Mac App Store to Offer Unbundled iLife and iWork Applications?

[amorya]

Likely Mac Apps will have similar Terms that exist for the iTunes Apps, which an be installed on up to 5 devices. With this limitation, somebody would not be able to buy iLife '11 and give it out to 30 friends. Might actually result in more profit for the developer.

That's a popular myth but it's not true. You can install iPhone apps on as many devices as you have associated with your Apple ID. There isn't a limit of 5.

I believe it to be the same for the Mac app store: you can put the app on as many Macs as you want.

 

[Bengt77]

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But it only does that because you have a backup on your HD. If your drive died, I don't think it would know you had that app.

No. It does that because your account says you bought the app earlier. Just like Steam, the application server looks into the account server, that holds your purchase history. Have you bought application A before? You can download it again, on any computer. Just like the iTunes Store, really. Very convenient. I'm all for it.

There'd be no need to keep installation DVDs around anymore. Well, I'd still want those for the elementary applications, like Adobe's Creative Suite and Microsoft Office. Together with iPhoto and maybe one or two other apps, that's really all I use outside the apps that come with Mac OS X. That's not counting the games, but I use Steam on Windows for that.

 

[joueboy]

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This is exactly what I'm hoping for while watching the keynote yesterday. I know it's happening although it'll cost us more to buy all the applications, but only few of us does really need all the bundled apps on iLife. I'm really interested on iMovie but not on iPhoto because I use Aperture 3.
The only concern I have right now is how much is the OS X 10.7 aka LION. I'm hoping the same price as the previous upgrade or a just a little bit higher. An affordable OS upgrade is a must to have more people onboard to have a successful MacApp Store launch.

 

[BrutalSpoon]

I was planning on getting iLife '11, but figured I'd watch the Keynote last night first. I noticed iMovie '11 on the App Store when they were demoing it and then found the screen shots. I'm holding out now. I love my 3 year old daughter, but I don't feel the need to make a movie trailer featuring her. And Garageband, while fun to play with, isn't useful for me as I can't play any instruments. iPhoto though? I take pictures every day.

If this happens, I'm all for it!

The thing which might be a problem though is version fragmentation - one of the big selling points about iLife is how far it ties into OS X and how well the iLife applications work amongst each other. I wonder how this is affected when the iLife applications are all different versions. How well would they work with each other then?

 

[Bengt77]

The thing which might be a problem though is version fragmentation - one of the big selling points about iLife is how far it ties into OS X and how well the iLife applications work amongst each other. I wonder how this is affected when the iLife applications are all different versions. How well would they work with each other then?

That's an interesting point of view. Hadn't thought about it that way yet. I'd like to learn more about this, too.

 

[zim]

I hope this is true.. I really only want iPhoto and iMovie. I also would love to not have another box sitting around.

 

[nexsta]

Good point. There might have been a lot (doubt it though) of people using iWeb but since it wasn't updated Apple might be missing out on a good business opportunity, unless they already have other ways to know who's using their software.

You fanboy troll!

Sorry I couldn't resist... So after your little theory... I'm a real troll now?

 

[jpmohr]

I'm disappointed about iDVD, I was really hoping for an update. I make videos for people and need to put them on DVDs (like Weddings and events). iDVD 7 is ok, but I've had some issues with it (for example, it didn't like an Anamorphic clip I did in Final Cut Express), and could be more customizable. I have Toast 9, but the menu positions are not customizable at all, but I like that I can control compression (it will let me use more than 2 hours of footage; I was hoping for this in a newer version of iDVD).

iPhoto update is nice. iMovie is probably good too (I use iMovie '09 mostly for picture slide shows, which I included on the DVDs I burn for people; I edit footage in Final Cut Express).

It's sad that iDVD is pretty much dead. Besides Toast, are there any other good DVD alternatives? (I think Final Cut Pro comes with something, but it's kind of pricey).

 

[Diabeetus]

this means that the 10.7 machines won't have iLife. since you have a mac, why would you have to buy these apps separately?

