Apple to Sell Software via Software Update?

[MacRumors]

Embedded in one of the configuration files of Panther's Software Update is evidence that Apple has planned for the implementation of a new feature for Software Update: Selling Software. In addition, it appears Apple also plans on offering discounts on the sales to current .Mac subscribers.

The Software Update's English.lproj Localizable.strings file includes the following messages:

A 1-Click account is required to purchase software.
To purchase software, you need an Apple account with 1-Click ordering enabled. If you don't have an Apple account, you can create one in just a few minutes by clicking Set Up.

Save ?? with a .Mac membership.
.Mac members enjoy free or discounted pricing on software. Click Set Up to make sure your member name and password are correct, or sign up for a .Mac membership. Click Continue if you don't want a .Mac membership now.

Longstanding rumors have hinted that Apple will be revamping Software Update to allow 3rd party developers to provide their own updates through the Apple utility. It's unclear if purchasable software would be limited to Apple's own selections or opened to 3rd party developers as well.

Full Path: /System/Library/CoreServices/Software Update.app/Contents/Resources/English.lproj/Localizable.strings

 

[alset]

Brilliant

Extend the one-click system into every place you can, and you have a lot of happy customers emptying their wallets.

I'd use this as much as I use iTMS (very frequently).

Dan

btw - All those who say they don't get enough for their money with .Mac are insane. I LOVE what Apple is doing for my business.

 

[Jerry Spoon]

With download speeds on the rise, this makes sense to me. Save me a trip to the store and make it convenient. Just hope the interface is simple. Knowing Apple, it will be.

 

[TomSmithMacEd]

This sounds like a good idea, if they gave a discount to everyone. Just think how much cheaper it would be for them to not have to ship it.

 

[Flowbee]

Oooh... I want that $99 Final Cut Express deal, but I don't want to have to buy a new Mac to get it. Bring it on!

 

[ITR 81]

Sounds good to me.

 

[KLFloyd]

There would also need to be an easy way for users to make a backup copy of their downloaded software for when they need to reinstall. And Backup is not the solution. I've never had success with that program, Carbon Copy Cloner is far superior.

Other than that I'm all for it. I'd like to be getting a little more bang for my $99 .mac membership, right now my .mac email is really the only reason I keep it around as all my friends and family have that address.

 

[Squire]

Great idea. I agree that they'd need a good policy in cases where people lost their program, though. Probably just a serial number. Out of curiosity, I wonder how large the downloads would be. Would this apply to all programs or just the smaller ones?

I hope this service won't be limited to American customers. I'd love to get even more out of my .Mac membership.

Squire

 

[Mr.Hey]

S-UD allows you to download to the desktop instead of direct install; just take those files and burn them to CD-Rs.

 

[aldo]

Well lets hope they can do it internationally unlike pretty much every 'buy within the OS' feature in OSX. iPhoto, iTunes etc all are US only and Apple needs to fix this fast.

I hope that Apple also allows open source, free, tools to be sent over Software Update (but surely it will have a new name if it allows new software to be installed?). I doubt this though - Apple's policy on open-source seems to be 'only use if very necessary or we save serious money', however, they do contribute back so they are not too evil .

 

[Powerbook G5]

I just hope this doesn't make SWU a bloated mess.

 

[Billicus]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
I just hope this doesn't make SWU a bloated mess.

Exactly. Hopefully it'll just be a seperate tab for purchasing software rather than updating purchased software.

 

[SoGood]

Logical

This is just a logical extension of all existing infrastructure for Apple. Most expected.
Keep it up!

 

[McToast]

Horrible. Just wait till Apple starts charging for OS updates, QuickTime Updates, iApp updates....

Oh you think they won't? Remember iTools? Do ya?

 

[stingerman]

Originally posted by KLFloyd
There would also need to be an easy way for users to make a backup copy of their downloaded software for when they need to reinstall. And Backup is not the solution. I've never had success with that program, Carbon Copy Cloner is far superior.

Other than that I'm all for it. I'd like to be getting a little more bang for my $99 .mac membership, right now my .mac email is really the only reason I keep it around as all my friends and family have that address.

There already is by means of Apple's Disk imaging technology already built in to OS X. Just take an image and burn it to a CD/DVD-R. Apple can of course put a nice Jukebox type interface on it and I'd suspect they would add their DRM authorization technology.

 

[stingerman]

Originally posted by McToast
Horrible. Just wait till Apple starts charging for OS updates, QuickTime Updates, iApp updates....

Oh you think they won't? Remember iTools? Do ya?

They are talking about Apps you can currently buy in the Apple Store.

 

[McToast]

Originally posted by stingerman
They are talking about Apps you can currently buy in the Apple Store.

You mean they are currently talking about apps that you can currently buy in the Apple Store.

 

[latergator116]

Sounds stupid to me. The software update is to update software, not to purchase software. If you want to buy software:a. make a seperate app to specificaly do that, or b: go to the store

 

[dukemeiser]

This would probably be in competition with services like Kagi. But I like the idea, and it would be a revenue source for Apple. They could take a cut of every copy of software they distribute.

 

[Raiden]

This has alot of promice.

I think it will be awesome.

 

[mac15]

McToast, I don't Apple would start charging for iTunes and Quicktime (yes they have QT pro but thats a feature update). Only major OS updates will be pay updates, not minor ones.

I think it'd be a great idea, bundle it in via webcore. And Apple certainly know how to hand out MBs. But I'm sure if this would increase piracy. Unless Apps sudden;y have DRMs

 

[Mr.Hey]

Originally posted by McToast
Horrible. Just wait till Apple starts charging for OS updates, QuickTime Updates, iApp updates....

Oh you think they won't? Remember iTools? Do ya?

Oh I see how you came to this conclusion and although not entirely impossible I don't think this is what it means.

There are users who could use the efficiency of direct download rather then wait several days for it to arrive by snail-mail.

And in my opinion would be a great idea. Websites like versiontracker.com are fine but nothing like the ease of use of the one click system exactly like iTMS but for developers.

 

[Powerbook G5]

I think this should be a separate application or component and not SWU, though. Software Update is for updating system software, not an electronic retail store. It already does a fantastic job at what it is, so I don't want to see it being cluttered with extra features that aren't a part of what software update is there to accomplish. If Apple wants an Apple Store built into Mac OS X, that is great, but make it a separate entity and don't let it clutter something dedicated like SWU.

 

[zim]

I really like this idea, Macromedia currently offers the ability to purchase their software through their online store as a download. I wonder if our .mac accounts would serialize them? meaning that we would no longer have serial numbers because this would be a way for apple to control legal rights, if so, I hope that they allow instillation on 3 computers just like the music, which would mean altering their EUL.

 

[bousozoku]

Maybe this has something to do with the Purchase Mac OS X Software... Apple menu item that's been missing since Panther arrived. I only tried it once and I can't imagine anyone else using it much more than that.

While Software Update does not sound exactly like the proper place, it's also doesn't sound completely wrong either.