Your "contributions" are a matter of opinion. HLdan asked WHY does it matter to you. Throwing labels around rarely helps - but your posts strike me as generally inflammatory and geared to "troll up" conflict.
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Tips for Mac App Store Devs: No Trials or Betas, File System and Custom Control Usage
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Your "contributions" are a matter of opinion. HLdan asked WHY does it matter to you. Throwing labels around rarely helps - but your posts strike me as generally inflammatory and geared to "troll up" conflict.
Because it lets them avoid the hassle and cost of having their own online store. And because being listed in the app store will likely make it easier for users to find their app and could lead to more sales.
Some developers will take advantage, some won't. For demo versions, all they really need to do is allow devs to say on the app store page that there's a demo available and link back to their site for it. Although it would be more convenient if the app store could just include the demo version options as well. But if Apple is actually hosting the downloads, that's a lot of potential bandwidth costs on big files any time someone downloads a demo but doesn't buy.
They've already said that's not going to happen. And there's no way they could do it, there's way too much old legacy software that people need to run.
That's not what the article said. There's a difference between a free demo of a paid app and an app where the full version is free.
Funny... the failures you mention are all from the 1990's.
Buttonless iPod shuffle? Apple TV (although the new update may finally turn that around)? At this point Ping looks like the chances of being a dud are pretty high unless they just get facebook to allow them to integrate it.
What makes you think there's no refund system?
Don't forget that constant griping of "It's only a matter of time before Apple eliminates Mac OSX and replaces it with iOSX! We'll be purchasing Final Cut Pro through the App Store! They're getting rid of professional users because they haven't updated X product in X months!"
Yes, because people concerns about the App store are the same as they were about ipod, itunes, iphone, ipad: "its too restrictive", "it wont let the user do everything they want to do", "its the next step to locking everything down"
fast forward a few years later, most are happily using these devices which lead the market, DRM free music is available, more and more apps are being developed (even the ones people thought would "never" make it). Advanced games for phones are being made.
Sure, everything is bought through Apple, but few negative effects have been seen on anything I can think of: the industry is stepping up to compete, pricing for apps is fair, developers are happy. Apple is doing well and aside from making a few classy/family friendly decisions like not helping sell porn, theres hasnt been much of a lock down on anything.
So I dont see what there is to be concerned about besides the silly notion of the App store becoming the ONLY way to load programs to an Apple desktop which is highly highly unlikely. The primary way? Yes, I can see that. The only way? I doubt it.
Even then, lets say there was some program you dearly needed but couldn't get from the App store. You could still get around it: you have multiple USB ports for drives, access to Terminal...how could it not be installed?
Agreed.And the complaint over the 30% is hilarious.Do these people actually think that if they walk into an Apple store and buy boxed software Apple isn't getting something close(or even more than) 30%?Spectacular ignorance of how retail works.
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your opinion. i41 will welcome the selection, ease of use, security, selection, ease of use, security, comparison capabilities, selection ease of use security...IMO it is a win-win for everyone, consumers and developers alike the anti-Mac attitude about a closed system is irrelevant-if you don't liken, dont joinem...
your opinion. i41 will welcome the selection, ease of use, security, selection, ease of use, security, comparison capabilities, selection ease of use security...IMO it is a win-win for everyone, consumers and developers alike the anti-Mac attitude about a closed system is irrelevant-if you don't liken, dont joinem...
I think that, given the fact that you can download and install apps from any source on your mac, trials aren't needed. This will help reduce app store clutter. If you're curious, just go to their website and download it.
Chances are in the long run developers will discontinue the option to purchase on their website to cut costs and headaches with credit cards and advertising. They may only allow you to download the demo from them but then forward you to the Mac App store to purchase the full version. Getting 70% of the sale while Apple deals with all sales and advertising is a chance to good to give up. You're not seeing the big picture.
Trial software: So the Mac App store will have free 'lite' versions of software that are just trial versions of the paid full featured apps. Just like the iOS App Store. Just don't label it 'trial'.
