Time for a Mac App Store?

Sounds like Steam to me.

iTunes is a cross-platform program that caters to users of iPods and iPhones whether the home-computer for those devices is a Mac or a PC. The App Store works the way it does because it meets the needs of all of these users using one common device:the iPod/iPhone.

A *Mac* App Store could never be added to iTunes because iTunes is not exclusively used by Macs. Could there be some other way to implement a Mac App Store from somewhere else in the Mac OS? Sure, but for some of the reasons listed above (over-control, price-driving, etc.) this would not have the acceptance that the App Store has had for iPod/iPhone. Apple cannot have their reputation tarnished by users crashing their iPhones with bad software and finding themselves unable to even make calls. Second to $$$ this is the reason that the App Store was instituted in the first place.

I am surprised that Apple has not acquired AppFresh or pressed on with final development of the Software Update tie in for 3rd party app updating. What a headache saver for all the software on the system to be up-to-date all the time.

Just some thought. . . .

I think this is a great idea - as long as they don't start releasing 50 copies of the same app (ie: Dial Amanda, Dial Amy, Dial Allison, etc.) What a waste that is.

Good luck with that, pal :)

-K

Apple should work with Valve to get Steam up and running for the Mac, along with Valve's own library of games, Half-Life 1, 2, Team Fortress 2, Portal, Left 4 Dead. That would be a fantastic way to really get some fans.

It would be an enormous undertaking I would think though.

I can see the ups and downs to having an App Store, but why I really want is Software Update integration. I mean, Sparkle's great and all, but having all the updates in one app would be brilliant.

As long as it doesn't kill retail stores then I'm all for it, I'll always pick boxed software unless I have no choice, I prefer the physical product.

i agree with mike that apple should include apps into the itunes store together with a system wide api for software updates rather than every developer having to develop their own bespoke system which is fine if you're adobe or MS but the more work the OS sorts out for the developer the more time can be spent on developing the actual software.

I wouldn't be worried about Apple vetting programs or them offering software that competes. I believe they've been selling MS office and Adobe CS products which compete with apple products in their online store and at their brick and mortar stores.

I wouldn't be surprised if apple integrates their online store into the itunes store and starts selling hardware as well as digital content. Now all we need is for them to have an EU wide itunes store and maybe a new name other than "iTunes"

I think that do that for all the could be to weird, but I had a vision of iTunes as provider for Mac Games, wouldn't it be lovely?
And maybe after movie rentals "videogames" rental, so with let's say 5/6 bucks I could try out the WHOLE game and not a crappy demo

finding apps on the apple site is TERRIBLE. they have great stuff but without a good search bar or organization it's practically useless.

besides download.com (which caters better to windows) is there a web site that categorizes and lists mac apps well?