Mac App Store To Replace Apple Downloads Section

Apple shook the Mac software development world this week by announcing that the birth of the Mac App Store also means the death of the downloads section of the Apple web site. In the Windows world developers often need to list their software at dozens or even hundreds of different web sites to be found. But in the Mac world being listed on the Apple downloads section was usually enough. Developers who decide not to move their applications to the Mac App store will now have to look for other ways to be discovered.
While the Mac App Store is destined to become the main way users find and download software, many applications will not be available there because they won’t be able to adhere to the rules. For instance, utilities that need to access system functions to work won’t be allowed. This leaves out many popular applications. Other developers may not wish to give Apple 30 percent of the sale price.
The Mac App Store will launch on January 6. There are rumors that a new version of iWork will be available for download in the store on launch day or soon thereafter.
Apple engineers continued to issue updates this week, including an update to iPhoto that adds back the ability to attach a photo to an email without a complex background.
Sales of the new Apple TV appear to be strong according to Apple as it may top one million units this year. They report that users are renting 150,000 movies and 400,000 TV shows per day.

Comments: 4 Responses to “Mac App Store To Replace Apple Downloads Section”

    RayCon
    13 years ago

    I for one, am not enthused about an Apple app store. This may shock those who think I'm an ultimate Apple fanboy, but I've been doing just fine with MacUpdate. I can browse for new software and choose when and if I want to update. They also allow software trials as well as direct communication with developers. They also offer a desktop app subscription which will scan your drive and provide with all the information you may need about which apps are up to date and which are not. Why, oh why, would I want to use the app store? The only reason I can think of is if the prices fall in line with iPhone/iPod/iPad app prices, and the developers figure they can make up lost revenue by selling in volume.

      13 years ago

      In a lot of ways I agree with you. The app store will be missing Mac utilities completely, and applications built with non-Apple tools (RealBasic, game engines, etc), trial versions, etc. I just hope those developers don't suffer because people stop looking for their software. I'm going to make a point to continue to seek and recommend non-app store software as much as possible.

        Geoff Perlman
        13 years ago

        There is nothing in Apple's Mac App Store guidelines that would preclude an application made with REAL Studio (REALbasic) from being accepted by Apple into the store. In fact, we have heard from developers that use REAL Studio that have had their applications accepted by Apple.

          13 years ago

          There's nothing in the guidelines, right. But as a developer who is trying to use 3rd-party tools (not REAL Studio, another) I can tell you that Apple isn't making it easy. You have to "hack" your product a bit to get it to work. Unless you have already updated it to include those changes as part of the build process. I hope Apple does make it easier for us to use any tool to make App Store apps, but I doubt it based on the iOS development process.

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