Apple last week emailed developers that it would soon be shutting down the Mac OS X download page currently hosted on the Apple website in preparation for the upcoming launch of the Mac App Store.
Apple last week emailed developers that it would soon be shutting down the Mac OS X download page currently hosted on the Apple website in preparation for the upcoming launch of the Mac App Store.
Thank you for making the Mac OS X Download site a great destination with apps that offer users new ways to work, play, learn, and create on their Mac.
We recently announced that on January 6, 2011, the Mac App Store will open to users around the world, presenting you with an exciting, new opportunity to reach millions of customers. Since the introduction of the App Store in 2008, we’ve been thrilled with the incredible support from developers and the enthusiastic response from users. Now we’re bringing the revolutionary experience of the App Store to Mac OS X.
Because we believe the Mac App Store will be the best destination for users to discover, purchase, and download your apps, we will no longer offer apps on the Mac OS X Downloads site. Instead, beginning January 6, we will be directing users to explore the range of apps available on the Mac App Store.
While a Mac App Store will certainly give developers a huge installed base of potential customers, there are concerns over Apple’s upcoming initiative. Not surprisingly, some are understandably concerned that Apple will exert too much control, often deemed arbitrary, over which apps it labels app store appropriate and which apps are not. Also a concern is that some well-known and already successful Mac apps will be denied entry because they aren’t in line with the Mac App Store developer guidelines issued by Apple. Ambrosia Software president Andrew Welch explained, “Ambrosia is certainly interested in the idea of a centralized Mac application store. However the restrictions imposed by Apple on the applications may make it impossible for a number of our applications to be submitted.”
Another problem, and similar to frustration expressed by various publishers, is that a Mac App Store will create a barrier between the end-user and the actual developers. Developers like knowing who their customers are, and the barrier may also have an affect on how companies run their customer service and technical support operations.
But the Mac App Store is happenin’, folks. And much like other initiatives from Apple, it’s going down regardless of what anyone thinks. Developers will, to be blunt, have to get on board or risk losing out on a potentially new and lucrative software venture.
The iTunes App Store was an immediate hit, but with software for the Mac commanding significantly higher prices, it remains to be seen how quickly the Mac App Store will take off, if at all. Either way, things are bound to get interesting.