And I also find it ironic that Apple is insisting on custom controls that follow Apple's guidelines when not every Apple app follows them.
And I also find it ironic that Apple is insisting on custom controls that follow Apple's guidelines when not every Apple app follows them.
So let me get this straight. Apple is going to use it's well branded name recognition to provide us a digital catalog of apps for the Mac, but one has to go to the developer site to download a free trial. Sooooo... if I already have the trial software downloaded, why do I need to go to Apple's app store to make payment to get the product registration to make the thing work permanently? Couldn't there be, shouldn't there be, a "buy me" button built in to the software to close the sale with the place you got the trial download?
If I have to deal direct with the app developer for the free trial, might as well deal direct with them for the sale too! Apple can just loose their 30% cut of the deal. If Apple wants to host and promote using their well branded name, that is fine! Free advertising for the developer! Yippee!!
Next I guess, we can do away with the 90 second song snippets and 2 minute movie trailers from the iTMS, right Apple?!
I love how Mac App Store stories bring out the angriest fringe of the Mac community. Conspiracy-theory postings have never been higher! Fun stuff.
I am looking forward to the App store. I don't have to waste hours of my to look for apps I need and even better, I don't have to spread my credit card details throughout the web, to purchase software.
But that is just me. I don't walk around with a tinfoil head.
Poor boy.
Please tell me where I can get a refund on ANY Mac software I don't like.Android is the only one,and it's unlikely you'll ever be able to take bact that copy of Photoshop for a refund.
The Mac App Store is a great thing. It's not even a great idea, as I'm not sure that the word 'idea' can be applied to something so obvious. It's just an evolution. Actually, it's an expectation.
When I bought my first Mac just over a year ago, having already owned an iPhone, I expected the Mac to have an App store. That it didn't just seemed odd and disturbingly inconvenient.
You have a need for a new application, you search the App Store, you find a solution, you download it. Apple handle all the potential pitfalls, have certified that it is okay, and you don't even have to enter a new set of credit card details. What's not to love? I would wager that the developers who develop good apps, will sell more of them (and make more through them) by selling them through the App Store, regardless of the 30% Apple cut.
For example, I love Scrivener. It's a great App, but I only found that app by blindly searching around google for a while and then stumbling over some recommendations in a forum which pointed me to their website. The App Store has got to give people like that more exposure and more sales. Happy user, happy developer.
When I bought my first Mac just over a year ago, having already owned an iPhone, I expected the Mac to have an App store. That it didn't just seemed odd and disturbingly inconvenient.
You have a need for a new application, you search the App Store, you find a solution, you download it. Apple handle all the potential pitfalls, have certified that it is okay, and you don't even have to enter a new set of credit card details. What's not to love? I would wager that the developers who develop good apps, will sell more of them (and make more through them) by selling them through the App Store, regardless of the 30% Apple cut.
For example, I love Scrivener. It's a great App, but I only found that app by blindly searching around google for a while and then stumbling over some recommendations in a forum which pointed me to their website. The App Store has got to give people like that more exposure and more sales. Happy user, happy developer.
Pretty soon this site is going to have to change its name to MacWhine.com. I think people under estimate the power of have have Apple endorse your app by putting in their app store...Also, the app store is not ment to be a one stop shop like the iOS store.
Well the only "conspiracy" is Apple wanting to make more money. That's at the bottom of every decision and isn't surprising.
They probably just want the Mac App Store to be a little cleaner than the App Store is now with all their Lite and Free versions of apps. It's getting messier and messier now. Apple should find a way to clean it up a little that won't disrupt how things work.
Didn't you hear? The existence of the Mac store means that it will soon be the only way to install software on the Mac!
'Cause I've heard that.
A lot.
It's a brilliant model, and will be hugely successful. The people here who are complaining and making the mistake of thinking most mac users are like you.
They aren't.
If you are the kind of person who reads a website named MacRumors and argues the finer points of digital distribution of software, you are in a group that makes up probably less than 1% of the number of mac users out there. Your level of familiarity and sophistication is light-years ahead of most.
