Apple held a media event this morning in which they announced a new version of iLife, 2 new MacBook Air models (11″ and 13″) with solid state storage, and zzzzzzzz….
But OH! They also gave a preview of Mac OS X 10.7, code-named Lion, and most importantly, the Mac App Store.
This is basically the App Store for iOS devices, on a Mac. It looks like they literally layered the iPad/iPhone Springboard application over OS X. Developers will now be able to create and distribute apps for iPhone, iPad, and the Mac via the same system, and get the same 70/30 split on revenue. Same auto-tracking of updates, all that.
Of course, everyone will now start screaming about how this is their first shot at locking down the Mac platform the same way they do on iOS devices. Nonsense, of course. This actually looks like a great combination of the two, and is pretty much what everyone has wanted in iOS from the beginning. An easy way for consumers to find and buy and developers to distribute and make money on apps, combined with the freedom to install whatever you want outside of that system, like a normal computer.
The Mac App Store will launch in the current version of OS X within 90 days, and they’ll be accepting app submissions next month.
They’ve already had more than 100 people whining about how this is heresy over on slashdot and I had to mod 5 of the whingers down.
Nonsense of course?
So, apple inserting itself in the middle of software purchases and taking a (substantial) fee because users are too fucking lazy to find good software themselves is somehow something you’ve wanted? That’s good for anyone except apple?
Seriously, step away from all electronics and stay the fuck away.
I wish the 13 inch Macbook Pro finally was updated to a core i3 / i5 processor. One *still* cannot purchase a 13 inch portable mac with a current-generation mobile processor.
“Core 2 Duo… a fast processor for this class of machine.” What class is that? Overpriced trinket?
It’s not about controlling the platform. It’s about taking a 30% cut of every piece of software you buy.
That’s actually not a shot of the app store, it’s a shot of their new LaunchPad in their new OS.
What applications are they going to offer that aren’t available for download elsewhere? The music store and library make sense, as does the iPhone app store, but I’m a little confused as to why anyone would pay a 30% markup just to use the Apple store for expensive applications, or why a software company would take that big of a hit.
It’s not a totally offensive idea, but I think people are justified in being concerned for what this means going forward. Are people going to have to jailbreak their Macbooks in the future?
Adobe’s reaction will be interesting.
Apple: The Monopoly Loved by its Apologists
@2, 4, 7 – Sigh. Look, Apple isn’t forcing anyone to do anything. If you want to search out freeware or shareware to do what you want, go for it. But ask developers if they think they would be making more money on the iOS platform with or without the App Store. Apple takes a cut, sure, there’s nothing remotely unusual about that – it’s their store, their bandwidth, their hardware and software that makes it all work, etc.
Providing a simple and easy way for people to discover software for their devices benefits consumers, developers, and, yes, Apple.
The problem, as always, is that the arguments against this stuff are from people who are not its intended audience. Users aren’t “too fucking lazy,” they’re just normal people trying to get something done and move on. Ask around. They don’t give a shit, and they shouldn’t.
@6 – Yeah, I agree that already-established mac applications and developers probably won’t gain much from this (and could lose money if they ported Mac apps directly), unless they can offer something new or different. But I think the world of shareware, freeware, and other small developers stand to benefit a lot.
Sounds like BS to me.
Instead of selling your software on your own site, collecting 100% of the sale, you sell thorugh Apples App Store and collect 50-60% of the sale. And you have to go through an app approval process, which is kinda hit or miss these days.
Plus, whats the return policy for apps that dont work? Refund? Credit? Nothing?
“it’s their store, their bandwidth, their hardware and software that makes it all work, etc.”
The store doesn’t make anything ‘work’. The cost of bandwidth – for a 30% cut – is a joke. And it’s the developers’ software that ‘makes it all work,’ not Apple’s. Plus, the hardware was already bought and paid for by the end user, so it’s now the user’s hardware, not Apple’s.
“But I think the world of shareware, freeware, and other small developers stand to benefit a lot.”
Yeah? How? Seriously, how? Small developers hopped on to the iPhone/iPad wagon because it’s a direct line to the complete idiots who use the products.
And from a software developer’s perspective, that’s worked fine because it’s great to make $90k off of dumb kids who want a fart-machine on their phones. But that’s a phone, (and the giant phone that doesn’t make calls).
But we’re talking about computers, here. And I fail to see how freeware developers are going to benefit at all from this.
“Providing a simple and easy way for people to discover software for their devices benefits consumers.”
http://www.softpedia.com It’s been around for years. Remember tucows.com, download.com? They NEVER asked 30%. You’re full of it. And so is Apple. They’re basically spelling out in plain english what they think of their customers, and somehow, their customers still can’t read it.
Did Apple say you couldn’t buy/install apps unless you got it from the App Store? I missed that part. If that’s the case, it would be shady. If you can still install what you want whether from the App Store or not, I don’t see a problem.
@9 – 50-60%? Where does that come from? It’s precisely 70%.
Yes, if you can successfully market and distribute your software yourself, you’ll make more money per unit. But Apple is making it MUCH easier to reach your customers, and presumably sell more units.
Similarly, you can sell your t-shirts on the street corner and can keep all the profits. Or you can sell them at Target, sell more of them, and give some of the money to Target.
God, I love how Mac has surpassed Microsoft as the new Evil Empire. It was once a counter-cultural, latte sipping icon; now it’s everywhere.
I won’t insert myself into the nerd rage over the Mac App Store that will seem so quaint a year from now (the rage, not the store).
I just wanted to point out that the new MacBook Air does not, in fact, have solid state storage in the usual sense of the phrase. It’s actually flash memory storage, like the iPhone. The usage of flash storage in a notebook might elevate that bit of news above “zzzzzz” level.
