shownotes_MCM20110109

Thoughts on the new App Store
  Boon or bane?
    Boon
      Easy store front
      One click install and upgrade
      Install on ALL your Macs
        In App Store on another Mac, you can download from the "Purchases" section
        Since your authenticated it will install.
        If you "sneaker" net the app it will display the apps registered Apple ID (embedded in the app) and prompt you for the password.
        I think it also tracks UUIDs of installed Macs
      Desktop access to all users running Snow Leopard
      Straight forward terms. The 30/70 split
    Bane
      No trial or demo versions. Can't "unlock" in app.
      No upgrade pricing (more on this later)
      Don't control refunds.
      Growing pains
      Install on "All" your Macs
        Maybe not preferred for the developer
        Some forgot to implement the "control". On purpose?
        "personal" not business.
  Growing pains is going to be the tricky one.
    Many of these are the same kinds of issues developers have already been through with this iOS App Store
      Does that make it less or more painful this time around?
  What we have seen in less than a week.
    "Beta" user experience
      Not obvious to all the new Dock icon
      Only runs on Snow Leopard
      Download to Dock and stick.
      No settings or options
      Uninstall by trash now requires a password even when using an admin account.
    Race to the bottom pricing?
      Tied into marketing and exposure
      TUAW found majority of Apps aren't free. Biggest block in the $20-50 range, then $10-20, $4-5 and finally $1, then free
      Cheaper may not be cheaper, TUAW points out, sales tax on App Store.
      Crapware here we come?
    Name squatting
      Another one from the iOS store
      Weather HD
    To be Installed or not installed
      That is a great and confusing question
      Right now it looks like App Store or not and don't cross the streams
        If it was purchased outside the app store it won't update in the app store
        If you attempt to "re-download" an app not purchased in the App Store it will charge you again.
      Installing a free app via the App Store over an existing installed app does seem to update it and bring it into the App Store model
        Retains data? at least did for Evernote
      Except some apps did
        Bundle ID + version dilemma and confusion
      Problem is this is all VERY confusing for users
      Developers are "choosing" 1 of 3 options
        No App Store
        App Store only
          Lower pricing until users migrate
            Again confusing?
          Pixelmator
            Buy now (again) at reduced price, free update to 2.0 version.
          CoverSutra <-- Developer controversy
            Buy not at $5.00 reduced price, free upgrade to 3.0
            Had originally promised free upgrades to ALL users, not possible with App Store model.
        Both
          OmniGroup
  More rules, less features
    As a result of the not crossing the streams issue
    Apple's app rules restrict things that may be in existing versions of apps
      BBEdit and TextWrangler, authenticated saves (the ability to save changes to files that you do not own) and the command-line tools are not available in the App Store versions.
  Great start, a lot of room for improvement
    Apple and developers will work to get this sorted
    Luckily unlike the iOS store, developers can opt-out (until the consumer or competitive constrain gets too strong)
    I would like to see a better way for consumers to transition existing apps to the App Store.