I would guess that probably 75% of mac users have never heard of VersionTracker, MacUpdate, or any such sites and have probably never voluntarily sought out & downloaded as much as a single application on their computer in their entire lives. They may have loaded something if prompted as a result of an error message--"to view this content you need the latest version of flash, click here to get the latest version--but probably have never loaded anything else on to their computer.
If you don't believe me, just go to your local Apple store and casually walk around and eavesdrop on the conversations between the employees there and people buying computers. Really. Just eavesdrop a bit. And tell me how many of those people are taking their macs home, thinking to themselves "Hmm, I'd really like a program that does [X], I'll to go MacUpdate and do a quick search and see what I can find, download a demo of it, try it out a bit, then go to the developer's website and buy the full copy if I like it." It ain't happening. Just eavesdrop a bit and you'll see what I mean.
Now if you give them a simple 1-click way to "discover" all of these other apps, decide on something, buy it, and install it? All with 1-click, no need to enter any information, no need to worry about how to install it, nothing, just 1-click? Suddenly even a total n00bie mac user can do that. And many, many will.
Plus, many people in that group (and others as well) might be hesitant to start giving credit card info, complete address information, etc. to some random developer's website. Or even if not wary of doing that, too lazy to do so...I know that often I will buy things through Amazon.com's third party vendors (on Amazon.com) rather than from the vendors themselves because if I buy through Amazon I can just buy with 1-click, no need to deal with the hassle of entering new shipping info, credit card info, etc. especially when many sites first demand that you register with them (yet another login and password to remember, or record).
Basically, the app store allows developers to get sales from a whole set of mac users out there--a massive number--who are otherwise totally "unreachable." To be given that for the "price" of Apple taking a 30% cut? There's not a developer out there who wouldn't jump at that.
They aren't.
If you are the kind of person who reads a website named MacRumors and argues the finer points of digital distribution of software, you are in a group that makes up probably less than 1% of the number of mac users out there. Your level of familiarity and sophistication is light-years ahead of most.
I would guess that probably 75% of mac users have never heard of VersionTracker, MacUpdate, or any such sites and have probably never voluntarily sought out & downloaded as much as a single application on their computer in their entire lives. They may have loaded something if prompted as a result of an error message--"to view this content you need the latest version of flash, click here to get the latest version--but probably have never loaded anything else on to their computer.
If you don't believe me, just go to your local Apple store and casually walk around and eavesdrop on the conversations between the employees there and people buying computers. Really. Just eavesdrop a bit. And tell me how many of those people are taking their macs home, thinking to themselves "Hmm, I'd really like a program that does [X], I'll to go MacUpdate and do a quick search and see what I can find, download a demo of it, try it out a bit, then go to the developer's website and buy the full copy if I like it." It ain't happening. Just eavesdrop a bit and you'll see what I mean.
Now if you give them a simple 1-click way to "discover" all of these other apps, decide on something, buy it, and install it? All with 1-click, no need to enter any information, no need to worry about how to install it, nothing, just 1-click? Suddenly even a total n00bie mac user can do that. And many, many will.
Plus, many people in that group (and others as well) might be hesitant to start giving credit card info, complete address information, etc. to some random developer's website. Or even if not wary of doing that, too lazy to do so...I know that often I will buy things through Amazon.com's third party vendors (on Amazon.com) rather than from the vendors themselves because if I buy through Amazon I can just buy with 1-click, no need to deal with the hassle of entering new shipping info, credit card info, etc. especially when many sites first demand that you register with them (yet another login and password to remember, or record).
Basically, the app store allows developers to get sales from a whole set of mac users out there--a massive number--who are otherwise totally "unreachable." To be given that for the "price" of Apple taking a 30% cut? There's not a developer out there who wouldn't jump at that.
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I hope 'trials' does not exclude the freemium model. I think this is one of the reasons the app store is so successful. I can get many free apps, then upgrade for more features.