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Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

engadget.com

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Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#81

Post by cwg »

grandalf wrote: post #79
ZachPruckowski wrote: post #6

One thing that's always been really annoying about Mac apps has been the lack of an update system. Most Mac apps check for updates on launch, which is spectacularly annoying, since you're being prompted on the update right when you're most wanting to use the app, and it makes it really hard to make sure you're up to date (since you'd have to manually cycle through your Applications folder). Compare this to Linux pack…

Excellent point. Is it too much to hope that Apple will base its app system software distribution on apt?

Yes. (They already have rolled their own, why would they switch to apt?)

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#82

Post by bbatsell »

grandalf wrote: post #79
ZachPruckowski wrote: post #6

One thing that's always been really annoying about Mac apps has been the lack of an update system. Most Mac apps check for updates on launch, which is spectacularly annoying, since you're being prompted on the update right when you're most wanting to use the app, and it makes it really hard to make sure you're up to date (since you'd have to manually cycle through your Applications folder). Compare this to Linux pack…

Excellent point. Is it too much to hope that Apple will base its app system software distribution on apt?

Yes.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#83

Post by e1ven »

grandalf wrote: post #79
ZachPruckowski wrote: post #6

One thing that's always been really annoying about Mac apps has been the lack of an update system. Most Mac apps check for updates on launch, which is spectacularly annoying, since you're being prompted on the update right when you're most wanting to use the app, and it makes it really hard to make sure you're up to date (since you'd have to manually cycle through your Applications folder). Compare this to Linux pack…

Excellent point. Is it too much to hope that Apple will base its app system software distribution on apt?

Apt is, at it's core, a dependency engine. These apps have no dependencies- It's the whole app package.

Also- Why wouldn't they base it on the already successful package distribution platform they have for iOS devices?

In short, yes.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#84

Post by protomyth »

JofArnold wrote: post #34
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 wonder if this means something for Steam? The UX for the Mac App Store is almost certainly going to be better than Steam's clunky app... And then I wonder about Game Centre too? It's not that great at the moment, but with Jobs meeting Zuckerberg the other day.... But yes - definitely excited! /me stops speculating and gets back to work

After all the trouble of getting Steam on the Mac, I doubt Apple will do anything to offend them or their app.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#85

Post by fjarlq »

sshumaker wrote: post #61

There seems like there's one serious flaw in this idea. What's to prevent people from inserting malware into their applications? Unlike the iPhone, OSX isn't sandboxed. And there's no way Apple's approval process can possibly check for possible badness hiding in the compiled code. Unless, of course, they are building a special sandbox for these OSX apps as well. Which means that you'll have to write apps specifically…

OS X has a sandbox facility (also known as Seatbelt) that could be used. Chrome uses it: http://www.chromium.org/developers/design-documents/sandbox/...

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#86

Post by e1ven »

icey wrote: post #49
JofArnold wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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).

I hope they they DO add a Parental control, to limit apps to Appstore only purchases. That's be Perfect for my mother, for example- It nearly eliminates the chance of Viruses and Malware, while still giving her access to all the apps she needs.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#87

Post by there »

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…

it also provides iphone-style copy protection for these 3rd party apps (the last bulletpoint on the slide was "apps licensed for use on all your personal macs").

that could be a draw to some developers.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#88

Post by sazzal »

msbarnett wrote: post #67
sshumaker wrote: post #61

There seems like there's one serious flaw in this idea. What's to prevent people from inserting malware into their applications? Unlike the iPhone, OSX isn't sandboxed. And there's no way Apple's approval process can possibly check for possible badness hiding in the compiled code. Unless, of course, they are building a special sandbox for these OSX apps as well. Which means that you'll have to write apps specifically…

Well, if you're going to stick malware in your OS X app, there's nothing stopping you from doing it right now . Why you would wait until there is an app store that gives a large company a lot more information on who you are and where the authorities should come find you before inserting malware, I can't even begin to guess.

Right now I just don't download random OSX apps for fun. I only download applications that I really need - and I make sure it seems like a reputable company. And I certainly wouldn't download fart apps, or a lot of the other 5-second novelty apps that have a lot of traffic on the app store.

The first time an OSX app store has malware in it, it's going to be big news. And it's going to make Apple look bad, since by putting it in their store their effectively condoning it.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#89

Post by bad_user »

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…

> At times I worry about installing random dmgs I find on the web.

You must be terrified by all things in general.

Hint: there's an easy fix for that. Search for people reviews on that download service or app ;)

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#90

Post by access_denied »

tvon wrote: post #51
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…

If they did that, Linux would get a massive influx of anal-retentive developers that know how to design nice apps...

Linux will get that influx as soon as it is possible to design nice apps under X-Window. Keypoints: font rendering, color management, printing stuff out, managing fonts, and some other things.
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