IPhone software sustainability and the death of Mac software
taptaptap.com
taptaptap.com
The article doesn't seem to think that a Mac app store would work, but I know I'd like one (speaking both as a maker and user of Mac software). I know I'd buy more, too; it would be easier to know what's actually available, and I'd discover apps for unexpected things.
You're free to submit your software here as far as I can tell, and I don't think there's any requirements (no annual fee etc). I guess the problem is most Mac users don't know it exists
From the article:
What if Apple did an App Store for Mac software? I doubt they’d actually do it. Apple loves control and there’s no way that they can have total control over Mac software sales since the current distribution and sales methods are in place and well established.
Apple could release new SDKs for other kinds of machines, which require software distribution through an App Store. This would give them control over such a market.
I think this may well happen. The "Apple Tablet" would be a great platform to get this started. Having such a walled garden would seem great from the non computer-savvy end user's point of view. The user pays an "Apple Tax" and the government polices everything and keeps things clean and safe. As it was and still is (not as much) in the freewheeling "wild west" of the online world, if one doesn't have certain skills, one is a second-class citizen at the mercy of the more skilled individuals. In such a walled garden world, the "law abiding taxpayer" would be the one catered to, and those special skilled individuals become the outlaws. (Or become civil servants and use their skills at the behest of the government.)
For better or for worse, I think that this is actually what a lot of the less sophisticated computer users want! (Witness Linux distros like Xandros.) It's also in Apple's DNA -- getting people to pony up for a well-tended, smoother experience.
1. Most iPhone apps are not incredibly successful.
2. Taptaptap has the full weight of the MacHeist marketing machine behind it.
Even if a swathe of Mac developers did move to iPhone, it wouldn't be long before the majority moved back to the Mac when the iPhone Dream didn't materialise. Indeed, if Mac development was going to die, it would have done already.
There are different opportunities on the two platforms, but the difference in profitability will absolutely draw some people away from Mac development: it's drawing people away from everything — I know at least 5 ex-Java or .Net guys doing iPhone development full time now.
> it wouldn't be long before the majority moved back to the Mac when the iPhone Dream didn't materialise.
It might be less competitive, but it's not like Mac development is a sure bet that you can just fall back on.
The main drivers of sales in shareware all get better with age, which is the exact opposite of the main drivers of sales in iPhone apps.
Oh, and from what I understand Apple is working on a Mac app store. As someone getting ready to launch a Mac shareware app I found this quote especially hilarious:
"Mac software sales since the current distribution and sales methods are in place and well established."
If you are detected cheating, you get banned at a random point within a few days (to kill your testing cycle), and you lose your purchase. The only time you ever see cheating is during free-pass weekends. I normally pirate everything, but this is worth paying for.
To most users, a general purpose computer is a power tool that they'll never make full use of. What most people really want in a personal computer is a backplane for various appliances. They just want to buy those things, install them, and have them just work. If an App Store ecosystem could mean Apple could completely shepherd users and take care of their every need, then this would add value in much the same way. And Apple would be able to figure out how to market this and get paid handsomely. This is the exactly the direction that Apple is going with their retail stores. (Especially with the revamp to increase the social interactivity.)
And it may also just be semantics, but since when is writing for the App store not Mac software?
Since the App Store launched. Mac is Apple's line of computers. The App Store sells applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch, neither of which is a Mac.