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Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

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Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#41

Post by daniel-cussen »

tlrobinson wrote: post #35
danilocampos wrote: post #21

This is very exciting. The problem of distribution and monetization for desktop software is significant and largely unsolved. Steam is already proof that a digital store can make desktop users really happy, but it addresses gamers, who are cheerful early adopters. Most other people who don't game only know this model through their mobile device, but now they're ready for more. As for developers? For more than half of…

I'm not so excited about this. Am I the only one who thinks this is Apple's first step in exerting more control over developers and users on the OS X platform like they do on iOS? EDIT: to all the replies about how you still have a choice of distribution on OS X: yes, you do right now, but who knows how long that will last? As I said, this might be the first step in locking down the platform. I don't believe this wil…

I think they can still sell the normal way.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#42

Post by gaius »

danilocampos wrote: post #21

This is very exciting. The problem of distribution and monetization for desktop software is significant and largely unsolved. Steam is already proof that a digital store can make desktop users really happy, but it addresses gamers, who are cheerful early adopters. Most other people who don't game only know this model through their mobile device, but now they're ready for more. As for developers? For more than half of…

This is how it was supposed be for Java, provisioning your desktop apps on the fly, on demand, over the network. Another Sun idea resurrected, like Google are with Chrome (nee NEWS, with Postscript instead of Javascript). Maybe they shoulda hung on just a little longer...

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#44

Post by JofArnold »

tlrobinson wrote: post #35
danilocampos wrote: post #21

This is very exciting. The problem of distribution and monetization for desktop software is significant and largely unsolved. Steam is already proof that a digital store can make desktop users really happy, but it addresses gamers, who are cheerful early adopters. Most other people who don't game only know this model through their mobile device, but now they're ready for more. As for developers? For more than half of…

I'm not so excited about this. Am I the only one who thinks this is Apple's first step in exerting more control over developers and users on the OS X platform like they do on iOS? EDIT: to all the replies about how you still have a choice of distribution on OS X: yes, you do right now, but who knows how long that will last? As I said, this might be the first step in locking down the platform. I don't believe this wil…

The difference is on OSX you have a choice; Mac App Store or adhoc/old way.

Besides, Apple are being much more liberal re iOS approval of late - the old times are long gone except the odd mistake here and there.

EDIT: I wonder if this will act as a proving ground for apple re dual App Store + adhoc distribution ala android market?

EDIT2: I'm just going to come out and say it... At times I worry about installing random dmgs I find on the web. If Apple can approve the apps and ensure they are genuine and won't harm my system then I wouldn't be surprised if I'd end up switching to the Mac App Store for all my apps... With exceptions for companies I know well. This is a potentially an awesome social-engineering solution to malware/viruses in the long-run.

EDIT3: Final edit as my startup won't launch itself! :P To anyone suggesting Apple will take away adhoc OSX installations and replace purely with Mac store: 1/ On what timescale? This would be very long-term - we'd adapt 2/ Is it really a problem? See Edit2 above for at least one benefit.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#45

Post by ceejayoz »

Aqua_Geek wrote: post #17
bconway wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The bigger question I have is: why would you/anyone move them at all? If you're already selling for OS X and have an avenue for updating your app, are you really going to give up 30% of your revenue to Apple for the same-old? This only works on the iPhone because it's the only way to get software on the device. Unless that's the next step...

I agree that the 30% chunk taken by Apple is a bit large. For iOS, the huge draw (apart from the obvious "it's the only way") is that your pool of potential customers is enormous. You give up 30% of your revenue in exchange for making your software easily available to millions of people. I'd say try finding a software publisher that will give you a deal anywhere near that good, but if you're already distributing your…

The ease of discovery may make it worth it. Sure, I may have an existing online store for my software, but people have to Google for it, trust it enough to enter their credit card data, enter their credit card data, etc.

