11 ms·

Apple brings App Store to Mac OS X

155 points by there 16y ago

mdemare 16y ago
I've found myself designing apps for iOS that should really be Mac apps, simply because of the commercial convenience of the app store. My hope is that this will lead to a renaissance of development for the desktop.
- phamilton 16y ago
  I've been doing the exact same thing. I could easily build a web version of the app, but monetizing it is so much easier through the app store.
  - mikeyur 16y ago
    Anyone else looking forwards to iAds in every free app they use on their Mac? Just me?
makecheck 16y ago
Both 10.7 and 10.6.
Aqua_Geek 16y ago
It will be interesting to see how well it does on Mac OS X. I doubt it will bring in the same number of new developers as iOS did, but I imagine it will bring in a nice chunk of new revenue for Apple and hopefully help some indie dev shops reach some more customers.
- JofArnold 16y ago
  30,000 new OSX developers a month apparently... The iOS halo effect is pretty significant it would appear.
protomyth 16y ago
Here is my big question: "How do I move existing customers to the app store version of the software without making them purchase it at full price?"
- bconway 16y ago
  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...
  - jcromartie 16y ago
    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.
    - deleted 16y ago
      [deleted]
    - bad_user 16y ago
      So why not go ahead with both means of distribution?
      - acangiano 16y ago
        I believe that's what most people will do, unless Apple expressly forbids it.
  - Aqua_Geek 16y ago
    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 software electronically...
al_james 16y ago
Its about time this happened really. Its an obvious idea, and could potentially be a great user experience. I bet Microsoft have their own within a year.
- qeorge 16y ago
  Incidentally, an App Store is planned for Windows 8: http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/06/leaked-windows-8-slides-an-app-store-for-windows-ie9-beta-in-august.ars http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/06/leaked-windows... I'm still skeptical that MS can ship an app store with Windows and not run afoul of anti-trust laws. We shall see.
  - nlogn 16y ago
    How would Microsoft run afoul of anti-trust laws? I could see that happening if and only if they made their app store the exclusive software channel.
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]
ZachPruckowski 16y ago
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 package managers, where a simple "sudo apt-get yada yada" line or two updates everything on your system, whether first party or third party. Insofar as a Mac App Store solves that problem, great.
- grandalf 16y ago
  Excellent point. Is it too much to hope that Apple will base its app system software distribution on apt?
  - cwg 16y ago
    Yes. (They already have rolled their own, why would they switch to apt?)
  - bbatsell 16y ago
    Yes.
  - e1ven 16y ago
    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.
  - acon 16y ago
    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.
- stevelosh 16y ago
  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.
martingordon 16y ago
I think we'll begin to see a ton of improvements to both App Stores once the Mac App Store is open for submissions, namely: bundles (see iLife), more/unlimited promo codes (for transitioning users from non-App Store to App Store), and customizable "developer" pages (rather than just a list of apps).
mkramlich 16y ago
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.
- malandrew 16y ago
  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.
  - mkramlich 16y ago
    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.
    - slantyyz 16y ago
      After their experience with the watchdogs in Europe on iOS, I think Apple's learned their lesson on attempting to shut down alternative development platforms.
      - mkramlich 16y ago
        I hope you are correct.
- 16y ago
gcv 16y ago
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).
- jaaron 16y ago
  Oh, please, please tell me Adobe will work with the OS X app store. Adobe's updater needs terminated with prejudice.
  - ceejayoz 16y ago
    I doubt it. Adobe's installers are just a non-accessible custom UI on top of a normal (and perfectly accessible) OSX package installer. They're convoluted for the sake of being convoluted.
  - pluies 16y ago
    If it ever does, it's only going to be the updater. Adobe would never sell anything through that Mac App Store if it means giving a 30% cut to Apple.
    - CaptainZapp 16y ago
      What is the cut for the distributor / importer and for the retail channel? I doubt it's less then 30% and I'd wager that Adobe still ships a lot of software in boxes.
  - caf 16y ago
    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!
- jcromartie 16y ago
jw84 16y ago
A Top 10 chart is now going to be the biggest marketing lead generator for Mac devs.
shade 16y ago
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 fantastic for smaller developers -- it will make it easier for people to find their apps, and as with the iPad/iPhone, that 30% cut to let Apple manage all the billing issues for you might be well worth it.
- ceejayoz 16y ago
  Yeah, I don't think this sort of thing is targeted at Adobe or Microsoft or the other huge players.
- lukifer 16y ago
  > For that matter, I can't really see Adobe (for example) wanting to give 30% of the cost of Photoshop to Apple. Makes me wonder if big companies like Adobe will be able to negotiate a better price with Apple behind closed doors, in exchange for helping to legitimize the new store to both users and developers. OTOH, if they don't jump on board, they might lose a large number of potential "prosumer" customers to upstarts like Acorn and Pixelmator.
