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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

#171

Post by siglesias »

akadien wrote: post #155

For users, Macs are great. But Apple has always had a contentious at best relationship with developers. Their tone has always struck me as small developers are a pain, and they would rather have fewer developers ergo less software. That said, I think developers should be very concerned for a couple of reasons: 1. People will automatically associated this with the iOS App Store experience, which will drive prices way…

"1. People will automatically associated this with the iOS App Store experience, which will drive prices way down for richer desktop applications. That was my very first thought."

Why does everyone keep saying this? Supply and demand! If you think your software is worth more, charge more for it!

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#172

Post by lotusleaf1987 »

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…

Conversely, maybe this will lead to Apple opening up the iPhone/iPad to sideloading apps like Android.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#173

Post by caf »

phil wrote: post #159
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…

I wouldn't worry too much. In order for the Mac to continue to serve as a development platform, it can't be completely locked down. They're making it clear these days that they care a lot about the app ecosystem, so there will have to be a replacement before they take away the ability to install your own apps and get at the shell. More likely is that more of Apple's product line, and more of everyone's computing, wil…

Couldn't they just require you to install Xcode to get an "unlocked/developer" system?

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#174

Post by caf »

jaaron wrote: post #24
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).

Oh, please, please tell me Adobe will work with the OS X app store. Adobe's updater needs terminated with prejudice.

Somehow, I doubt it. Adobe won't even deign to use the standard browser download mechanisms for linking to downloadable files on their web site, and "downloading a file over HTTP" is about as close to a solved problem as you can get!

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#175

Post by d_r »

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.

Yes, but if someone makes an OS X malware app, they would still need to think of the distribution channel. Few will download from my-amazing-toolbar dot com. But if your malware is in official app store ... there we go.

What's to stop something like this from happening: http://venturebeat.com/2010/07/28/android-wallpaper-app-that...

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#176

Post by caf »

slantyyz wrote: post #122
mkramlich wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I'm pretty sure that Apple knows a decent portion of its Mac user base is made up people who chose OSX because it was the first Unix-based OS that had a great GUI.

I'm wondering if a somewhat larger portion of the Mac user base is now people who chose OS X because a Mac looks great next to their iPhone?

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#178

Post by gaius »

YooLi wrote: post #50
gaius wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I don't think that's true, and I cite Newton -> iPad.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#179

Post by andfarm »

code_duck wrote: post #158
code_duck wrote: post #69

Hooray, I called it! I was asking when they were going to do this a few months ago. It seems like a pretty obvious step, of course - they have that Mac Software link in the Apple menu in Finder, but it just links to a fairly boring website.

Gosh, that must have been a really offensive post. Sorry. I'd be happy to analyze how awesome this site is http://www.apple.com/downloads/ if anyone wants to have an actual discussion rather than just anonymously show vague disapproval.

That link has been there since... oh, I don't know exactly, but I definitely remember it from 10.2 or so. So something like eight years.

Re: Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

#180

Post by wmeredith »

siglesias wrote: post #171
akadien wrote: post #155

For users, Macs are great. But Apple has always had a contentious at best relationship with developers. Their tone has always struck me as small developers are a pain, and they would rather have fewer developers ergo less software. That said, I think developers should be very concerned for a couple of reasons: 1. People will automatically associated this with the iOS App Store experience, which will drive prices way…

"1. People will automatically associated this with the iOS App Store experience, which will drive prices way down for richer desktop applications. That was my very first thought." Why does everyone keep saying this? Supply and demand! If you think your software is worth more, charge more for it!

I concur. There's also another factor that I think will make this a non-issue. For whatever reason, iPad apps are pretty consistently 3-5x their iPhone equivalent price. I doubt users will balk when OS X apps are 3-5 times that.
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