They have to pay Paypal or whatever payment intermediary, they have to pay for bandwidth and server time, they often have complex "licencing" interactions that deter buyers, it goes on and on.
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Apple Begins Accepting Mac App Store Submissions
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They have to pay Paypal or whatever payment intermediary, they have to pay for bandwidth and server time, they often have complex "licencing" interactions that deter buyers, it goes on and on.
Don't underestimate the value of perfect installations!
There's a lot to be said for properly installed apps. On the iPhone, everything is perfectly installed-- there is only one way to do it. On the Mac, you just never know. I see countless Firefox and Skype apps (for example) that are launched from a disk image (that is, the user doesn't understand that he's supposed to drag the application to the Applications folder-- or maybe he just doesn't pay attention). That makes things tricky for updates-- there's nothing in the Applications folder to update, so the user ends up with a second copy of Firefox, for example, and might keep using the old one. And it means there's a delay when the user goes to launch his app as the disk image has to be mounted first.
I know, we're not asking a lot of users to drag an app to the Applications folder, but in real life the users have a wide range of ability and background. So apps don't always get installed properly. If buying a Mac App through the Mac App store results in a perfectly installed app, that's a win for the user and also for the developer providing support.
There's a lot to be said for properly installed apps. On the iPhone, everything is perfectly installed-- there is only one way to do it. On the Mac, you just never know. I see countless Firefox and Skype apps (for example) that are launched from a disk image (that is, the user doesn't understand that he's supposed to drag the application to the Applications folder-- or maybe he just doesn't pay attention). That makes things tricky for updates-- there's nothing in the Applications folder to update, so the user ends up with a second copy of Firefox, for example, and might keep using the old one. And it means there's a delay when the user goes to launch his app as the disk image has to be mounted first.
I know, we're not asking a lot of users to drag an app to the Applications folder, but in real life the users have a wide range of ability and background. So apps don't always get installed properly. If buying a Mac App through the Mac App store results in a perfectly installed app, that's a win for the user and also for the developer providing support.
Does anyone know how Apple will handle currently existing licences?
For example, say TextMate decides to sell through the App Store but I already purchased a licence a long time ago. Will there be some sort of transfer process so I can re-download through the App Store or hook into the update system?
I haven't read anything about that so I'm curious
For example, say TextMate decides to sell through the App Store but I already purchased a licence a long time ago. Will there be some sort of transfer process so I can re-download through the App Store or hook into the update system?
I haven't read anything about that so I'm curious
will i be able to save?
If i buy apps in the online store will i be able to save them on dvd's, in case i need to reinstall all software on my computer, or will they just let me download it again for free?
If i buy apps in the online store will i be able to save them on dvd's, in case i need to reinstall all software on my computer, or will they just let me download it again for free?
30% cut argument:
Charge 1.3x the price for Apps distributed through the App Store. Then when people get used to the fact that many developers use this, they will learn to use App Store to find apps, but then follow the link to their website to buy them at a "discount".
Eg. a $19.95 app would become a $25.95 app.
Charge 1.3x the price for Apps distributed through the App Store. Then when people get used to the fact that many developers use this, they will learn to use App Store to find apps, but then follow the link to their website to buy them at a "discount".
Eg. a $19.95 app would become a $25.95 app.
This is a logical step for Apple and other operating systems. I use the Software Manager on Linux Mint all the time now and absolutely love it. The Mac App store will become the first stop when looking for new Mac software. The ease of the iPhone App store with the power of the Mac.
My only question is why this take so long for Apple to figure out? It should have been rolled out with Snow Leopard.
My only question is why this take so long for Apple to figure out? It should have been rolled out with Snow Leopard.
if we are talking about physical copies:
Production of physical media: $0
Shipping: $0
wasted items sitting on shelves to sell: 0
packaging $0
basically there is a whole lot less overhead and you don't have to worry about your product ever being sold out.
it's the same for authors now with eBooks and iBooks, they don't have to print 50,000 copies and hope they sell, there is no cost to get your product out there, just the %30 that Apple charges for the sale. they take care of the rest and send you a cheque.
I kind of see a lot of small time developers flooding to the mac. That can be good or bad. More people developing for the Mac, or this Mac store getting saturated with lots of software developed by people trying to make a quick buck.
You act like the idea was originated by Apple. There is already a Mac App Store: http://appbodega.com/
But that's the beauty of Apple's app stores - it has ratings and reviews integrated into the very DNA of the system. It doesn't matter if the app store gets flooded with junky apps, because people will still mainly be looking at the Top 25 / Top Free / Top Grossing apps, which means the cream will always rise to the top and you won't have to ever waste your time downloading a 2 star app.
Won't work. The developer/Apple contract states that the developer can't sell the product for less on another site. Apple is a price-matcher.
(*That's the way it works with iBooks anyway.)
I like how you add "for a no hassle shopping experience." It's like you work for Apple.
Also, what does being integrated into the OS have to do with his point?
Hassle free, you haven't even tried it, and probably haven't even tried AppBodega, but I bet you hate it, even if it's a pro mac site.
I'd like to see minecraft in the store
THAT is a game that needs spread
Minecraft is soooooo addicting!!!!
In theory yes. What I expect to see is a race to the bottom. The big guys might say screw it and the big software will never fly in the App store as it breaks many of the rules. For example MS office could never be sold in the App store nor I bet a lot of games like SC because of what they require in terms of system access.
Actually, no, I was more pointing out that something easy like the upcoming Mac App Store is something that people like my technophobic parents would see as a no-hassle shopping experience.
Being integrated has everything to do with it, a sizable number of consumers know very little about the computers they own. So, having something integrated, that is ready to go out of the box, will be a boon for consumers. As nice as AppBodega seems (you are correct, I have not used it), it's something that most consumers have not heard of, and it's something that's not out of the box.
I'm not criticizing AppBodega, I was just pointing out, that for the masses Mac App Store will be an "ease of use" purchase point like iTunes, the App Store and even Valve's Steam.
I'd like to see minecraft in the store
THAT is a game that needs spread
I doubt you will since Steve in his quest to destroy everything non-Apple deprecated Java and banned it from the store. Minecraft is written in pure Java so unless someone bothers to port the entire thing to Obj-C you won't be seeing minecraft any time soon....
Cry me a river. One doesn't get into a business with the expectations of 100% profit margins.
Host your own application.
I don't think this is necessary, since developers aren't really losing 30% by selling on the Mac app store - running your own online store costs time and money, and selling physical product in a store will result in more than a 30% less from what other developers claim.
Also, to actually account for that 30% that Apple takes, you have to charge about 42.8% more - because Apple also get 30% of the additional amount. Take the reciprocal of .7 to see the exact factor to charge by to account for Apple's take.
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