Mac App Store? Like or No like?

[lewis82]

As long as you can still download apps the regular way (which will be possible, as said Steve), I'm OK with it.

Discovering new apps will be easier. For non technical users, it will be super easy to install and maintain apps (no more need to eject the disk image, delete the .dmg, no more running the app from the disk image, etc).

And since installing apps the long way will still be possible, hacks will still be available, as well as apps which wouldn't be allowed in the App store.

 

[HLdan]

As long as you can still get other 'apps' not through the app store, it's alright.

Agreed but if every application for Mac was on the Mac App store there would be no point in getting it elsewhere..........unless people are bit torrenting.

 

[Brien]

Hmm, I wonder...

Will a Mac App Store and the low price entry ($99, like for iOS) lead to more craptastic OS X apps? The iOS store is mostly junk.

PS: For those worrying about Apple locking down 10.8, keep in mind that Windows 8 is going to have an "Application Marketplace".

 

[goobot]

i like

 

[applemagic123]

external hard drive

I keep all my applications and dmg's on both external hard drives. I can't live without SMCfancontrol and iStat Pro.

 

[powerbook911]

The App Store will simply inspire MORE exciting Apps as people will know they have a shot to make money out of them.

People will have more to do with their Macs. Obviously, the intent by Apple is to have an App Store as it WILL help sell more Macs. The App store helps sell iPhones and iPads. By comparison, people are doing LESS with Macs (your average Joe) than they do with their iPad and iPhone.

This fixes that. This gives your average user a place to expand the capabilities of the computer.

Us prosumers will continue to get Apps elsewhere too, where no restrictions are in place.

For the average consumer though, this will make Macs MUCH more exciting. For many, web, email, and iTunes is all they use computer for. That eventually gets boring.

 

[Weepul]

To me, it seems unnecessary to have the Mac App Store be an OS feature. It can ship pre-installed, for sure, but also should downloadable from Apple's web site like iTunes and Safari. It should function for at least 10.5.6+; the only reason I see for it to not is to have another incentive for people to buy a new upgrade of their OS.

In fact, this seems like something which should be a separate application, not an OS feature.

The app store concept itself seems like a fine addition to Apple's ecosystem.

However, WTF is this scheiße?!

As long as Apple never even thinks about locking down future Mac OS X versions to only run app store apps

This.

I am concerned that while big open source project (I'm thinking Mozilla with Firefox) will likely pay the admission fee, what about a good IM client like Adium? Or the open source SequelPro?

Why not? The fee ought to be insignificant compared to the costs of not charging for one's labor, which they've already accepted.

 

[roadbloc]

I like it. I'm looking forward to it. I think it is LONG overdue.

 

[unixperience]

I disagree. The app store is a miserable mess, a disorganized pile of software. If you only look at the most popular 'top' apps, if you're looking to discover those then sure it's going to help; but beyond the top apps, it's spaghetti. The search feature is amazingly subpar.
...

I see the appstore as being this:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/
http://www.apple.com/downloads/
(WHOO i jsut noticed that autocad for mac is finally out, i wonder if i can use my regular license i already have for the mac version if i disable my windows the other one)apple already has these links, i've used them before... and as of now they are a mess really is subpar for searching, hopefully the apstore will have better search functions

I would assume whatever criteria apple used for the downloads site now will port over to the newer apstore.
I also think it will definitely spark more development the same way opening the ipod appstore has attracted lots of programmers this shoudl work the same. and hopefully it will bring osx more into mainstream. just a thought

 

[DesmoPilot]

What worries me is where they go from the App store. Basically what I'm trying to say is, what happens after 10.7? They really seem to be going down a path to a more closed system, which on a desktop, is a laughable idea (though would be great for profits, which is their only real motivator).

 

[mrsir2009]

I think it'll be great! No longer will you have to trawl the internet searching for "Mac" versions of things

 

[mm1250]

I have mixed reviews about the Mac App Store.

1st is the long-term effects and plan for Apple. Considering how popular the iOs store has become, it's not unrealistic to believe once the Mac App Store goes live, a majority (over 90%) of OSX apps bought will be via the App Store. With this in mind, third party mac retail sites and even your local Best Buy or Amazon website will see their software sale for Macs decrease by 90%.

