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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

#91

Post by tensor »

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…

You don't have to look further than iOS to see that yes, it is a problem. Charging developers a yearly fee aside, excluding apps that Apple is not comfortable with due to competitive reasons is a HUGE problem.

Also, a lot of us who develop on OS X actually use the unix tool chain. Something like homebrew or fink just won't fit into the app store framework.

Edit: that said, I do see the positive aspects of it. So long as it is permanently optional, I think it's a good thing. Sadly, it seems Apple does not have good relationship with it's developers. At least if you take the number of fearful comments as evidence.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#92

Post by acon »

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?

No need to use apt. Apt is great for handling dependencies, but when it comes to mac apps there are just two parts: OS X and the app. No dependencies between apps and no dependencies on libraries not part of the OS. Nice and simple.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#93

Post by mkramlich »

malandrew wrote: post #40
mkramlich wrote: post #10

the big question is whether the App Store will become the only allowed way to get software onto a Mac. Anybody heard anything? If they disallow all the historical ways I suspect there will be an exodus of disgrunted developers, many going to Linux.

No intelligent disgruntled developer is going to ditch OS X for Linux. OS X has 10-20x more userbase than all Linux distros combined. I'm not hating on Linux here, so don't downvote me for that. I'm just being realistic.

In the role of dev workstation, I'd personally be willing to switch to Linux, at least as a protest vote. As a target OS to sell software on, a pragmatic vendor would be less likely to abandon it, agreed. However, if in order to ship a Mac app, you not only had to only distribute through the App Store and also could only develop with XCode, Objective-C, that whole inane overly complicated bureaucratic software development rat's nest, then I for one would abandon it, definitely. I currently sell downloadable Python-based software, written in vi, with no insanely overly complicated build, approval or distribution process, and it works just fine, thanks. If they forced me to jump through many more hoops, and over-complexify my software, they'd lose me in a heartbeat. That's a line I will not cross.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#94

Post by ilmare »

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…

This unlikely to happen as long as Apple wants to have portion of enterprise market which has different requirements from end-user one. OTOH, if they manage to incorporate most of requirements by it departments into their app store and convince companies to use it this will bring them even more market share.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#95

Post by mkramlich »

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 disagree it's unsolved. Folks have been distributing and monetizing software for desktop-class machines since the 80's, just's fine, thanks. Been there, done that, have the T-shirt, and the T-shirt still fits fine.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#96

Post by mkramlich »

slantyyz wrote: post #73
tlrobinson wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

That's a little too much FUD. With the phone, it was a new device, and in many ways, it makes sense to lock it down. The Mac has a 25 year legacy, and if they were to take away that choice, so many people would leave the platform. Apple might be jerks a lot of the time, but they're hardly stupid.

Disagree it's FUD. It's an intelligent observation or prediction of what this might be the first step towards. It's called the slippery slope phenomenon. It happens.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#97

Post by bad_user »

jcromartie wrote: post #33
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...

You would probably be able to reach a lot more people and give them a better purchase/install/update experience that could easily compensate for that lost %30.

So why not go ahead with both means of distribution?

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#98

Post by mkramlich »

gcv wrote: post #12

1. I hope I can still build my own custom Emacs.app from source and install it. 2. I hope App Store apps will be sandboxed and prevented from polluting the system. 3. I hope Adobe switches to the App Store model, and that it will mean that the behavior of the horrific Creative Suite installer will finally be reigned in (take a look in /Applications/.AdobePatchFiles and check how large it is).

The day I have to get new versions of Unix-style software from an App Store, or the day I have to go through some Orwellian build/publish process to release a new version of a Python app to my customers, is the day I switch to Linux for good.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#99

Post by stevelosh »

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…

This is why I love Transmit's update popup. It has three options:

* Don't Install * Install Update Now * Install Update on Quit

The third option is perfect. I wish more apps did this.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#100

Post by mkramlich »

timmins wrote: post #76

I, for one, would like to thank Steve for saving my desktop from Mac porn apps.

You touched on a good point that I haven't seen brought up elsewhere yet. If Apple brings the same kind of Big Brother censorship to the content of Mac apps as they currently do to iOS apps, that's going to have a chilling effect. There are plenty of big companies and small shops that sell media and software with 'adult' content, and if the Mac becomes locked down for them, that's going to suck. Both by reducing consumer choice, and reducing developer & vendor freedom.
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