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Mac App Store: Open for Business

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Re: Mac App Store: Open for Business

#181

Post by CWIZO »

gaiusparx wrote: post #171
toddmorey wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I realized something that I think is even bigger than uninstalling: There's no software trial mechanism in the App Store. That's always been the spirit of shareware (and a lot of hosted services, too). You install it, kick the tires, and then decide on purchasing before the trial is done. But here, even programs available for trial on the actual developer sites seem only to be available for instant purchase. (The equ…

Apple has specifically mentioned that no trialware or Lite version of app is allowed on Mac App Store, and advise developer to host such version on their own. Good move by Apple.

Care to elaborate on why that is good?

Re: Mac App Store: Open for Business

#182

Post by psnj »

roadnottaken wrote: post #24
psnj wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Vigorously agree. I have no idea why I have such a hard time using iTunes, but I do consistently, even doing really simple and obvious things. It horrifies me.

To be fair, it's a pretty complex program that does very sophisticated things behind the scenes. I used to hate it, and I still mostly do. But I notice that the only people that really hate it are powerusers. There are hundreds of millions of people out there that find it delightful and enabling. It probably says something good about your UX if you're only bothering powerusers.

> But I notice that the only people that really hate it are powerusers.

This is an excellent point. If I write network clients in elisp just for yuks, I'm probably not Apple's target user for iTunes. Emacs' UI has broken my brain (and hurt my fingers.)

Re: Mac App Store: Open for Business

#183

Post by pavlov »

mcritz wrote: post #166
pavlov wrote: post #159

I'm impressed with the Mac App Store so far. Pretty bold of Apple to push it so prominently onto every Mac user's Dock as part of a point update to the operating system. My little landscape generator app, Turtledoveland , is currently at #5 on the Top Paid list for the Graphics & Design category. I'll be sure to let HN know what kind of sales numbers that actually means, once the numbers come in...

I think Turtledoveland is a fun app. Is it possible to sell a screensaver through the Mac App Store?

Nope -- apps have to be self-contained .app bundles, and it's not permitted to write anything into shared operating system folders (which would be necessary to install a screensaver).

Apple is strictly enforcing that rule, too. My app was at first rejected for violating it. The specific reason given was: The application is creating files or writing to and

It turns out that my app had nothing to do with this -- the responsible party was the IKPictureTaker class in ImageKit, which I was using to provide the "take a photo" functionality.

To Apple's credit, they made it very easy to email a real person about the rejection. When I explained that ImageKit is responsible, the rejection was rescinded within a day.

Re: Mac App Store: Open for Business

#184

Post by tvon »

statictype wrote: post #106
tvon wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I often wish Apple employed a few longtime linux users to point out certain glaring deficiencies (primarily in app/library management, and in how Spaces works).

I'm pretty sure most people are glad that long time linux users were not employed to point out any deficiencies in any UI metaphors (like Spaces). (And I say this as someone who likes Mac OS X almost entirely because of its Unix underpinnings)

Fair point, I suppose I just want a linux geek to look at the areas of OSX I consider to be deficient. I was thrilled when virtual desktops came to OSX as a core feature, but there are some bugs that seem like show stoppers that I'd think a *nix hacker would have run into. Similarly, it seems like 3rd party dev package management is always a chore... but on that front I'm probably just being anal.

Re: Mac App Store: Open for Business

#185

Post by runinit »

sfphotoarts wrote: post #107
pclark wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

iTunes is by far the worst Apple product in terms of software engineering

Care to back thar up with some explanation. Having switched to iTunes long ago and use it daily without ever having problem I fail to see your point.

Lack of support for third party codecs (FLAC specifically).

Lack of auto conversion support when transferring to devices.

"Genius" Playlists never work for anything obscure

Ping is terrible

Lack of tagging support (no autotag feature)

I use mediamonkey (i'm on PC), once you switch you can never go back. I can organize my collection exactly how I want it from in the software, i can browse my harddrives to preview music before I add to my library. It supports pretty much every codec under the sun AND will convert it to compatible versions for whatever device i'm syncing to.

There is also a plugin for discogs tagging support (one of the best online discographies in the world), a plug in for "autodj" (based off last.fm).

I realize that not everyone in the world is as anal about organizing music as I am, but for the job, itunes can't compete.

Re: Mac App Store: Open for Business

#188

Post by elvirs »

J3L2404 wrote: post #172
elvirs wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

apple fanboys were offended by my observations, my apologies :) (but i still stick to my point)

Except that your point is factually wrong, which is why you tried to backtrack. You should have deleted your post while you had the chance.

how is it wrong? apple advertises the fact that they will let buyers 'even redownload' for free the app a customers bought earlier. what is so great about it to advertise? is not that normal? I dont like the fact that apple makes a normal thing sound like a favor it is doing to its customers. which part is wrong in it?

Re: Mac App Store: Open for Business

#189

Post by maw »

statictype wrote: post #106
tvon wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I often wish Apple employed a few longtime linux users to point out certain glaring deficiencies (primarily in app/library management, and in how Spaces works).

I'm pretty sure most people are glad that long time linux users were not employed to point out any deficiencies in any UI metaphors (like Spaces). (And I say this as someone who likes Mac OS X almost entirely because of its Unix underpinnings)

I'm with you for the most part on package management, but Spaces does some really crazy stuff. I'll be in one space, and suddenly get jerked into another. How can that ever be appropriate?

Re: Mac App Store: Open for Business

#190

Post by telemachos »

pavlov wrote: post #159

I'm impressed with the Mac App Store so far. Pretty bold of Apple to push it so prominently onto every Mac user's Dock as part of a point update to the operating system. My little landscape generator app, Turtledoveland , is currently at #5 on the Top Paid list for the Graphics & Design category. I'll be sure to let HN know what kind of sales numbers that actually means, once the numbers come in...

> Pretty bold of Apple to push it so prominently onto every Mac user's Dock as part of a point update to the operating system.

I hope you make just bucket loads of cash. However, I wouldn't call it pretty bold. I would call it "fucking obnoxious." (Also, and totally off-topic, why does Apple keep insisting that I restart my damn machines for dinky-ass upgrades like this?)

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