Mac App Store Reportedly Set to Launch at Noon Eastern Time Tomorrow

[KnightWRX]

The Mac App Store simplifies all of these steps into a simple click to install.

This is only for self-contained apps though, apps you could already just "drag to Applications". Any apps that required an installer/mpkg will still need to be purchased/downloaded elsewhere because those apps will not be available on the Mac App Store.

This greatly limits the scope of complexity of apps you can find on it.

 

[Mal]

This is only for self-contained apps though, apps you could already just "drag to Applications". Any apps that required an installer/mpkg will still need to be purchased/downloaded elsewhere because those apps will not be available on the Mac App Store.

This greatly limits the scope of complexity of apps you can find on it.

Fair enough, but I'd bet many people won't bother with any of those other apps. It still simplifies the process, by whichever means you attribute it to. I personally will continue to download and purchase software via whatever method I need to in order to get the right tool for me, whether that's through the Mac App Store or elsewhere, but for the novice user, this is a godsend.

jW

 

[Icaras]

i hope this will go down as apples biggest flops

I so hope you're wrong.

 

[mrblack927]

This is only for self-contained apps though, apps you could already just "drag to Applications". Any apps that required an installer/mpkg will still need to be purchased/downloaded elsewhere because those apps will not be available on the Mac App Store.

This greatly limits the scope of complexity of apps you can find on it.

That's a good point. The app store still has it's uses (consolidated payments, licensing, search, etc) but as far as ease-of-installation goes, we're not really gaining anything.

On the other hand, maybe this will entice creators of these "non-consolidated apps" to start packaging them differently so that they can make it into the app store.

 

[Arch Stanton]

The Mac App Store is a separate app from iTunes.

Well Thank God for that. At least they didn't try to make it a part of iTunes, that sucker is bloated enough.
Guess if I would have taken a sec to look at the pic I would have seen the App Store icon in the dock.
This should be interesting to see what people come up with to bitch about.
I'm sure it will be well received.

 

[shervieux]

Looking forward to this...

Why?

1. The reviews like the apps in the itunes store for iOS. I use them heavily to determine if an app is worth buying. Especially since the many versions of like apps.

2. Will be able to buy piece meal. I need home and business version of Word, Excel (no use for powerpoint nor outlook [especially since outlook no longer syncs with your iOS devices]. Keynote is good but I am actually thinking of using ProPresenter - due to the availability of bibles, etc). I need Pages 11, but have no use for Numbers. I need the new iMovie; the rest in iLife 09 suits me fine.

3. A number of rumors point to iOS developers porting their apps over to the mac. would be really nice if some of the ipad apps I have come to the mac and have ease of syncing data (USB, itunes) rather than using wifi. wifi is ok if you have small amounts of data; but moving 12gb of OneNote notebooks to mobilenoter over wifi took about 10 hrs. Some of the iOS apps I have, I would really love on my mac...

Don't tell me about dropbox. Already have it and use it - but it really does nothing for apps with specialized data structure that can't just be imported...


4. Looking forward to the updates. Auto-install like iOS apps, and more frequent updates that add features.

5. Hopes for easier un-install of apps, that do not leave fragments of itself around.

7. No more googling for hours just to find something I hope is available for a specific need. Now, just hit the apps store and see what's new, hot, noteworthy.

Unlike the current iOS app store, I hope they have better keyword searching. Amazing how I type in web editor, get a bunch of results - only to find more website editing apps when searching for something else (because web or editor was not in the name).

 

[carmenodie]

Now watch that clown Ballmer copy this.

 

[e-coli]

Yeah!
The sheer excitement of a more efficient means of getting the hipster drones to fill Apple's pockets with even more money!!

I assume they will take their percentage for every licence sold - whilst being the moral arbiter of what we can and cannot download!

I'm assuming you're not a shareholder

And you certainly are negative. If you don't like it, don't use it.

 

[hayesk]

Maybe he's afraid the Mac App Store will become the only place to Mac apps. If that's the case, lots of people who use professional apps (like Adobe apps) will be out of luck. While I can see the possibility of Apple only doing this, it's just that: a POSSIBILITY.

Then he has needless paranoia. There's absolutely no reason to believe Apple will move to an App store-only model. None.

There is every reason Apple did it to make buying and selling Mac software easier.

 

[hayesk]

Whose to say that the Mac app store is not a "lil snitch"

Well, you can install and run Li'l Snitch and see for yourself.

 

[iphone1105]

Will iTunes card be accepted as payment in the Mac app store? I have $125.79 in credit in my account just sitting there....

 

[DrRadon]

When has any form of copy protection/DRM stopped piracy ?

Playstation 3 managed to do it for four years. I think the Wii Ware an/or DSi Ware have not been breached either. They are obviusly more restricted than a PC but the dark side is making progress while Indy Developers show that you can sell without spending Millions on DRM ********.

Then he has needless paranoia. There's absolutely no reason to believe Apple will move to an App store-only model. None.

There is every reason Apple did it to make buying and selling Mac software easier.

MacBook Air... every Notebook without a batterie to remove... i´ed not be surprised if optical drives would die in the next 10 years. The only reason to have one right now is BluRay, everything elth works fine as a Download. And since Apple dos not do BluRay...

 

[cav23j]

My guess is that tomorrow will be the 10.6.6 update that includes the Mac App Store. I don't think it will be 10.6.6 + App Store, that just doesn't make any sense.

they are separate

 

[cav23j]

Will iTunes card be accepted as payment in the Mac app store? I have $125.79 in credit in my account just sitting there....

wondering the same thing
i think it would be stupid for them to take only Mac App Store Gift Cards

 

[mrblack927]

2. Will be able to buy piece meal. I need home and business version of Word, Excel (no use for powerpoint nor outlook [especially since outlook no longer syncs with your iOS devices]. Keynote is good but I am actually thinking of using ProPresenter - due to the availability of bibles, etc). I need Pages 11, but have no use for Numbers. I need the new iMovie; the rest in iLife 09 suits me fine.