iloveyouocean 16y ago
Will there be an approval process and what will it look like?
- jonhendry 16y ago
  Apple's developer site member center is down. They'll probably be posting information later today.
- rcoder 16y ago
  There's an approval guidelines document for the Mac App Store up on the Apple developer site now. It's behind a login wall, so I assume it's under the usual NDA, but if you're a registered Apple dev, you should be able to get it at the following URL: https://developer.apple.com/appstore/mac/resources/approval/guidelines.html https://developer.apple.com/appstore/mac/resources/approval/...
  - dasil003 16y ago
    Isn't about time this NDA got tested in court? It seems so ridiculous that anyone can get in and read it, but no one can talk about it due to the NDA.
    - msbarnett 16y ago
      Non-Disclosure Agreements are well-tested legal territory, and not uncommon for proprietary SDKs (you should see some of the terms you have to agree to for some company's hardware dev kits). What about this particular NDA strikes you as being exceptional or impermissible?
    - aphexairlines 16y ago
      Does Apple have a reason for the NDA other than letting their developers know who's the boss?
danilocampos 16y ago
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 2009, the App Store paid for my rent and cell phone bill. It helped me move across the country to the west coast. This was huge for me. I barely had to do much more than write code, design UI, and ship things. A huge chunk of the business of actually selling bits to other people was abstracted behind a bunch of buttons on iTunes Connect. This was such a powerful thing – I couldn't have had anything close to the moderate success I did without Apple's App Store strategy. This is going to enable a new wave of great work for OS X. This platform already has some of the best shareware and freeware ever. Now that indie Mac devs will have an easy way to get paid, they'll be able to devote even more attention to their wares.
- tlrobinson 16y ago
  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 will happen in 1 or 2 or 3 years, but maybe 5 years.
  - daniel-cussen 16y ago
    I think they can still sell the normal way.
    - deleted 16y ago
      [deleted]
  - JofArnold 16y ago
    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.
jcromartie 16y ago
There has been something like this for indie devs for a while. http://appbodega.com/ http://appbodega.com/
- goatforce5 16y ago
  The big difference being that the App Store will be preinstalled, and probably have a default place on the Dock and a permanent home under the Apple menu in the top left of the screen.
  - derefr 16y ago
    I'm hoping, but not expecting, that the App Store will replace Software Update, so updates to Safari/iTunes/etc can show up right next to updates to your own installed apps, and OS security updates can just be treated as updates to the (non-removable) OS "app."
    - goatforce5 16y ago
      Yes, I imagine so. If you want to keep getting updates to Safari, etc., you better have the Mac App Store installed which will (coincidentally) try to get you to spend cash money while you're in there.
  - jackolas 16y ago
    They're going to support people who didn't install 10.6?
- siddhant 16y ago
  I'm wondering what happens to AppBodega, now that Apple released an App Store for Mac (which I assume would be very tightly integrated with the OS).
  - jcromartie 16y ago
    AppBodega can continue along just the same. I think they serve very different purposes and markets, even though they are similar ideas. AppBodega is lots of indie/FOSS apps. It's more like MacPorts for applications, with purchasing.
wallflower 16y ago
I believe this will shift the marketplace to apps that consumers actually want - not the DTerms of the world. Little swiss-army type apps with consumer friendly interfaces. Stuff like a drag-and-drop photos to upload them to the cloud so they show up on grandma's digital photo frame.
mirkules 16y ago
Does anyone know if you have an app in the OS X app store, but you also want to distribute on your own, if this is allowed under the terms? Or, is it pretty much once you go into the app store there is no coming out of it? From Apple's business perspective, it would make sense to lock you in -- they probably don't want to foot the bill to advertise for you and then you go sell your software on the side full price without Apple getting their cut. From developers' perspective, this would severely limit distribution channels, and force them to give up 30% of revenue. In theory, a developer could release the "lite" version of his app, and link to his own distribution mechanism within that app. Is this allowed?
- slantyyz 16y ago
  We'll find out in 90 days.
- alextgordon 16y ago
  There is nothing in the terms that says you can't do that, but that doesn't mean they won't add it later (I don't think they will). From developers' perspective, this would severely limit distribution channels, and force them to give up 30% of revenue. Or increase their prices by 43% just for the store.
- derefr 16y ago
  A more interesting question to me is, if I install an app—that's also on the App Store—manually, will the App Store still update it for me? To put that another way, are these apps "App Store apps" that make particular calls to the OS to tell them as such? Or are they just regular bundles, with external metadata stored only on the Store's servers?
sshumaker 16y ago
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 for this platform.
- msbarnett 16y ago
  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.
  - sazzal 16y ago
    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.
    - chc 16y ago
      When that happens, Apple will devote its considerable resources to making the offender wish he was dead (he had to give up his information to get into the Mac Dev Program, remember?), and then it won't happen again.