2nd, Considering Apple perhaps taking a large % of the Software sales distribution for their platform. It gives them practically a monopoly of who they can allow to distribute apps to their userbase since overtime, a user will not really think about buying XYZ software program through Amazon, the Mac App Store will be the GOTO. This means, if Apple does it's crazy restrictions of approval of apps, Apple will control the software distributed to it's platform. Will Apple allow me to distribute my porn app through the Mac Store? hmmmmm... again "WALLED GARDEN".

Longterm, this is a bad idea, if they creates guidelines for apps to be distributed. For this to be successful, Apple cannot have the ability to deny software on the store based on their stupid criteria (like hating Google and denying them their apps)..

 

[MasterHowl]

I've got an iPod Touch, and the App store for that is, as I'm sure you'll know, amazing. It just... works! Perfectly! Easy, simple, and nice to use. This is the reason why I love Apple.

But the Mac App store... I really hope it's as good.

I think it will be

 

[Peter.Howard]

I like the idea. Steve said it won't be the only place so I'm happy. Auto updates etc, makes it even better. Don't have a reason to complain

I agree with what you are saying

When most of us grew up with computers if you wanted a new software program you went to the store, looked through the shelves and read the instructions on the back etc.. bought it, took it home and installed it from a floppy disk or CD, in the age of the Internet this seems so outdated, and borders on madness, having to go to the stores to buy software? why? download it, install it, if you need to ever reinstall you should just log-in with your itunes, apple store..whatever account and reinstall it. Think of the savings to the environment alone, bits of data flowing over the Internet, no plastic wrapping, no CD ROMs etc..
Then there's the convenience, ease of intalling, knowing that the framework around the software, Apple Store...Itunes.....means it works on your system you have.


Buying software online is a great concept, works well on the Iphone,


but you need to keep the market open and allow competition, I don't like as others here like the concept of locking a device down to only one source of software. But it sounds like that is not going to happen with the Apple Store, so that is not an issue.

 

[santaliqueur]

I love it. It will make unknown developers' apps available, and established developers can choose not to make their apps available on the store. I can't wait.

 

[amarcus]

I'll welcome anything that will streamline uninstall unwanted applications!

 

[DesmoPilot]

I'll welcome anything that will streamline uninstall unwanted applications!

Even the eventual "closing" of a desktop OS?

 

[santaliqueur]

Even the eventual "closing" of a desktop OS?

Have you *any* evidence this will happen? Or are you just trying to stir up trouble? Troll harder.

 

[DesmoPilot]

Have you *any* evidence this will happen? Or are you just trying to stir up trouble? Troll harder.

As I said in my original post earlier in the thread, where can they really go from the App store but towards a more closed system (especially considering the money there is to be made)? Apple's path seems pretty clear if you ask me.

 

[santaliqueur]

As I said in my original post earlier in the thread, where can they really go from the App store but towards a more closed system (especially considering the money there is to be made)? Apple's path seems pretty clear if you ask me.

Yes if you ask YOU, a conspiracy theorist who is looking to demonize. So you think a company like Adobe would be willing to sell through Apple's Mac Store for a cut of 30% right off the top? Me neither.

And you think Apple would be stupid enough to cut off an enormous developer such as Adobe? Where's your logic?

I get the "ZOMG ITS GONNA BE CLOZED SOON" discussion, but the logic doesn't even make sense. It's absolutely no benefit for Apple to close off their already successful developer base, they are simply adding another method of delivery. It's humorous to see people panicking and coming up with wacky theories, though.

 

[DesmoPilot]

Yes if you ask YOU, a conspiracy theorist who is looking to demonize. So you think a company like Adobe would be willing to sell through Apple's Mac Store for a cut of 30% right off the top? Me neither.

Calm down there buddy, conspiracy theorist? Quite the exaggeration to say the least. You didn't really comprehend/read my post correctly, I said a "more closed type of system", emphasis on the type. You're taking me to literal when I say closed.

Also, Adobe wouldn't be all that hurt if that eventually somehow happened. Adobe could operate at a profit just fine without developing OS X software.

And you think Apple would be stupid enough to cut off an enormous developer such as Adobe? Where's your logic?

