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Ahead of OS X Lion, Mac App Store Sales Numbers Still Comparably Small

nunes013 said:
the difference (for me at least) is the price. there are many games and apps that i would like to download but i cant spend 6 and 7 dollars for an app. if they lowered it to 1 or 2 there would be a lot i would buy. but i have to buy apps for my iphone and ipad and i cant afford apps for all three. the iphone and ipad come first as they are my mobile devices and i use them the most.
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You've pretty much summed up the reality of all this.

Note that before the AppStore was introduced with low prices for mobile apps, we were paying $20 to $60 for most "computer programs." We seem to be finding it more difficult to justify that now, not simply because we might find expensive (despite prices not changing much), but because our mobile gear is becoming our priority for average, daily use.
 
If Apple releases the new Mac mini next week maybe I can start buying stuff off their Mac App Store.
 
as a student, I'm only interested in productivity apps. and to get them, there are several ways:

1. we get a lot of programs (educational version) for free over the website of our university
2. or through the developer themselves (educational version as well) for free
3. from "unknown" sources

first: why should I spend money, which I don't have, on something that everbody gets for free? and second. I can't find that kind of software at the MAS...
 
its a good idea, but there are not enough apps on there and they will not live up to the expectations. You could spend 3.99 on asphalt 6 on your ipad, iphone, ipod etc, but if you buy it on the app store you expect it to do more.
 
There aren't 160 million Mac App Store-capable Macs out there (as opposed to iOS devices).

Also, Mac developers do not want to have the "race to the bottom" that iOS had. You aren't going to get the same level of scale which charging 99 cents for your app causes an order of magnitude increase in profits. The numbers just aren't there to support that kind of strategy.
 
You do not mean "comparably small." You might mean "comparatively small." But what you really mean is just plain "small."
 
miazma said:
What I'm missing is a "Favourite" or "Setup" Section
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Yep there is still a lot of work needed on the store part (I've seen a few shots of Palm OS app store for tablet and it's prettier), also some soft would need an installer with options (xCode) instead of trying to run everything in one click.

But still the store is great in its ease of use, and in the fact that your soft will always be available through the net (unless Apple get Nuked ^^), and Apple (unlike Steam for example, or other cloud systems) doesn't ask for a constant net connection to use your softwares.

As for poor sales number lets be fair, some devs are going to suffer the iOS syndrome... We've all get used to small prices for small softwares.

In the case of pretty old softs that have appeared on the app store at prices from the day of their first release, they feel like ripoffs...
Mainly games like Bioshock, Borderland, World of Goo.
Once installed in some cases you can even see that the devs directly used Steam ports.
 
I'm sorry for the developer, but the truth is he is asking $5 for a poorly-reviewed game. Either improve the app so it's a clear value, or charge much less so that it works as a throwaway impulse buy. Just because I bought a Mac doesn't mean I burn money in the fireplace to stay warm in winter.
 
While the iTunes App Store is an essential part of the iPod, iPad, iPhone experience. That does not apply to the computer side. I see the Mac App Store as just another revenue stream for Apple.

It's not essential, as least not yet. Shortly it will be as Apple force feeds us, like an IV in your arm, to buy Lion via the App Store.

Who knows where the App Store will end up, but it really doesn't matter. Apple is the master of extracting money from us, and the master of convincing most of us we simply cannot do without. With cash reserves as astronomical as Apple has on hand, they can ride it out for as long as they wish.

Cash is king and no one can sell like Steve Jobs.
 
In iOS the only way to get apps is through the App Store ... on Macs you can get them from anywhere.
 
I think the fact that the average price of an app on the PC is several times higher than that of an iOS app is a major factor. People are willing to try out a bunch of $1-3 apps on their phone/tablet. and if some of them don't work out, oh well. On the Mac side, however, quality apps are going for $10+ then people are more thoughtful in what they buy.

For sake of comparison, the average price of the top 10 paid apps on the Mac App Store (skipping over FCPX since that throws off the average, considerably), iPhone and iPad App Stores give us...

MAS: $14.40 ($43.70 if you count FCPX)
iPhone: $1.10
iPad: $4.10
 
*LTD* said:
You've pretty much summed up the reality of all this.

Note that before the AppStore was introduced with low prices for mobile apps, we were paying $20 to $60 for most "computer programs." We seem to be finding it more difficult to justify that now, not simply because we might find expensive (despite prices not changing much), but because our mobile gear is becoming our priority for average, daily use.
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thats exactly it. i use my computer for school work and internet browsing, video chat. i play all my games on my ipad and phone. if the same game was a dollar for the mac i could justify a few of them. there are a few things that i like in the MAS but they dont have a big selection yet.

what i just thought of is that apple said we are in the post pc era. wouldnt that mean people would rely more on mobile devices. im not bashing apple but they kind of contradicted themselves with the MAS.
 
My main problem with the App store is you do not receive a dmg or installer file after you download your purchase that you can archive. At least with FCX. (please correct me if I'm wrong). At least with IOS purchases there is an .ipa file.

Also a problem I had was I wanted to purchase Compressor and Motion for a new Mac I was going to buy in August and make a Snow Leopard build (not going with Lion) with all my new apps. The app store wouldn't let me purchase it because my current machine couldn't run it.

My company gave us a 10 day window to purchase software and be 100% reimbursed. Thanx Apple. Cost Me 100 bucks
 
I have bought a few apps from the Mac App Store. There are somethings I won't buy on there though.

First lets just get games out of the way. If they're real PC games and not just iOS ports they're likely to be gotten cheaper elsewhere (Steam is usually cheaper). If I want an iOS game I'll get the iOS game and not a Mac port.