  - d_r 16y ago
    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-steals-your-data-was-downloaded-by-millions/ http://venturebeat.com/2010/07/28/android-wallpaper-app-that...
code_duck 16y ago
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.
- code_duck 16y ago
  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/ http://www.apple.com/downloads/ if anyone wants to have an actual discussion rather than just anonymously show vague disapproval.
  - andfarm 16y ago
    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.
    - code_duck 16y ago
      Right, and the move to an App Store model seemed logical and imminent. But, people here and on Reddit were telling me I was wrong when I said that 4 months ago.
timmins 16y ago
I, for one, would like to thank Steve for saving my desktop from Mac porn apps.
- mkramlich 16y ago
  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.
  - YooLi 16y ago
    They aren't censoring Mac apps, they are choosing what gets sold in their Mac software store. Same way Best Buy isn't censoring porn by not stocking it on the shelves of their stores. If you are tin-foil-hatting this and thinking soon the Mac App Store will be the only way to get software on the Mac, then guess what, you can use Linux or Windows. If they do something stupid the market will let them know about it by leaving their products. * Apple is a minority player in computers, there isn't going to be a chilling effect even if they did something as monumentally stupid as only allowing apps installed via their Mac App Store. * The market is currently validating their stance of no porn on the iOS App Store with quite good sales.
    - mkramlich 16y ago
      Censorship is censorship even if it's possible to get a thing through some other means. For example, if a library banned books by Mark Twain, yet you could get it from another library or from Amazon, or in another country, most reasonable people would still call that censorship. If all the governments on Earth got together and outlawed Mark Twain, that would be censorship even if in theory you could fly to Mars, and buy/possess/read Mark Twain there. The danger comes partly in the so-called tyranny of the majority. Just because the majority prefers something over the minority doesn't necessarily mean it's right. Also, just because the iOS App Store has a heavy-handed approach to adult content and yet it's doing well financially, it doesn't mean (1) that it couldn't do even better if it didn't have the heavy-handed approach, and (2) that all markets/channels should adopt the same approach. Those conclusions just do not follow, in my judgment. Also, while Apple does many smart things, they are not perfect. I would not rule out them doing something you or I might consider as monumentally stupid. They are human. They make mistakes, and they have a different perspective, and their interests are not always aligned with ours.
nileshtrivedi 16y ago
Ubuntu's new Software Center is already on to this :)
johnrob 16y ago
Years ago, my boss at the time told me that every 5 or so years, the hot trend switches between client-based and server-based architecture. It was probably 2004 at the time, and web apps were getting hot. He was definitely right. ~6 years later, and we're about to see a bunch of web apps re-written as desktop software.
YooLi 16y ago
I guess next will be iAds availability for desktop Apps? I am not seeing anything about Free apps in the description of the Mac App Store, but free with iAds makes sense.
- JofArnold 16y ago
  Good spot! In the deep dark recesses of my memory I'm fairly sure Apple applied for a patent on desktop iAd integration...
  - callahad 16y ago
    Yep, here's AppleInsider's coverage of that patent: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/07/22/apple_shows_continued_interest_in_an_ad_supported_operating_system.html http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/07/22/apple_shows_co...
neovive 16y ago
If it works similar to Ubuntu Software Center then it should be a very nice option for many people. I like being able to quickly download applications through the Software Center, while also having the ability to manually install packages or compile code when necessary. As long as those choices remain on OS X, it should offer a good balance for all user types.
akadien 16y ago
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 down for richer desktop applications. That was my very first thought. 2. Apple will justify a review and approval process for desktop applications on the basis of something like "application security" and "keeping viruses off your Mac". They went that direction with the argument of eliminating porn, which was silly. In the end, this closes the software ecosystem. It may work for Apple, but I'm not sure I would want to be a part of it.
- siglesias 16y ago
  "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!
  - wmeredith 16y ago
    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.
tvon 16y ago
My big question, will non-App Store apps be able to use Home Screen? edit: I mean Launchpad, not "home screen"...
slillibri 16y ago
TUAW has posted a summary of the Mac App Store guidelines, for those not in the developer program. http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/20/apple-posts-guidelines-for-mac-app-store-and-we-have-highlights/ http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/20/apple-posts-guidelines-for-ma...
deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
mjfern 16y ago