 

[Kristenn]

This was my point in the Mac OS X Lion thread. I only use Pages I don't even mess with the other two programs. If the Mac App store can give me just one program for the price of one like on iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad than the Mac App Store is a GOOD thing. At least as far as customers go.

 

[Mal]

this means that the 10.7 machines won't have iLife. since you have a mac, why would you have to buy these apps separately?

No, no, it doesn't mean that. It means that when you update to the new versions, you won't have to buy the entire suite. That's all. Apple does, and will continue in the foreseeable future, ship iLife on all new Macs.

jW

 

[Mochi Hana]

The only apps in iLife I really care about are iMovie and Garage Band, so I'd definitely be on board with this.

 

[NJMetsHero]

This is really nice. I really just wanted the new iMovie.

 

[G4DP]

We are about to enter a new world of software development, distribution and pricing. Figures that it takes Apple to jump start this approach. You'd think some other tech giant could have done something like this years ago, but one thing is now certain: they are going to copy Apple like crazy now that they are being shown the way to go. Lots of app stores to pop up now.

Can't wait to see the Dell version . . .

Apple haven't started anything. What are you on. Adobe, Macromedia were, are and will always sell individual products as well.

So as with almost everything these days Apple is actually copying other.

 

[GroundLoop]

As several have noted, modularizing iLife allows customers to only install the components they are actually using. This will be very important for the new MBAs that have 128GB or 64GB of disk space.

I'd also guess that retail boxes for apps will start to disappear. The MBAs don't have optical drives; new MB and MBP models may exclude them, too. Not much point of a retail box if apps will be downloaded from the cloud.

Actually modular apps could have the opposite effect.

According to the Mac App Store guidelines, every application must be self contained and not rely on any third party/external software. This would mean that the libraries that were once shared by suites of software (like MS Office) would now have to be replicated within each of the individual applications' bundles. Then, if there is an update to one of these libraries, the developer would have to repackage an submit updates for each and every application.

If the application only relies on core OS libraries, then it wouldn't really matter.

As with everything, there are +'s and -'s.

GL

 

[silentnite]

Sounds like a good idea, however the wait kills it by the time the mac store is up and running so many would have made the purchase. I'm getting mines on Saturday. It's already in the mail.

 

[alent1234]

We are about to enter a new world of software development, distribution and pricing. Figures that it takes Apple to jump start this approach. You'd think some other tech giant could have done something like this years ago, but one thing is now certain: they are going to copy Apple like crazy now that they are being shown the way to go. Lots of app stores to pop up now.

Can't wait to see the Dell version . . .

best buy has had an app store for a few years. along with game stores like Digital River which have been around for years. The App Store is just easier to use and allows redownloads, while sites like digital river and direct2drive tell you to backup your files

 

[NebulaClash]

Apple haven't started anything. What are you on. Adobe, Macromedia were, are and will always sell individual products as well.

So as with almost everything these days Apple is actually copying other.

Oh really, Adobe and Macromedia have create App stores where any developer can sell their apps? I was not aware of that.

My comment wasn't about selling individual products, but about creating a new method of selling apps from all developers. That's what they started with the iOS App Store, and what they are now doing with the Mac App Store.

 

[NebulaClash]

best buy has had an app store for a few years. along with game stores like Digital River which have been around for years. The App Store is just easier to use and allows redownloads, while sites like digital river and direct2drive tell you to backup your files

So I can create an app and submit it to Best Buy for them to include in their app store?

 

[G4DP]

Oh really, Adobe and Macromedia have create App stores where any developer can sell their apps? I was not aware of that.

My comment wasn't about selling individual products, but about creating a new method of selling apps from all developers. That's what they started with the iOS App Store, and what they are now doing with the Mac App Store.

Fair enough, my mistake.

 

[NebulaClash]

Fair enough, my mistake.

No problem at all, but I admire you more for being willing to say that when it happens.