Productivity apps largely don't exist or can be had elsewhere for less due to things like edu discount. I will never buy an Omni Group program from the Mac App Store because they have steep edu discounts from their store. Same would be true for Microsoft Office if they ever released it on the Mac App Store.

Then there is the issue with Mac apps rightfully costing more. This means I'm less likely to go and replace an app I own already with something new. e.g. I like BBEdit so I'm not keen to go buy a new text editor.

So essentially I'm waiting for normal upgrade cycles for apps that don't get edu discounts. Hopefully, now that they're releasing OS upgrades in the Mac App Store they'll realize they need edu and volume discount options in the store.
 
kevinbal said:
I don't think it has much to do with piracy. Sure, the iOS store has a billion garbage apps but most of the quality apps that people use day to day are internet-based programs. Odds are I'm going to have my browser directed to Google Reader, rather than a separate app. Same for Facebook or whatever else.

The other sizable source of revenue for the iOS store is the games market. I'm not gaming on my Mac Mini when I'm at my desk -- if I'm at home, its either on my windows box or my 360.

There's a false equivalency if you want to compare Mac App Store sales versus iOS App Store sales.
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It is also false to say that the apps people use day to day are all Internet based.
 
I don't use MAS because I don't want to open it every time to check for updates. It's much more convenient if the program tells me an update is available instead.
 
ericmooreart said:
My main problem with the App store is you do not receive a dmg or installer file after you download your purchase that you can archive. At least with FCX. (please correct me if I'm wrong). At least with IOS purchases there is an .ipa file.
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Most apps are pretty self contained and you can just zip the app and save it somewhere if you want a local backup (you can download as many times as you want).

This brings up the issue of upgrades currently having you redownload the entire app (which sucks for big apps). I think they're fixing this or hope they are.
 
With iOS the only option for (legitimate) apps is the app store. With OSX, there are multiple distribution channels. That you can't demo apps via the app store is another major deal breaker. I'm not prepared to risk money on untrialled apps. iOS is different as the risk of 59p is something I can swallow.
 
Yeah. Computer applications are totally different field. I think it's good to mention that this is completely new to the user. Just like iPhone App Store was new in 2009.
You can't expect any huge numbers because it's only MAC users. While iPhone has potential to reach any user. I think that's why Apple is not going to brag about the number of apps there are at the Mac App Store, because it doesn't really matter. It's not really a feature.
 
Yes, I used it once for Aperture, and probably Lion when it comes out.

Problem is simple. I want to use Skype, I can't find Skype. I want to use MSN, I can't find Microsoft MSN. I want to use XCode, the XCode on AppStore cost money and I can download for free from my dev account. Firefox is not on the App Store neither. Nor is Adobe stuff. A lot of games are not on the App Store neither, and frankly if I have to buy Civilization 5 from online source I'd rather buy from Steam. I can also play it on gamer-friendlier PC sometimes.

It ends up that I still have to google for all the apps to download or purchase. Now, don't blame those dev like a fanboy. They just simply don't need App Store. Why should Skype give Apple 30% for in-app purchase?

As for games and some heavy weight application like Creative Suite, I'd still prefer physical media just like I don't buy music or movie from iTMS. Purchasing games from Steam or App Store feels a bit... detached.

Sorry, but I just don't need App Store on Mac to survive. It's a good idea though, but it failed in a lot of categories...
 
I think right now the only one making real money off the App Store is only Apple (in addition to the 30% cut from every sale)

In the german store the charts look like this right now (I'm assuming these numbers are comparable to other countries):

Most bought:
11 of the top 15 Apps are form Apple - and 9 from the top 10. Only Modern Combat (4th) managed to sneak in.

More interesting when we talk about money, highest grossing:
12 of the 20 from Apple - 9 of the Top 10. Again modern Combat, this time on 9th place, sneaked in. Top app is currently Final Cut Pro.
 
L-U-R-C-H said:
Yeah I just can't see the Mac App Store ever being a huge success... People are just used to the standard way of purchasing software. It's obviously different on iOS devices. Of course it's popular because of how easy it is. If I want to buy some software application for my computer, I'll Google it and purchase it at the developer's website. That's just what I'm used to.
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The Mac App store is the future, Steam has been doing this for sometime and it has worked fine without much in the way of problems. The real problem is the old one we see in most things. The old generation has to die off for the new generation to come in. I for one like how the Apple App store has made my life easier when someone in my family or extended family how need a program or has some kind of issue they need resolved.

:apple:TV 2 thank you, :apple:Airport all version thank you, iPad 2 for conferencing with the old folks and the grand children thank you. :apple: App store thank you.:D

I also like using AppShopper which I do like because of its features.


What I want to see is all the programs on the Mac App Store since to me it is still limited. The 30% is the only thing that will hinder that. There has to be some kind of incentive to help those whose programs are good but limited because of the kind of people that use them, maybe a sliding scale. Still in a few years people will be able to easily find what they want and in seconds have it in their mac to use.:)
 
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The Mac App Store is a joke. Just keep it the traditional way: buying physical products or purchasing it directly from the developer's website.
 
NAG said:
This brings up the issue of upgrades currently having you redownload the entire app (which sucks for big apps). I think they're fixing this or hope they are.
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An example of failure for upgrades in the App Sore is Xcode. If you buy it it doesn't install like every other App in the Store. No it downloads an installer into the Application folder from which you can install Xcode - great. So now HTF do I update. I still have Xcode 4.0 installed and it's listed a such in the App Store - but the update isn't offered. IMO a complete failure.
 
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