Today, Apple announced four key products at its “Back to the Mac” event: - An application store for OS X - Facetime for the Mac, which links with Facetime on other Apple devices - An instant-on MacBook Air, 11” and 13” models, starting at $999 - The next major version of the Mac OS X, “Lion” (and iLife 11) Individually and as a collection, these new product announcements are interesting. Apple is extending the value it delivers to its Mac customers by launching a combination of new hardware (MacBook Air) combined with an innovative operating system (OS X Lion), building out a collection of new complements (OS X application store), and further linking Macs with Apple’s other thin computing devices (via Facetime). If we step back, and consider today’s announcements from a broader perspective, we can gain some insight about Apple’s overall corporate strategy with respect to its position in the future of computing. Apple’s recent product innovations have largely focused around thin devices, first the iPod, then the iPhone and Touch, the Apple TV, and recently the iPad. The new MacBook Air coupled with the new Mac OS X Lion represents a natural progression from the iPad. While Apple’s other thin devices are better suited for consuming content and media, the new MacBook Air is Apple’s first thin device that is particularly well suited for creating content and media (note that Apple is referring to the new MacBook Air as “The Next Generation of MacBooks”). Meanwhile, the new OS X application store extends Apple’s success with iTunes and the App Store to the Mac environment, thus further establishing Apple’s presence in cloud services and online media. Facetime, along with other services such as MobileMe, provides the linkages that begin connecting all these thin devices and services together. Looking broadly, Apple is now pushing the frontier on two key fronts. On the one hand there’s thin device computing with the iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and now its new MacBook Air products; each targeting a distinctive market segment, roughly arranged by those customers seeking to consume (iPod) or create media (new MacBook Air). On the other hand, Apple is developing a range of cloud services and online media with iTunes, the current App Store, and now the new OS X application store. iTunes already operates across platforms and, despite its name, now includes much more than music, given it also provides a gateway to movies, TV shows, Podcasts, Audiobooks, and so on. As Apple continues to push forward on these two fronts it will soon have developed a full and coherent line of thin device hardware, a unified and powerful operating system (iOS/OS X, and slight variants), and a tightly integrated set of cloud services and online media. In closing, today’s product introductions, along with Apple’s rapid progression over the last decade in thin devices and cloud services, brings into stark relief the gap between Apple and the historical high flyers in personal computing, such as Dell and HP. It appears Google is the only company that fairs a chance to stay competitive in this breakneck race. (I just posted this to my blog and submitted the post to HN. If you enjoyed the read, I'd appreciate an upvote (article title is "A broader view on Apple's 'Back to the Mac' Event").
gabea 16y ago
This is very exciting for those users who would love a fully integrated computing experience. I am someone who uses multiple computing devices throughout my day, and the idea of having my phone, a hand held tablet, and my desktop/laptop all in sync sharing my data with a click of a button is a very enticing proposal. Yes there are concerns about whether Apple completely closes down developers of OS X, but I just cannot see this as a likely event. Apple is all about user experience. What Apple is doing right now is laying the ground work for the future. Imagine 10-15 years from now your vehicle, home, place of work, even a personal robotic assistant all running on one platform acting in sync. Some may think it is scary, but to me it is the natural progression of technology. Helping to make life more entertaining, and helping to rid us of our everyday problems is why we consume these devices. I think we are all lucky to experience what is happening in this industry. Change is hard, but we are the consumers of these products and we get to shape them contrary to what it sometimes feels like.
mambodog 16y ago
As an Australian indie game dev, this presents an interesting situation. To sell games in Australia, you are legally required submit your game to the Office of Film and Literature Classification so that its content can be rated. This can cost upwards of $1000 per game, which isn't chump change for indie devs. For us, the iPhone App Store has been somewhat of a loophole, as games sold on the App Store somehow manage to avoid the classification system entirely. Here's to hoping I can get away with using this loophole in the desktop App Store as well.
- ghiculescu 16y ago
  How exactly does it bypass that loophole, out of curiosity? (fellow Australian here)
masonmark 16y ago
As a Mac developer, I find this very exciting. While I share tlrobinson's concern about the mac getting locked down (and therefore dumbed down) like iOS, I think at least it is now clear that we have several years in front of us, at least, where Apple won't try that. A Mac app I worked on a couple years back got "Staff Pick" on Apple's old, lame, "Get Mac OS X Software" page that just linked to our site. Lame as that page was, we saw a considerable sales bump. But it was nothing like the gargantuan effect we've seen from getting featured on the iOS app store. The exposure from getting featured is major, but even if it doesn't happen, the fact that Apple handles billing and provides the one-step, one-click process is a huge win for the developer. I expect that with an Apple-backed Mac app store, if you have Mac apps that are at all successful in the market now, you're going to see a massive increase in unit sales. I think that would be the case even if the Mac installed base was magically frozen at this point in time. (And that definitely _isn't_ the case.)

