We’re running on pure Ultra 94 Octane Speculation here but might Apple be readying a Mac App Store?
Before you hit the Flame button, hear us out. Today, after that long outage, the App Store came back up with a survey, a new license agreement and a $99 Mac developer license that replaces the more expensive, tiered programs that were available before. (Sorry, no more hardware discounts!)
What does this mean
The Mac Manual
This guide supplies you with numerous tips, tricks and free applications. Get the hang of the interface and discover what your Mac is really capable of.
At 9to5 Mac we are a loosely assorted group of Mac Managers and Macintosh Business enthusiasts throughout the world (San Francisco, New York, Paris, London and Hong Kong) that try to keep each other (and you) apprised of many of the things going on in the Apple Enterprise Community. If you feel you could add anything to the site, we'd love to hear from you!
I’m kinda ticked about the no more hardware discounts. Does the student developer( If that still exists) still get a discount? Also what about WWDC tickets does everyone have to buy them now?
Yes, as always, there is still the personal “higher ed” discount for students, faculty and staff. Ask the tech support people at your college or university.
The student developer program discount was much better than the student discount
This has no effect on the student discount offered online and at the Apple stores.
OP wasn’t talking about the education discount. He was referring to the one time per lifetime hardware discount for the old $99 student developer membership. As for whether it is still around or not, I’m not sure.
That’s genius. An official App store for the Mac will help those that otherwise don’t have the cycles or cash to market or sell their software a defacto standard forum for doing so. That sounds good for both free and non-free software.
A Mac app store is the way to go.
Mac app store is death of Mac. If you don’t have resources to sell or market your software then you don’t have resources to support it and therefore you shouldn’t be selling it in the first place. In boxed in system like iPhone single app can’t do any damage to the system but on Mac it can create havoc.
Mac App Store?
NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.
We all know what would happen with that. Not to say that there won’t be another way to get applications, but if they kill the “any application from anywhere” model they have now, say goodbye to every single user.
You really think that Apple would try to shut down non-appstore apps on their full size computers? I don’t think that they would even consider it at this point. On the iPhone they moved from a position of NO native apps to controlled apps, the Mac already has a fully open system, they won’t even try to box that in.
Given the fact that Apple is a monster on the strictness of things, I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple did something like that.
Their computers are a different business. The iTunes App Store exists to sell and consolidate all note-worthy apps. Putting some restrictions is smart because at the end of the day you don’t want an application that is going to make your most popular platform bad. Such as a graphic intensive photo editing software. If the hardware can’t handle it then why allow an application that will make your system look bad? Or maybe an application is rushed out to the market and has glitches? A computer is another thing. It’s meant to take on the hardest processor-intensive tasks so no restrictions will be placed an Apple App Store would be to consolidate and host all software. They would never close their computers down it’s stupid. They probably haven’t even thought of it. I for one am down as long as they allow applications from other sources and such as allowing Windows to run on their hardware is logical.
Sure, Apple is hard on screening those iPhone apps and making sure they work perfectly… Maybe in some dream world but never in the reality. Stores are there to make a profit and maximize the revenue gained from Apple products. Nothing more nothing less. If Apple opens Mac App store they want every possible Mac app there. Apple doesn’t do show rooms. Its hard core retail all the way.
I’d stay. It would be nice for a centralized place for me to get some apps. Right now I go off word of mouth or random finds on the internet. That will still be around, but a clearing house by Apple would be great.
HELL NO! Are you insane or just mentally challenged? I want freedom on my Mac’s and not some big brother saying what can or can’t be done on my Mac. Cheers for Valve and Steam on Mac!!!
An app store run by Company X is insane, but an app store run by Company Y is great.
And you’re calling the other guy insane or mentally challenged…
I’m pretty sure he was using a thing called irony there…
I like the sound of that!! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeett!!! Now, Apple, give us the new mac book pro!! Well, I am not in hurry, because I can’t afford one now. It would be a great Christmas gift, though. I am getting the iPad, though!!
Why do you want to loose the freedom of installing any app you like? Pimple face fanboys like you need to grow a brain.
