RapidoMap: slick geocoding for free

The file .DS_store is always updated when you install applications. This file just contains the list of applications. You will find it in any folder and it's an invisible file. For the debate about the installer, Apple can also choose to install the items when the application is launched for the first time. A picture is also good to explain how to move the application but what happens if the user force windows to be opened in the list mode? Anyway, we hope to see some progress with Leopard on this subject.

Good thing I keep regular back-ups, because this totally screwed up the .DS_Store file in my Application folder.

Good thing I keep regular back-ups, because this totally screwed up the .DS_Store file in my Application folder.

I don't think it's the same thing. Those programs you mentioned (and most Apple programs) install new or updated frameworks, clips, templates, themes, loops and such into the Library directory. In those cases, then yes, it's a better experience to provide an installer because it's more than one operation necessary to make the software work. Most software does not need to do this.

Why iWorks and iLife have an installer? And it's the same for all Apple applications. This is to provide the best user experience.

I'm sorry, but I switched from Windows a couple years ago. I had a little trouble at first, but providing an installer for the sake of people used to having an installer is a waste of time when there are better methods, such as:

The better-made .dmgs do provide an alias to the Applications folder with an arrow and text telling the user to drag and drop the app icon to the Applications folder. Installation is a snap this way, seconds rather than minutes and it shows an advantage that the Mac has.

I know switchers are becoming a major part of the installed base, but I think dodging the issue by letting people do things the way they are used to isn't always a helpful thing.

Oh, and also, the process shouldn't be “automatic”. That way lies a wealth of security and support headaches in itself (just think about the “open safe files automatically” preference in Safari).

The most Apple needs to do—and it really doesn't *need* to, it would just be nice—would be a small tweak to Finder that asks if you want to copy an application to your Applications folder when you try to run it from a disk image.

Are you joking?

Are you _seriously_ claiming that a disk image with a background image containing instructions, along with an alias of the destination folder (“Drag the application into the folder to install it”) is harder than opening the .pkg, clicking through umpteen steps, then having to locate the installed application to open it (another advantage of the alias: the default destination folder is right there), losing both transparency and flexibility into the bargain?

If drag-and-drop installation is causing so many support headaches, you've screwed something up that the vast majority of Mac developers manage not to.

And yes, plenty of people are switching from Windows, but they're switching for a reason: making everything on the Mac work like Windows entirely defeats that.

In fact, if you were doing the technical support at app4mac, you will tired to receive hundred of emails from people that have problem about installing a software. You forgot about the guys switching from Windows or the beginneers. The market is now different from 3 years ago. So to avoid hundred of emails about how to install the application, we decided to choose the installer way. And since this time, our technical support team get more time to answer to other questions. Making things simple is always hard and for us, the Apple way is not 100% correct. When you download an application, the process should be automatic. Why the user have to move the application to the Applications folder? Apple should improve this experience for Leopard.

To answer request number 7, this will be the case of the final version. RapidoMap is still a beta version at this stage. About the installer, the read me file describe what will be installed. And more than 50% mac users are now coming from the Windows universe and they are not aware of Mac simplicity. We still think that the simple drad and drop is not working for many users. Maybe for most, but not for all.