155 points by there 16y ago

I've found myself designing apps for iOS that should really be Mac apps, simply because of the commercial convenience of the app store. My hope is that this will lead to a renaissance of development for the desktop.

phamilton 16y ago
I've been doing the exact same thing. I could easily build a web version of the app, but monetizing it is so much easier through the app store.
- mikeyur 16y ago
  Anyone else looking forwards to iAds in every free app they use on their Mac? Just me?

makecheck 16y ago

Both 10.7 and 10.6.

Aqua_Geek 16y ago

It will be interesting to see how well it does on Mac OS X. I doubt it will bring in the same number of new developers as iOS did, but I imagine it will bring in a nice chunk of new revenue for Apple and hopefully help some indie dev shops reach some more customers.

JofArnold 16y ago
30,000 new OSX developers a month apparently... The iOS halo effect is pretty significant it would appear.

protomyth 16y ago

Here is my big question: "How do I move existing customers to the app store version of the software without making them purchase it at full price?"

bconway 16y ago
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...
- jcromartie 16y ago
  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.
  - deleted 16y ago
    [deleted]
  - bad_user 16y ago
    So why not go ahead with both means of distribution?
    - acangiano 16y ago
      I believe that's what most people will do, unless Apple expressly forbids it.
- Aqua_Geek 16y ago
  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 software electronically...

al_james 16y ago

Its about time this happened really. Its an obvious idea, and could potentially be a great user experience. I bet Microsoft have their own within a year.

qeorge 16y ago
Incidentally, an App Store is planned for Windows 8: http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/06/leaked-windows-8-slides-an-app-store-for-windows-ie9-beta-in-august.ars http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/06/leaked-windows... I'm still skeptical that MS can ship an app store with Windows and not run afoul of anti-trust laws. We shall see.
- nlogn 16y ago
  How would Microsoft run afoul of anti-trust laws? I could see that happening if and only if they made their app store the exclusive software channel.
deleted 16y ago
[deleted]

ZachPruckowski 16y ago

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 package managers, where a simple "sudo apt-get yada yada" line or two updates everything on your system, whether first party or third party. Insofar as a Mac App Store solves that problem, great.

grandalf 16y ago
Excellent point. Is it too much to hope that Apple will base its app system software distribution on apt?
- cwg 16y ago
  Yes. (They already have rolled their own, why would they switch to apt?)
- bbatsell 16y ago
  Yes.
- e1ven 16y ago
  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.
- acon 16y ago
  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.
stevelosh 16y ago
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.

martingordon 16y ago

I think we'll begin to see a ton of improvements to both App Stores once the Mac App Store is open for submissions, namely: bundles (see iLife), more/unlimited promo codes (for transitioning users from non-App Store to App Store), and customizable "developer" pages (rather than just a list of apps).

mkramlich 16y ago

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.

malandrew 16y ago
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.
- mkramlich 16y ago
  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.
  - slantyyz 16y ago
    After their experience with the watchdogs in Europe on iOS, I think Apple's learned their lesson on attempting to shut down alternative development platforms.
    - mkramlich 16y ago
      I hope you are correct.
16y ago

gcv 16y ago

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).

jaaron 16y ago
Oh, please, please tell me Adobe will work with the OS X app store. Adobe's updater needs terminated with prejudice.
- ceejayoz 16y ago
  I doubt it. Adobe's installers are just a non-accessible custom UI on top of a normal (and perfectly accessible) OSX package installer. They're convoluted for the sake of being convoluted.
- pluies 16y ago
  If it ever does, it's only going to be the updater. Adobe would never sell anything through that Mac App Store if it means giving a 30% cut to Apple.
  - CaptainZapp 16y ago
    What is the cut for the distributor / importer and for the retail channel? I doubt it's less then 30% and I'd wager that Adobe still ships a lot of software in boxes.
- caf 16y ago
  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!
jcromartie 16y ago

jw84 16y ago

A Top 10 chart is now going to be the biggest marketing lead generator for Mac devs.

shade 16y ago

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 fantastic for smaller developers -- it will make it easier for people to find their apps, and as with the iPad/iPhone, that 30% cut to let Apple manage all the billing issues for you might be well worth it.

ceejayoz 16y ago
Yeah, I don't think this sort of thing is targeted at Adobe or Microsoft or the other huge players.
lukifer 16y ago
> For that matter, I can't really see Adobe (for example) wanting to give 30% of the cost of Photoshop to Apple. Makes me wonder if big companies like Adobe will be able to negotiate a better price with Apple behind closed doors, in exchange for helping to legitimize the new store to both users and developers. OTOH, if they don't jump on board, they might lose a large number of potential "prosumer" customers to upstarts like Acorn and Pixelmator.

