistants, iPadOS’ limitations are no longer defined by the lack of desktop-class multitasking or access to external peripherals. A new class of iPadOS shortcomings looms large on the horizon: the iPad’s app sandboxing and the absence of an open filesystem have relegated it to acting as a remote control for agents.

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Apple Raises Prices Across Most of Its Product Lines

Apple raised the prices of Macs and other products across the board today. For entry-level Macs, the increases are mostly $100–$200. However, if you want a MacBook Pro or Mac Studio with lots of memory and storage, it’s going to cost you dearly. Prices were also raised on the iPad, Vision Pro, Apple TV, HomePods, and many items sold through Apple’s refurbished store.

This should come as no surprise to anyone, but it’s painful just the same. Last week, Tim Cook told The Wall Street Journal that price increases were coming without getting into specifics. Apple was able to hold the line on prices for several months, even while smaller gadget and computer makers raised their prices or canceled products altogether.

What’s happening is simple macroeconomics. Demand for memory and storage is vastly outstripping supply, largely due to the insatiable appetite of data centers that power AI services. That demand shows no signs of waning, and supply isn’t as simple as turning a knob to 11. There just aren’t that many makers of memory chips and SSDs, and bringing new plants online to manufacture takes years and billions of dollars.

For now, the price of iPhones has been left alone. Some may see that as a silver lining, but I suspect all it means is that Apple has enough prebuilt inventory to get to September, when new iPhones are announced. Apple Watch and AirPods prices remain the same, too.

Could Apple have avoided this? I doubt it. The magnitude and speed of the price increases and the projected duration are beyond what any reasonable company could or would plan for.

That said, I do think the situation will get better with time, again because of macroeconomics. The increases may preserve Apple’s margins, but it’s going to reduce the number of customers who can afford its products. Margins only equate to profits if you have customers willing to pay for your product. So with time, if the data center demand slackens or new chip capacity comes online, prices will improve. Just don’t expect that anytime before 2027 or 2028 if current projections are to be believed.

iPadOS Lets You Automate Window Placement with Shortcuts

MultiSwitcher for iPadOS.

MultiSwitcher for iPadOS.

Update: An earlier version of this article referred to this feature as having been introduced in iPadOS 27, but it was actually introduced in the iPadOS 26 cycle. I missed it. My apologies.

In iPadOS’ Shortcuts app, the existing ‘Open App’ action was recently updated with the ability to launch an app with a specific window placement parameter. This means you can now automate window positions on iPad by opening a bunch of apps and programmatically selecting where their windows be placed.

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