Unfortunately, Microsoft will most likely keep selling Office as-is. That is, they will keep selling it as a package installer (with all office apps) through their own retail channels.

The reasons are simple:
A) They don't need the distribution, people who need office already know where to get it
B) They won't need to rewrite any of their code to comply with Apple's mac app store guidelines
C) And of course, the biggie, they won't need to give apple a commission

The same goes for Adobe and their suite of products. Unfortunately for us consumers, the "software giants" will continue doing their own thing, at least for now.

 

[KnightWRX]

Playstation 3 managed to do it for four years.

Only because the cracking community didn't have much incentive to do it before Sony removed the "Install Other OS..." option. Then how long did it take ?

The Mac App Store brings nothing to the table as far as piracy is concerned.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Great news!

 

[bobdard]

My greatest hope for the Mac App Store is that iWork '11 launches with it.

 

[pinchez]

I can't wait! I always thought installing things on Mac was unnecessarily complex.

LOL

That reminds me, When I got my first MacBook it confused me by how easy it was to install apps. I spent 10 mins looking for Autorun and Setup!!!

 

[PatrickCocoa]

Hipster Drone

Yeah!
The sheer excitement of a more efficient means of getting the hipster drones to fill Apple's pockets with even more money!!

You are aware that our money is better than your money, right?

By the way, Hipster Drone would be a good name for a new-wave bagpipe band.

 

[Billy Boo Bob]

i hope this will go down as apples biggest flops

I think that honor is still held by this...

 

[snberk103]

For all those scoffing at the idea of Mac Apps being difficult to install now, let's just review the possible options:

1. Download the DMG, double-click to mount (if not auto-mounted). Drag app to Applications folder (sometimes via a provided alias, but usually not), then unmount Disk Image and delete DMG file. Ease of use: Good. Intuitiveness: Not so good (especially for users coming from Windows). I can't even count the number of times I've seen someone running Skype or Firefox from the disk image every time, and then they trash the dmg file at some point thinking it's just a useless extra, and suddenly their app doesn't work any more. It's not a bad method, but it doesn't make sense unless there's good instructions in the download (some developers do a good job here, many don't).

2. Download the DMG, double-click to mount (if not auto-mounted). Double-click installer, follow directions. Ease of use: Good. Intuitiveness: Good. I think this is the best option currently, though of course the argument is that an installer is overkill for most apps.

3. Download a zip file, double-click to decompress, then drag resulting app to the Applications folder. Ease of use: Good. Intuitiveness: Fair. While this doesn't have the issues of the similar DMG method, it still doesn't automatically result in the app being installed correctly into the users Applications folder. Doesn't affect all apps, but it's still good practice for them to be there.

4. Purchase on disk, bring home, place in disk drive, run installer. Ease of use: Fair (only because of inconvenience of going to the store to purchase actual disk). Intuitiveness: Varies, but usually good. Adobe's apps get a poor rating in this regard, however, as their installer is a layer or two deep into the disk.

So while none of these are exceptionally difficult, the array of options (and I'm sure I missed a few) makes it a confusing process for users who are not tech-savvy, which is by far the majority of the population, and also the target market for this sort of product. The Mac App Store simplifies all of these steps into a simple click to install.

jW

This is a good summary. Nicely done.

My measure of how easy something is on the Mac is whether I can talk my wife through the process, and then whether the process has 'stuck' so that she can do it again on her own. Applications installations rank as "moderately difficult" on this scale.

She is no dummy, and she's not afraid of technology.... she doesn't like it for it's own sake. It's not fun, to her. There are several different ways (as listed above) and unless there is good instructions (rare) you need to know which method to use, and then what you need to do to clean up afterwards.

The MAS should make things a lot easier. I'll post back when I've found an application for my wife to install.

 

[Sankersizzle]

I think that honor is still held by this...

What the heck is that thing? Did Apple make a gaming console?

 

[BaldiMac]

Unfortunately, Microsoft will most likely keep selling Office as-is. That is, they will keep selling it as a package installer (with all office apps) through their own retail channels.

The reasons are simple:
A) They don't need the distribution, people who need office already know where to get it
B) They won't need to rewrite any of their code to comply with Apple's mac app store guidelines
C) And of course, the biggie, they won't need to give apple a commission

The same goes for Adobe and their suite of products. Unfortunately for us consumers, the "software giants" will continue doing their own thing, at least for now.

A & B aside, C is the least of Microsoft's concerns. 30% is extremely low cost for retail distribution. I'm sure Microsoft pays more to distribute Office through Apple's brick and mortar stores.

 

[DrRadon]

Only because the cracking community didn't have much incentive to do it before Sony removed the "Install Other OS..." option. Then how long did it take ?

The Mac App Store brings nothing to the table as far as piracy is concerned.

Still 3/4 of a year. And i highly doubt no one has tried before. (actualy the rumore was they removed it because people tryed to use other OSes to be able to pirate PS3 stuff)


I think the 5 Computer restriction is stupid. As long as it works as harmles as in iTunes MP3s we won´t even notice, but the point is, once you notice DRM is something terrible because the illegal version would have worked smother.

A & B aside, C is the least of Microsoft's concerns. 30% is extremely low cost for retail distribution. I'm sure Microsoft pays more to distribute Office through Apple's brick and mortar stores.

+ Apple sells MS Software in their Online and Offline Stores.