iloveyouocean 16y ago

Will there be an approval process and what will it look like?

jonhendry 16y ago
Apple's developer site member center is down. They'll probably be posting information later today.
rcoder 16y ago
There's an approval guidelines document for the Mac App Store up on the Apple developer site now. It's behind a login wall, so I assume it's under the usual NDA, but if you're a registered Apple dev, you should be able to get it at the following URL: https://developer.apple.com/appstore/mac/resources/approval/guidelines.html https://developer.apple.com/appstore/mac/resources/approval/...
- dasil003 16y ago
  Isn't about time this NDA got tested in court? It seems so ridiculous that anyone can get in and read it, but no one can talk about it due to the NDA.
  - msbarnett 16y ago
    Non-Disclosure Agreements are well-tested legal territory, and not uncommon for proprietary SDKs (you should see some of the terms you have to agree to for some company's hardware dev kits). What about this particular NDA strikes you as being exceptional or impermissible?
  - aphexairlines 16y ago
    Does Apple have a reason for the NDA other than letting their developers know who's the boss?

danilocampos 16y ago

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 2009, the App Store paid for my rent and cell phone bill. It helped me move across the country to the west coast. This was huge for me. I barely had to do much more than write code, design UI, and ship things. A huge chunk of the business of actually selling bits to other people was abstracted behind a bunch of buttons on iTunes Connect. This was such a powerful thing – I couldn't have had anything close to the moderate success I did without Apple's App Store strategy. This is going to enable a new wave of great work for OS X. This platform already has some of the best shareware and freeware ever. Now that indie Mac devs will have an easy way to get paid, they'll be able to devote even more attention to their wares.

tlrobinson 16y ago
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 will happen in 1 or 2 or 3 years, but maybe 5 years.
- daniel-cussen 16y ago
  I think they can still sell the normal way.
  - deleted 16y ago
    [deleted]
- JofArnold 16y ago
  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.

jcromartie 16y ago

There has been something like this for indie devs for a while. http://appbodega.com/ http://appbodega.com/

goatforce5 16y ago
The big difference being that the App Store will be preinstalled, and probably have a default place on the Dock and a permanent home under the Apple menu in the top left of the screen.
- derefr 16y ago
  I'm hoping, but not expecting, that the App Store will replace Software Update, so updates to Safari/iTunes/etc can show up right next to updates to your own installed apps, and OS security updates can just be treated as updates to the (non-removable) OS "app."
  - goatforce5 16y ago
    Yes, I imagine so. If you want to keep getting updates to Safari, etc., you better have the Mac App Store installed which will (coincidentally) try to get you to spend cash money while you're in there.
- jackolas 16y ago
  They're going to support people who didn't install 10.6?
siddhant 16y ago
I'm wondering what happens to AppBodega, now that Apple released an App Store for Mac (which I assume would be very tightly integrated with the OS).
- jcromartie 16y ago
  AppBodega can continue along just the same. I think they serve very different purposes and markets, even though they are similar ideas. AppBodega is lots of indie/FOSS apps. It's more like MacPorts for applications, with purchasing.

wallflower 16y ago

I believe this will shift the marketplace to apps that consumers actually want - not the DTerms of the world. Little swiss-army type apps with consumer friendly interfaces. Stuff like a drag-and-drop photos to upload them to the cloud so they show up on grandma's digital photo frame.

mirkules 16y ago

Does anyone know if you have an app in the OS X app store, but you also want to distribute on your own, if this is allowed under the terms? Or, is it pretty much once you go into the app store there is no coming out of it? From Apple's business perspective, it would make sense to lock you in -- they probably don't want to foot the bill to advertise for you and then you go sell your software on the side full price without Apple getting their cut. From developers' perspective, this would severely limit distribution channels, and force them to give up 30% of revenue. In theory, a developer could release the "lite" version of his app, and link to his own distribution mechanism within that app. Is this allowed?

slantyyz 16y ago
We'll find out in 90 days.
alextgordon 16y ago
There is nothing in the terms that says you can't do that, but that doesn't mean they won't add it later (I don't think they will). From developers' perspective, this would severely limit distribution channels, and force them to give up 30% of revenue. Or increase their prices by 43% just for the store.
derefr 16y ago
A more interesting question to me is, if I install an app—that's also on the App Store—manually, will the App Store still update it for me? To put that another way, are these apps "App Store apps" that make particular calls to the OS to tell them as such? Or are they just regular bundles, with external metadata stored only on the Store's servers?

sshumaker 16y ago

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 for this platform.