There is no need to insult him just because he is mentally challenged
You two who insulted him are the mentally challenged ones. What makes you think that Apple is going to take out the ability to download and install applications from other sources other than their store? Just because of the App store on the iPhone and iPod Touch? If you think that’s the case then you are mentally retarded. Apple would never do that. It’s not a smart business practice. I don’t think they’ve even thought of it. It’s just a place to consolidate all applications in one place. Think before you post. I for one would be all for a place to consolidate all software. As most developers. There are places that exist that do it already to such as softpedia. That’s what Apple would do.
Well, lets see now… We have iPhone, iPod, iPad, AppleTV, iTunes… See the picture? Setting up any App Store for Mac would be incredibly stupid decision. Why? Because I would likely kill third party software retail channels and therefore make Mac closed environment. Mac has no real known viruses and no malware other then some Office macros so there is really no need to close the gates to the walled garden. However, as everyone knows Apple has tried to squeeze every cent from Mac retail (Apple retail stores, iTunes, Apple web store, AppleTV) so it would hardly be a surprise if they wouldn’t want to control Mac app market too.
I just looked and the premire and select membership still exsists along with the ADC hardware purchase program.
http://developer.apple.com/programs/adcbenefits/
“We recently introduced a new Mac Developer Program that replaces ADC Premier, Select, and Student Memberships. If you are a current ADC member, you can continue to access your resources and benefits through the end of your membership year.”
One aspect of finance is through individuals and business organizations, which deposit money in a bank. The bank then lends the money out to other individuals or corporations for consumption or investment, and charges interest on the loans….
merchant services
Open source is great I mean software is very expensive and the people at Linux and Ubuntu are doing a great job with their software , I would say they should be rewarded and even start selling their product for a moderate sum through a easysaver program for clients.
That is complete bullshit. I cannot believe I renewed my developer connection membership. Nice waste of $500. So do we still get seeds? An email from Apple saying, “Hey, we screwed you, here’s your $400 credit” would be nice. I understand not refunding money on hardware refreshes, but screwing people who develop for your platform is stupid.
Depending on when you renewed, Apple is providing refunds. Contact Developer Relations about refund eligibility.
No where does it say about a Mac App Store! Stop speculating!
You are kidding, right? This site is all about pure speculation…
*FALLS* to $99/year? I don’t think so.
The online developer status was *FREE* prior to now. Yes, there were higher levels of access available that cost money, but the first tier of development, used by 100k+ people was free. For the vast, vast majority what was free is now $99 each and every year.
Frankly, the benefits of the higher levels of access, aside from the hardware discounts, haven’t really been worth it for individual developers for years. Although it did help to have someone who could grant you access to the early software seeds.
reinharden
Wrong. You can still sign up for free and get access to essentially the same stuff.
(same as in same as before)
You seem to be confusing ADC with Xcode. You mention the cost of ADC as a “barrier to Mac development”. It most certainly is not. You can develop and distribute Mac software without being an ADC member. You pay the big bucks, which has now been dropped to $99/year, for early access to updates, access to developer forums, videos and some tech support, not the development tools themselves.
You might make this mistake since you have to pay for a developer license in order to sell on the App Store. This is a completely different process.
The barrier to Mac development, if you’re willing to live without early releases, forum, etc., hasn’t changed. Xcode is still free. The Mac application ecosystem isn’t going to change much, except for people who wouldn’t write code without Apple babystepping them. This really is not an indicator at all of whether or not Apple will soon have a Mac App Store. I think you’re stirring up speculation for your own amusement.
I love my mac but it would be the end. If Apple get any more controlling theyveill be moving their head office to Havana! I want what I want, not what someone else decides I can have.
My thoughts exactly!
I think it’s far from that “No more boobies on your Mac, either” kind of paranoia…
There kinda already is an app store for Mac, check out Bodega
Softpedia? (O_O) Except a Mac App store would allow you to download there. Not at the original site.
