The App Store is Coming

[SixStringGeek]

January 6th. Details.

It will work like the iPhone app store - requires signed code to run. Apps cannot have their own licensing schemes but OTOH, they cannot be pirated (theoretically - probably it will be cracked at some point - it is on the iPhone but it is fiddly and techy and the average person would rather spend the couple bucks than muck about with installers of uncertain lineage).

There are a number of restrictions so far. For instance your app cannot install code resources in shared locations (like AU's in the /Library folder). It has to be an app - so plugs - which *are* code resources in shared locations - aren't allowed. Apple is somewhat aware of this as audio app developers have been pointing this out in the CoreAudio forums so I expect these to be lessened down the road.

I'm sure this is great for the current downloadable shareware utilities market but the jury is out on pro-apps. When you see Logic offered this way I'd have to say probably MOTU should follow suit. So far there is no hint at all the Logic or Final Cut Pro or any other pro app will be distributed this way but it does look like Apple is moving towards a more managed system.

What's good about it - simplifies sales and marketing somewhat - probably provides higher conversion rates than we get now. Makes updates easier to distribute.

Not good - it costs $99 per year to be an official Mac developer these days and get access to the store - and another $99 per year to be an iphone developer. For small apps with low sales (Jambalaya sells about six copies a year because I don't really put a lot into marketing it) the $99 is a bit of a burden. Lots of kinds of software can't be sold this way. Apple will keep 1/3 of the money. If Apple doesn't like your app, you can't get it in the store.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

When Lion is released in mid 2011 it could change the playing field as well.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/lion/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[James Steele]

Apple is somewhat aware of this as audio app developers have been pointing this out in the CoreAudio forums so I expect these to be lessened down the road.

I hope so. Seems like this is a natural for independent plug-in developers. I wonder how this might impact Kagi, etc?

[SixStringGeek]

I wonder how this might impact Kagi, etc?

They're toast. Apple is very clear - no license management in App store distributed programs at all. Also, no Sparkle (Sparkle is the library everybody uses that pops up a message "There's a new version available - would you like to download and relaunch?").

Just having the word "sparkle" in an application seems to be enough to get it rejected right now.

We are still waiting on a story regarding code resources in shared areas (VI's, Plugs...).

[NazRat]

Apple is very clear - no license management in App store distributed programs at all.

So taken at face value, there will be no music apps, plugs, etc. sold from the app store at opening. I cannot think of one that does not have some type of license scheme at present (except Logic - surprise, surprise). Are they all suppose to convert to Apple's application DRM? Will the author have any control on device authorizations? Buy DP at the app store and run it on five devices? I think not. This has potential to evolve into somewhat of a nightmare for the software folks. It's fine for the $5.99 iPad DAW, but for the $599.00 app?