Pixelmator, a photo editing tool developer, has announced plans to join tech giant Apple. The acquisition, which requires regulatory approval, is expected to integrate Pixelmator's products with Apple's ecosystem without significant changes to the software. The details of the transaction remain undisclosed.
Founded in 2007 in Lithuania by brothers Saulius and Aidas Dailide, Pixelmator specializes in creating image editing applications for Mac and iOS. The company is noted as one of the first technology firms in Lithuania that did not rely on external investment.
Apple has previously highlighted Pixelmator during its events, recognizing it for its innovative applications. In 2018, "Pixelmator Pro" was awarded "Mac App of the Year," while last year, "Photomator" received the same title. "Photomator" offers a professional-grade photo editing experience driven by machine learning, simplifying complex tasks and delivering impressive artistic results.
Compared to other major U.S. tech companies, Apple engages in fewer acquisitions of large corporations, preferring to acquire smaller companies with valuable products and teams. This strategy helps Apple develop the necessary features for its ecosystem. For instance, the latest version of "Photomator" includes AI-driven tools such as automatic selection of objects and backgrounds, image resolution enhancement, and unwanted object removal.
The acquisition suggests that some of Pixelmator's photo editing features may become default applications within Apple's systems, similar to previous acquisitions like Dark Sky in 2020 and Workflow in 2017, which were integrated into Apple's pre-installed apps.
The acquisition reflects an ongoing challenge for Europe, where companies face regulatory hurdles and struggle to leverage new technologies, resulting in a productivity gap compared to the U.S. This mirrors observations by ECB officials and studies indicating a widening innovation divide between the EU and the U.S.
