Thoughts about the Mac App Store

It has been over 6 months since the release of the Mac App Store. When I first used the Mac App Store I was not sure what to think. I have only downloaded 2 applications onto my computer, compared to many more in my iPhone. Firstly,the Pages app, which I am using to type this article, the second one is Xcode, because I feel it is too soon for me to enroll as a developer and get access to it as a part of the package. Anyway, I find no actual use for downloading games and time burners similar to NinJump onto my Mac. I don't carry my Mac to places I wish to waste time, such as waiting rooms at the dentist, but my trusty phone is at all times there to help me throw my time away.

That is my impression of the store however, I think that I am missing the point. The store makes it much easier to find the solution to issues you may have. For instance if I had decided that I sought after creating an emblem for a business card, it might be fast and simple to discover a software resolution at the Mac App Store, and browse reviews and take my pick. I may even try a few free choices out. This may well be easier than using the internet to search out the required software. The Mac App store additionally benefits the developers greatly. It is something that an iOS developer would be used to, and it makes the process easy for the developer as well as the users. The evidence for an increase in sales is in the stats; Pixelmator (which may also be used to create that logo I was speaking of) has observed their sales quadruple because the Mac App Store was launched. This is only one of many instances of the difference that the Store has made.

One extra aspect of the Mac App Store that may be worth thinking of is the earnings. Could the developers time spent on making apps for the Mac App Store be better spent on developing for iOS? One factor that is clear is that the Top Grossing apps in the Mac Store are much more dear than the ones on the iPhone or iPad. Many of the programs on the top grossing listing on the iPhone are affordable or even free, and make their cash with in app purchases (which will be coming to the Mac Store soon). This makes it seem like going for high volume and inexpensive prices might not be the most suitable choice here. Another point worth considering is getting recognition. It may be more straightforward to get spotted on the Mac App Store as a skilled developer than it is on iOS as it's less crowded with developers at the moment. This may change rapidly. It is clear that if a developer plans to move from the iPad and iPhone to the Mac platform, they would want a different approach to make it onto the highest grossing lists.

To summarize, I really feel like I even have underestimated the importance of the Mac App Store and I am interested to see the way it develops, even if I rarely to find any use for it.


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