MacHeist 3 begins
Everyone's favorite app bundle/puzzle game, AKA MacHeist, is back! MacHeist, now in its third year, combines a pre-bundle game, where users solve puzzles to unlock free apps and bundle discounts, and an actual bundle of apps, which go on sale at the end of the "heist."MacHeist is a fun way to waste some time and get some free apps by solving puzzles (or you can just read the forums and cheat) and the app bundle is generally a pretty good deal (assuming you don't already have the included software -- if you do, you can gift the licenses to the switcher in your life). You can view the first mission by logging into your MacHeist account; if you participated in the Mac Giving Tree promo you already have one, but new users can signup at the main page.
Happy heisting! You can read our previous MH coverage here.
(Also, a personal shout-out from me to MacHeist's new video host Lisa B -- even with the cheesy accent, she's still the best.)
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SubGenius said 2:48PM on 2-07-2009
So Phil Ryu and company have enough time to put together another MacHeist and enough time to make an iPhone app BUT NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DELIVER THE COOKBOOK APP FROM MY DREAM APP!
http://mydreamapp.com/ - no update since July of 2007!
Don't support these guys.
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Ernest Liu said 5:19PM on 2-07-2009
"SubGenius said 2:48PM on 2-07-2009
So Phil Ryu and company have enough time to put together another MacHeist and enough time to make an iPhone app BUT NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DELIVER THE COOKBOOK APP FROM MY DREAM APP!
http://mydreamapp.com/ - no update since July of 2007!
Don't support these guys."
I offer a personal suggestion of understanding the circumstances as to why MDA was unable to deliver Cookbook (along with the other apps) before flaming. For the record, it has absolutely nothing to do with the amount of time they have on hand.
jollyllama said 6:43PM on 2-07-2009
@ Ernest:
Do you happen to know why they've delivered 0/3 of the MDA projects? Cause honestly, the fact that they've given no reason why makes people feel a little abandoned. Granted it's not like they're under any real obligation to do it, it's just very bad form considering how many people got involved. I share SubGenius's reluctance to get involved with Phil and Co. again.
Ernest Liu said 1:28PM on 2-08-2009
@ jollyllama: I actually have quite a good idea as to why none of them have been delivered (and am quite sad they haven't been able to do so). However, it is not within my authority to share the reasons why. Nonetheless, they have completed two seasons of MacHeist with outstanding success, donating hundreds upon thousands of dollars to charity as a result of their work.
theoldcoot said 2:57PM on 2-07-2009
It's a rip-off. Not even worth looking at for the 250MB download that might happen or might not. All they want you to do is install the app and then try to get you to buy the rest of the crap.
STAY AWAY FROM IT.
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oakie said 3:10PM on 2-07-2009
checked out Lisa B's MacHeist video hosted elsewhere. the accent is so bad i cant bear to register for MacHeist if i'm forced to listen to that crap, even if it's for a free copy of Adobe Master Collection CS4.
i'm barfing all over my keyboard splashguard.
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theoldcoot said 3:13PM on 2-07-2009
Well if it was for Adobe Master Collection CS4 I'd just put my ear plugs in.
Wombert said 7:14AM on 2-08-2009
Give the girl a break and stop bashing her accent. She's Canadian ;)
Macroy said 3:15PM on 2-07-2009
I know it's going to cause a lot of controversy, but I just have to come out and say it:
I THINK MACHEIST IS ENTERTAINING AND FUN.
Please don't flame me, guys :(
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Karen said 3:22PM on 2-07-2009
Lighten up. Free software for solving silly puzzles. What's not to like?
Dave said 4:40PM on 2-07-2009
I don't get forum commenters. The MacHeist website looks nice, the puzzles are fun, and you get free software for playing games (really quickly, I might add, if you cheat and go here: http://mhwiki.channelblue.net/wiki/Main_Page). Don't people have better things to do than rip up other people's work?
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leganto said 5:07PM on 2-07-2009
Anyone from London find that vault image familiar? :-)
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Jeff said 6:36PM on 2-07-2009
I think it's a fun thing. Why are people complaining about the poor girl's fake accent when it's just an entertaining game that nets you FREE software?
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amoun76 said 8:20PM on 2-07-2009
Oh come on! Last year i feel for the same thing and visited the same site. And this year like last was a big dissapointment. And a fing ripof.. Are TUAW sponsorded by this deal?! I would really like to know! How about telling me about what im supposed to buy? I dont want to be a member of some fing club, i want a good deal on software. So tell me what im about to get if i am interested! I wont be buying. So bad advertising practices. FU Heist People. FU TUAW!
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Christina Warren said 11:33PM on 2-07-2009
No, TUAW is absolutely unaffiliated with MacHeist. I'm sorry you're not a fan, but the bundle is generally one of the better software bundle deals out there, and the pre-bundle heist is an easy way to get some free apps. That's why we posted about it.
Last year, I was quite happy to get CSSEdit 2, Pixelmator, Vector Designer, 1Password and SnapzPro. I'll give you the Retail Bundle from the summer wasn't as enticing (at least if you had purchased any of the previous bundles), but the bundle itself from last year was more than worth my $40.
Obviously, you're free to skip it -- but I figured that some readers would be interested.
Albi said 10:01PM on 2-07-2009
If you want how to solve heists completely,
see this YouTube video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS6Y72VWCKs&feature=channel_page
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reallycrazyguy said 10:09PM on 2-07-2009
How are MacHeists a ripoff? You complete a puzzle, and as a reward, you get a license for some software.
Now, some people have come across glitches in the process for getting the license for the software, but from what I've seen in the MacHeist forums, they get worked out, and generally faster if you are polite about it.
And there have been problems with the 'deal' part (where you buy a license to a bunch of software for a reduced fee), such as last years issue with Speed Download of giving out a license, then doing a paid upgrade a couple of weeks later (which they did eventually make right by giving out free upgrades to MacHeist customers). Problems like these can take some time to resolve, and then individual problems with getting a specific license in a timely fashion also can take some time, but the MacHeist team seem to work hard to make sure people are happy.
But getting mad about having problems accessing something being offered to you for free is lame, IMHO.
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SubGenius said 6:01PM on 2-08-2009
MacHeist is not a ripoff.
However the people behind it are less than forthcoming about why they have wasted our time with their other venture called "My Dream App".
Until they offer an explanation, I will not participate in any other ventures they undertake.
lolmacs said 3:46AM on 2-09-2009
Good god, some people...
You do puzzles and get free apps as well as dramatically reduced prices on apps, what more do you want?
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paperless said 12:58AM on 3-11-2009
I don't even have a mac...yet but i've been collecting some free apps to use when i switch.
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