You really think Apple cares? Contrary to popular belief, though popular, Adobe's OS X user base isn't nearly as big as it once was.

I get the "ZOMG ITS GONNA BE CLOZED SOON" discussion, but the logic doesn't even make sense. It's absolutely no benefit for Apple to close off their already successful developer base, they are simply adding another method of delivery. It's humorous to see people panicking and coming up with wacky theories, though.

Makes a lot more sense than you're willing to admit. Simply adding another method of delivery? If only it were that simple, the OS X App Store is quite the game changer and Apple is very aware of it (you'd be amazed at how many focus groups and marketing studies they do before making any move). What wacky theories are those? Elaborate please, "theories" I'm hearing are decently plausible considering the recent activity of Apple.

You seem to be taking me all wrong and essentially putting words in my mouth. All I'm saying is the potential/possibility (and hints) that Apple will take it's desktop OS in a more closed type system definitely isn't as far off base as you are willing to admit. Having dealt with and been a part of Apple policy (internal policy, stuff that consumers are never made aware of, well short of a leak. I'm an authorized Apple repair technician) for the last decade plus, Apples recent moves in these past couple years has, in many ways, put the writing on the wall - Moving everything to a more "closed" type of system is their future. Now, don't take the word closed to literal (as you already have), the real question lies in how far they go in "closing" their desktop platform. OS X Lion is just the beginning of the application of this new philosophy and direction (which is working great for them on - the entirely different - mobile platform) to a desktop platform, we won't see a a clearer picture of it until 10.8 and beyond.

 

[dusk007]

I guess it really could be something awesome. I hope they have a proper admission fee model, because small but really good freeware and open source projects will be left out if they are charged for their work.
If someone creates a little program like there are so many and makes it available for free or on voluntary donation basis he should be able to put his app into this store for free.

Aside from leaving behind good freeware. I always liked the simple way you can install programs of the open source community in Linux or OSX (MacPorts). It is just so awesome to simply start up the finder typ in a few words and press enter and everything else is done automatically.
I never understood why there is no equivalent on windows (aside from maybe Steam) or on any Platform for payed apps.
If you can just search for a program click install and your finished it becomes so much easier than opening a browser, searching in google, clicking through all kinds of pages till the download from some server starts and than you still have to go through the whole installation process that usually consist of multiple clicks on the next button.
Just install everything with default and let those that need custom settings choose them afterwards or at first startup.


ad closed system
I guess it is also a question of how far they can go in closing their system. A personal computer OS is a little different than some mobile phone OS. It is at the very least always going to be a by default jailbroken system

 

[Lord Appleseed]

I dont think this App Store is bad at all. Why buy iWoks when you only need Pages?, Why buy iLife (in case you dont have it) if you only want iPhoto?
Not to think of all the other programs you could get much easier than before.

 

[kntgsp]

Please explain to me how google.com is less of a spaghetti mess than this will be for finding apps.

One of the important things that no one is understanding here, is that this eliminates the .dmg. Not every Mac users "gets" the concept of moving the application from the dmg to Applications directory, then ejecting the dmg and throwing it away.

This makes Windows with their mandatory InstallShield installs look COMPLETELY silly now.

The only thing that it makes look silly is Mac users. Program installation on Macs is so simple that mentally disabled people can figure it out. The .dmg's generally auto-mount and a window pops up with an icon of the program and an arrow pointing to the applications folder. It's unbelievably simple.

To say that this was necessary speaks volumes about the current Mac crowd and almost functions as a sort of meta-parody. It's like Apple meets Idiocracy.

 

[kntgsp]

Have you *any* evidence this will happen? Or are you just trying to stir up trouble? Troll harder.

You, and every other person who parrots the "It's just more options, there's no proof they'll do that, blah blah" are the EXACT same people who said we were insane for thinking that Apple would try to bring iOS to the desktop a year ago.

And look what happened. It's a very, very, slippery slope. Corporations are drooling over the prospect of having complete control over users' desktops. Soon it will be "only applications that are installed through the OSX App Store can take advantage of these overlay features, etc.", then you'll need Terminal, then you'll need to pay $99 to get a "developer's license" to get access to terminal.