msbarnett 16y ago
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.
- sazzal 16y ago
  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.
  - chc 16y ago
    When that happens, Apple will devote its considerable resources to making the offender wish he was dead (he had to give up his information to get into the Mac Dev Program, remember?), and then it won't happen again.
- d_r 16y ago
  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-steals-your-data-was-downloaded-by-millions/ http://venturebeat.com/2010/07/28/android-wallpaper-app-that...

code_duck 16y ago

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.

code_duck 16y ago
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/ http://www.apple.com/downloads/ if anyone wants to have an actual discussion rather than just anonymously show vague disapproval.
- andfarm 16y ago
  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.
  - code_duck 16y ago
    Right, and the move to an App Store model seemed logical and imminent. But, people here and on Reddit were telling me I was wrong when I said that 4 months ago.

timmins 16y ago

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

mkramlich 16y ago
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.
- YooLi 16y ago
  They aren't censoring Mac apps, they are choosing what gets sold in their Mac software store. Same way Best Buy isn't censoring porn by not stocking it on the shelves of their stores. If you are tin-foil-hatting this and thinking soon the Mac App Store will be the only way to get software on the Mac, then guess what, you can use Linux or Windows. If they do something stupid the market will let them know about it by leaving their products. * Apple is a minority player in computers, there isn't going to be a chilling effect even if they did something as monumentally stupid as only allowing apps installed via their Mac App Store. * The market is currently validating their stance of no porn on the iOS App Store with quite good sales.
  - mkramlich 16y ago
    Censorship is censorship even if it's possible to get a thing through some other means. For example, if a library banned books by Mark Twain, yet you could get it from another library or from Amazon, or in another country, most reasonable people would still call that censorship. If all the governments on Earth got together and outlawed Mark Twain, that would be censorship even if in theory you could fly to Mars, and buy/possess/read Mark Twain there. The danger comes partly in the so-called tyranny of the majority. Just because the majority prefers something over the minority doesn't necessarily mean it's right. Also, just because the iOS App Store has a heavy-handed approach to adult content and yet it's doing well financially, it doesn't mean (1) that it couldn't do even better if it didn't have the heavy-handed approach, and (2) that all markets/channels should adopt the same approach. Those conclusions just do not follow, in my judgment. Also, while Apple does many smart things, they are not perfect. I would not rule out them doing something you or I might consider as monumentally stupid. They are human. They make mistakes, and they have a different perspective, and their interests are not always aligned with ours.

nileshtrivedi 16y ago

Ubuntu's new Software Center is already on to this :)

johnrob 16y ago

Years ago, my boss at the time told me that every 5 or so years, the hot trend switches between client-based and server-based architecture. It was probably 2004 at the time, and web apps were getting hot. He was definitely right. ~6 years later, and we're about to see a bunch of web apps re-written as desktop software.

YooLi 16y ago

I guess next will be iAds availability for desktop Apps? I am not seeing anything about Free apps in the description of the Mac App Store, but free with iAds makes sense.

JofArnold 16y ago
Good spot! In the deep dark recesses of my memory I'm fairly sure Apple applied for a patent on desktop iAd integration...
- callahad 16y ago
  Yep, here's AppleInsider's coverage of that patent: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/07/22/apple_shows_continued_interest_in_an_ad_supported_operating_system.html http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/07/22/apple_shows_co...

neovive 16y ago

If it works similar to Ubuntu Software Center then it should be a very nice option for many people. I like being able to quickly download applications through the Software Center, while also having the ability to manually install packages or compile code when necessary. As long as those choices remain on OS X, it should offer a good balance for all user types.

akadien 16y ago

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 down for richer desktop applications. That was my very first thought. 2. Apple will justify a review and approval process for desktop applications on the basis of something like "application security" and "keeping viruses off your Mac". They went that direction with the argument of eliminating porn, which was silly. In the end, this closes the software ecosystem. It may work for Apple, but I'm not sure I would want to be a part of it.

siglesias 16y ago
"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!
- wmeredith 16y ago
  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.

tvon 16y ago

My big question, will non-App Store apps be able to use Home Screen? edit: I mean Launchpad, not "home screen"...

slillibri 16y ago

TUAW has posted a summary of the Mac App Store guidelines, for those not in the developer program. http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/20/apple-posts-guidelines-for-mac-app-store-and-we-have-highlights/ http://www.tuaw.com/2010/10/20/apple-posts-guidelines-for-ma...