If a significantly higher number of people are going to find and one-click install my product on the App Store, that makes the cut well worth it.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#46

Post by tlrobinson »

JofArnold wrote: post #44
tlrobinson wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not so excited about this. Am I the only one who thinks this is Apple's first step in exerting more control over developers and users on the OS X platform like they do on iOS? EDIT: to all the replies about how you still have a choice of distribution on OS X: yes, you do right now, but who knows how long that will last? As I said, this might be the first step in locking down the platform. I don't believe this wil…

The difference is on OSX you have a choice; Mac App Store or adhoc/old way. Besides, Apple are being much more liberal re iOS approval of late - the old times are long gone except the odd mistake here and there. EDIT: I wonder if this will act as a proving ground for apple re dual App Store + adhoc distribution ala android market? EDIT2: I'm just going to come out and say it... At times I worry about installing rando…

Yes, you have a choice... for now. If Apple wanted to take away that choice a Mac App Store is the obvious first step.

REPLY TO EDIT2: The iOS App Store's review process doesn't do much for security. As demonstrated by the flashlight WiFi proxy app it's trivial to get code (malicious or not) past the reviewers. The security on iPhone comes from sandboxing of apps.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#47

Post by ynniv »

tlrobinson wrote: post #35
danilocampos wrote: post #21

This is very exciting. The problem of distribution and monetization for desktop software is significant and largely unsolved. Steam is already proof that a digital store can make desktop users really happy, but it addresses gamers, who are cheerful early adopters. Most other people who don't game only know this model through their mobile device, but now they're ready for more. As for developers? For more than half of…

I'm not so excited about this. Am I the only one who thinks this is Apple's first step in exerting more control over developers and users on the OS X platform like they do on iOS? EDIT: to all the replies about how you still have a choice of distribution on OS X: yes, you do right now, but who knows how long that will last? As I said, this might be the first step in locking down the platform. I don't believe this wil…

I think that Apple should make what their customers at large want. That might mean that I cease to personally be their customer, but as a developer the AppStore is the least risky way to release a commercial product.

Ultimately I don't think that they will ever take away the ability to run arbitrary code on their desktop OS.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#48

Post by ceejayoz »

shade wrote: post #15

As long as it's not the only way to get software on your Mac -- and I don't really see Apple doing that with their "truck" line of devices since there's probably always going to be obscure stuff that the publishers aren't going to want in the app store. For that matter, I can't really see Adobe (for example) wanting to give 30% of the cost of Photoshop to Apple. On the other hand, I think this is potentially fantasti…

Yeah, I don't think this sort of thing is targeted at Adobe or Microsoft or the other huge players.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#49

Post by icey »

JofArnold wrote: post #44
tlrobinson wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not so excited about this. Am I the only one who thinks this is Apple's first step in exerting more control over developers and users on the OS X platform like they do on iOS? EDIT: to all the replies about how you still have a choice of distribution on OS X: yes, you do right now, but who knows how long that will last? As I said, this might be the first step in locking down the platform. I don't believe this wil…

The difference is on OSX you have a choice; Mac App Store or adhoc/old way. Besides, Apple are being much more liberal re iOS approval of late - the old times are long gone except the odd mistake here and there. EDIT: I wonder if this will act as a proving ground for apple re dual App Store + adhoc distribution ala android market? EDIT2: I'm just going to come out and say it... At times I worry about installing rando…

Today you have a choice. Who knows what the next version of iOS/OSX brings.

I personally don't think Apple would try to go this way, but I also didn't think they'd be such pains in the ass about cross-compiled applications getting on to iOS devices (i.e. Flash apps compiled down to work on iOS).

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#50

Post by YooLi »

gaius wrote: post #42
danilocampos wrote: post #21

This is very exciting. The problem of distribution and monetization for desktop software is significant and largely unsolved. Steam is already proof that a digital store can make desktop users really happy, but it addresses gamers, who are cheerful early adopters. Most other people who don't game only know this model through their mobile device, but now they're ready for more. As for developers? For more than half of…

This is how it was supposed be for Java, provisioning your desktop apps on the fly, on demand, over the network. Another Sun idea resurrected, like Google are with Chrome (nee NEWS, with Postscript instead of Javascript). Maybe they shoulda hung on just a little longer...

If your implementation isn't great right out of the gate, forget it. It's not really a matter of hanging on until people get used to the idea.
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