@10 – Look, if you think everyone who uses these products are “complete idiots” you can hardly expect your arguments to be taken seriously.
I’m not talking about the phone hardware, I’m talking about the hardware, bandwidth, and software required to have a reliable, scalable distribution and commerce system. This costs Apple a fortune. The developers’ software would do precisely nothing without the countless millions (billions?) Apple has invested in the iOS system, APIs, and tools.
Again, those websites may be easy and simple ways to find things to you, but not to your mom. Those sites didn’t ask for a cut because all they did was provide a link. They had a different business model.
In any case, the proof is out there. You’ve clearly been refining your case against Apple for a while, yet the products and markets they’ve created are wildly popular. Not just profitable, but popular. Of course all of those people are wrong and stupid.
And for the record, since I’m sure it’s coming, I like Android. It’s really great, it’s good for everybody to have competing platforms, and I really wish someone would make an iPod Touch-like Android device already so I could get one.
@13 I blame that on their fractal-loving software engineers.
@14 – True, and definitely noteworthy. I just didn’t want to get into the laptops.
Mr. Hecht, you’d have more credibility if you took the condescending sigh (and the superior attitude that spawns it) out of your comments. It really does make you seem like an Apple apologist, at least to me, and I don’t have a horse in this race.
@18 – But, it’s so annoying! Really, I don’t mean to be condescending, I just get exhausted by people who get so irate about anything and everything Apple. It’s irrational and boring, so I sigh.
@15, so the %30 fee is justified because the system to distribute the software costs money? Nah, that’s not what you meant. You just changed the meaning of what you said after I pointed out that it wasn’t true. Of course, the re-formed meaning is also false. “The costs of running an app store justifies the app store, since it needs money to feed itself” doesn’t fly.
The money invested in the iOS system, APIs, and tools doesn’t justify it either. People pay for the operating system when they purchase the phone. And the APIs are simply bait to get developers to write for their system, thus promoting the popularity of the system itself, which is beneficial to Apple.
What Apple is doing is creating a pay-to-play system on their hardware, and marketing it to the end user as a ‘service.’ Sure, Apple isn’t closing the development for their computers, but they’ve created a closed system that makes them tons of money at the expense of the end user.
And the problem is that there’s no added benefit! They’re making a play to be the Wal-Mart of software. How is this not completely apparent to you? To use your analogy, While Wal-Mart may be good for a mom who doesn’t know the difference, it’s still bad.
This is, of course, one thing when it’s a tiny app that does one tiny thing, and does it well. But if you want to write a large application that does many things, (one that needs a computer to run, not a phone) you’re talking about a much larger development cost, and a higher app cost. %30 is fine for $1, since it’s really just free money from a dumb app. But $50-100 applications are serious business. And Apple doesn’t deserve $15-30 for the bandwidth, I don’t care how much they paid for their servers.
@19, it’d totally be justified if you were even close to being right. The problem is, you’re not. So, yeah, being condescended to by someone who’s wrong… not cool.
I’m typing this from an awesome macbook pro with tons of open-source, free software running on it. I’m also writing open source software on it… I love OSX. It’s sad to see where it’s heading.
@8 – I agree. I guess I’m not aware of the smaller apps people are looking to install on their computers—doesn’t mean they’re not out there, I’ve just got a very clear idea of what I’d install on my computer vs. iPod. I definately wouldn’t buy CS5 through Apple, but I’m glad I can find Angry Birds in the app store and be assured it will install seamlessly, as there model is sure to be meant to indicate.
On the other hand, if software distribution followed the same model as the iTunes and app stores, many users probably wouldn’t complain… but that “walled garden” would become a place where… ugh… the metaphors all all to obvious here… and i’m especially not gonna mention that episode of Star Trek where they went to that hippie planet… you get the idea.
“Their.” Gah.
#19 isnt the attacks in part a reaction to the apologists that you, at times, come off as?
MSFT gets attacked by some no matter what as well.
I find it funny that some of the arguements for Apple are ones used during anti-trust arguements agains MSFT. You werent forced to use IE, for example, and could DL anything you wanted but still it wasnt enough for those that wanted to make money off the anti-trust lawsuits.
@20 – I don’t buy that it’s at the expense of the end user. Apple is a business, and I have no problem with them (or Wal-Mart) making money, and structuring their business to make money, as long as their not abusing people. I haven’t heard from many developers who complain about the revenue split, either. It’s more generous than most revenue splits. I don’t think anything they’ve done has really hurt the end user at all. On the contrary, I think it’s clear that people have far more options for mobile applications now than they did a few years ago, and that whole world is largely thanks to Apple. No, it’s not perfect.
“as long as their not abusing people.”
I think you meant,
“as long as they’re not abusing people.”
Also, if you think a centralized software repository is a bad thing, go load up Ubuntu and use its Software Center. It’s freaking amazing- Windows needs it, and so does Mac OS.
@20 – Your whole complaint boils down to “Apple is just doing this to make money.” Well, no fucking shit, Sherlock. You realize that’s what motivates most companies, right?
I also don’t understand your Walmart comparison. Is Walmart bad because they take a cut of the sales price, like every other retail establishment world-wide? No, they are “bad” because they compete with smaller businesses who don’t have their buying power. But what does that have to do with your rant? Product makers still fight like hell to get shelf space in their stores, because lots and lots of people shop there. Bad for other retailers, absolutely, but good for the product makers. Isn’t that who you are worried about? Or you worried about the longevity of Download.com, who can sell stuff for 30% cheaper?
You yourself are making the point that this won’t kill non-app store application sales. So what is your complaint, again?