I’m almost done with Macs, kind of sad as I have been using them for 20 years. These restrictions are starting to get ridiculous, I get the feeling Steve Jobs is turning into a miser in his old age. It used to be about amazing innovation, now it seems like it’s about extremely slow innovation while sucking the most dollars out of us all.
I guess Apple is just a computer corperation afterall, but I guess I expected a bit more then what has been released lately. If I had to choose from the highest end Mac vs the highest end PC I would choose the PC without a doubt. Not only is it cheaper but the specs it boasts are 2x or more of those of the mac!
Apple needs to get back on track. They may be riding high right now, but it can’t last forever with these kind of business practices.
The one thing stopping my use of Macs in general is the OS. Leopard is an absolute pleasure to use, and snow leopard has been pretty nice as well besides a few compatibility issues. I’m sorry, but you just can’t beat the Mac OS. I wish when I brought a few windows computers I changed over completely because all the crap had been rumors. It’s not. Windows is a bug ridden mess pretty much across the board except for XP. Come on Gates, do something revolutionary, don’t just rip off Mac features, and Steve Jobs, get your head out of your ass and keep the momentum going. I know sales are through the roof but it can’t continue forever when you are locking down your systems so much.
All love to all computer component and OS makers, without you we wouldn’t have anything to use in the first place, but come on – you’re making record profits – give us something AMAZING. Like a 20″ touchscreen MacBook pro that has stylus abilities and how about a CAMERA.
Suck it up or you lose us all. (computer enthusiasts) All you’ll be left with the soccer moms and idiot rich people who will buy anything new and flashy.
Removing hardware discounts is very very bad news-
$99 price tag is irrelevant – developer tools are actually free-
Developers need to test software on multiple different machines – i have 15 macs- because i have software that runs on a variety of hardware –
The existing developer programs offered good discounts for purchasing test machines-
I have to purchase machines that cost $4000-$5000 to test software
Well hang on, just because it’s a Mac App Store doesn’t mean it’s going to have the restrictions that we’ve seen on the iPhone, it might just be a place to buy and download software for your Mac. Apple has a downloads section on their site, but it’s not brilliant and personally I would like to see it improved. Also take a look at dashboard, sure there were loads of cool things that sprang up after it was launched on Tiger, but these days it feels a bit forgotten, compared to what’s available on the iPhone.
I think you should remove the “intelligence” from your header. As other commentatators have put it:
– developer tools (e.g. xcode) still free. Anyone can d/l this and start developing for no extra cost
– distribution. Any app developed (for free) via xcode can be distributed (for nearly free) via the Internet.
Wow. I dont think anyone was implying that the mac would become a closed platform.
But if Apple provide a store-front that developers have the option of submitting apps to then it definitely opens the doors to a whole new world of developers, and, furthermore, will increase mac popularity by creating a more involved developer community that attracts existing developers not currently working on the mac.
Of course, weren’t Linux announced as working on an app store front for their OS about a year ago?
This looks to my eyes that Apple is really getting out of the computer business. They are all about development for the iPhone and iPad. The writing was on the wall when they took computer out of the corporate name – then Steve saying – “we are a mobile company” and now the reduced focus on the “desktop” developer. The hardware discount was very important to keeping the latest hardware in the shop when the “other guys”can build their own box. Very sad.
If AAPL makes it impossible to download software from elsewhere (OpenOffice, etc.) then they’re gonna bust their business for sure. I’ll take our Macs out right away, even at a huge loss, and AAPL will surely go down the tubes. GuaranF’nteed.
Take a deep breath, folks.
This blog post is pure B.S. (baseless speculation), founded on the false premise that a paid ADC membership is required to develop apps for the Mac. It isn’t, nor has it ever been.
Don’t throw out yer Macs yet. This was just a pathetically ill-disguised attempt to drum up some readership. Move along, nothing to see here…
to determine problems with a business’s liquidity. Being profitable does not necessarily mean being liquid. A company can fail because of a shortage of cash, even while profitable….
merchant services
Don’t you see whats going on with Apple these days? Apple loves to control and I don’t think no one would be surprised if they wanted to control the third party app distribution. If that ever happens then its time for me to switch to Windows.