deleted 16y ago

[deleted]

mjfern 16y ago

Today, Apple announced four key products at its “Back to the Mac” event: - An application store for OS X - Facetime for the Mac, which links with Facetime on other Apple devices - An instant-on MacBook Air, 11” and 13” models, starting at $999 - The next major version of the Mac OS X, “Lion” (and iLife 11) Individually and as a collection, these new product announcements are interesting. Apple is extending the value it delivers to its Mac customers by launching a combination of new hardware (MacBook Air) combined with an innovative operating system (OS X Lion), building out a collection of new complements (OS X application store), and further linking Macs with Apple’s other thin computing devices (via Facetime). If we step back, and consider today’s announcements from a broader perspective, we can gain some insight about Apple’s overall corporate strategy with respect to its position in the future of computing. Apple’s recent product innovations have largely focused around thin devices, first the iPod, then the iPhone and Touch, the Apple TV, and recently the iPad. The new MacBook Air coupled with the new Mac OS X Lion represents a natural progression from the iPad. While Apple’s other thin devices are better suited for consuming content and media, the new MacBook Air is Apple’s first thin device that is particularly well suited for creating content and media (note that Apple is referring to the new MacBook Air as “The Next Generation of MacBooks”). Meanwhile, the new OS X application store extends Apple’s success with iTunes and the App Store to the Mac environment, thus further establishing Apple’s presence in cloud services and online media. Facetime, along with other services such as MobileMe, provides the linkages that begin connecting all these thin devices and services together. Looking broadly, Apple is now pushing the frontier on two key fronts. On the one hand there’s thin device computing with the iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and now its new MacBook Air products; each targeting a distinctive market segment, roughly arranged by those customers seeking to consume (iPod) or create media (new MacBook Air). On the other hand, Apple is developing a range of cloud services and online media with iTunes, the current App Store, and now the new OS X application store. iTunes already operates across platforms and, despite its name, now includes much more than music, given it also provides a gateway to movies, TV shows, Podcasts, Audiobooks, and so on. As Apple continues to push forward on these two fronts it will soon have developed a full and coherent line of thin device hardware, a unified and powerful operating system (iOS/OS X, and slight variants), and a tightly integrated set of cloud services and online media. In closing, today’s product introductions, along with Apple’s rapid progression over the last decade in thin devices and cloud services, brings into stark relief the gap between Apple and the historical high flyers in personal computing, such as Dell and HP. It appears Google is the only company that fairs a chance to stay competitive in this breakneck race. (I just posted this to my blog and submitted the post to HN. If you enjoyed the read, I'd appreciate an upvote (article title is "A broader view on Apple's 'Back to the Mac' Event").

gabea 16y ago

This is very exciting for those users who would love a fully integrated computing experience. I am someone who uses multiple computing devices throughout my day, and the idea of having my phone, a hand held tablet, and my desktop/laptop all in sync sharing my data with a click of a button is a very enticing proposal. Yes there are concerns about whether Apple completely closes down developers of OS X, but I just cannot see this as a likely event. Apple is all about user experience. What Apple is doing right now is laying the ground work for the future. Imagine 10-15 years from now your vehicle, home, place of work, even a personal robotic assistant all running on one platform acting in sync. Some may think it is scary, but to me it is the natural progression of technology. Helping to make life more entertaining, and helping to rid us of our everyday problems is why we consume these devices. I think we are all lucky to experience what is happening in this industry. Change is hard, but we are the consumers of these products and we get to shape them contrary to what it sometimes feels like.

mambodog 16y ago

As an Australian indie game dev, this presents an interesting situation. To sell games in Australia, you are legally required submit your game to the Office of Film and Literature Classification so that its content can be rated. This can cost upwards of $1000 per game, which isn't chump change for indie devs. For us, the iPhone App Store has been somewhat of a loophole, as games sold on the App Store somehow manage to avoid the classification system entirely. Here's to hoping I can get away with using this loophole in the desktop App Store as well.

ghiculescu 16y ago
How exactly does it bypass that loophole, out of curiosity? (fellow Australian here)

masonmark 16y ago

As a Mac developer, I find this very exciting. While I share tlrobinson's concern about the mac getting locked down (and therefore dumbed down) like iOS, I think at least it is now clear that we have several years in front of us, at least, where Apple won't try that. A Mac app I worked on a couple years back got "Staff Pick" on Apple's old, lame, "Get Mac OS X Software" page that just linked to our site. Lame as that page was, we saw a considerable sales bump. But it was nothing like the gargantuan effect we've seen from getting featured on the iOS app store. The exposure from getting featured is major, but even if it doesn't happen, the fact that Apple handles billing and provides the one-step, one-click process is a huge win for the developer. I expect that with an Apple-backed Mac app store, if you have Mac apps that are at all successful in the market now, you're going to see a massive increase in unit sales. I think that would be the case even if the Mac installed base was magically frozen at this point in time. (And that definitely _isn't_ the case.)