Pages, Keynote and Numbers were updated today; had a momentary panic when Pages told me that version 14.5 will be the last as it will no longer be updated.
On the Mac, the existing Keynote, Numbers, and Pages apps were updated (to version 14.5), but only to inform users that those existing apps will no longer be receiving new features of any kind. To receive new features, including free ones, you must install the new, separate Apple Creator Studio editions (version 15.1) of the apps. Apple Updates Keynote, Numbers, and Pages Apps With New Free and Paid Features - MacRumors
I did get Pages 15 and it sits alongside Pages 14.5. My custom templates for the older Pages are also available within it (I didn’t have to add them.)
Premium templates are sequestered in the Premium area, and they’re all colored purple.
The presence of the Premium templates is annoying. I wish they just made a separate “PagesPro” app and leave the free version alone ('cept for some new features.)
Good luck attempting an e-book cover in Pixelmator. I gave it a try, and immediately uninstalled and returned to the Affinity line of products. The same cover took mere minutes to accomplish and produce.
I’m just enrolling in another post-grad degree (at 74, as well as owner-building another home at the same time. “stupid is as stupid does”?) so may well go the pro sub at education pricing.
I find it really offensive the way there’s now a huge “Included with Apple Creator Studio” section at the top of the “All Templates” area that cannot be hidden. I also find it a bit odd that the menus and toolbars use purple icons for anything that are part of Creator Studio. (It’s also weird that office apps such as Pages and Numbers should be co-oped into Creator Studio at all - who is going to want a subscription to Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro etc just to get some extra templates and AI in their office apps?)
Otherwise, it seems a very bare minimum update:
All menu items now have icons (if you’re on macOS 26) - ohyay.
The page background is darker - actually an odd choice of grey since it evokes Metal from the Panther days.
They’ve tweaked some controls (such as the styles field in the inspector) to have rounder corners.
And that’s about it, I think, outside of the paid stuff. Everything else - the glassy toolbar etc - comes for free as soon as you build your app on macOS 26.
They haven’t even updated the floating word count control to use Glass, which would have been an obvious candidate for the new look:
Given the minimal compliance with Glass and how it took four months to get a macOS 26 Pages update, I honestly wonder whether the iWork team hates Liquid Glass.
I really hate the freemium model for apps that were supposed to be free enticements for getting a Mac though.
If you have the paid versions of Logic Pro, FCP, Pixelmator Pro, Motion etc, DO NOT delete them.
While the updated versions of Pages etc will function just fine without the sub, the above Apps in the new versions require a sub. Keep going back to the subscribe screen if you attempt to open a file etc.
Apparently the old paid apps will continue to get updates.
I mentioned elsewhere that Apple had me ‘buy’ a MacBook while my MBP is being repaired. Result, repeated offers of 3 month Creator Studio trial. That, plus using my University log-in gets me 15 months for $49 Aus.
I’ve always said I hate subscriptions, but they ‘made me an offer I couldn’t refuse’.
