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by brudgers 5641 days ago
The implicit assumption is that prices of existing applications will be forced lower. Considering that the app store gives new comers a leg up over traditional channels and puts them on equal footing with established products, there is reason to be pessimistic about the prospects of some pre-appstore products. Particularly when existing products may not conform to the technical restrictions required for appstore approval.
2 comments
akadien 5641 days ago
History with iOS suggests a level playing field will be very short-lived. Once a couple of indie developers hit it big with MacFart desktop apps (don't hate - a friend who bought an iPad for Christmas is proudest of a fart app), the big developers will rush in, crowd the store with marginally higher quality apps compared to the indie developers with fewer features than before, and dominate.
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brudgers 5641 days ago
I don't believe the iOS model is necessarily the appropriate analog. There were no established iOS applications when the Appstore started. That's not the case with the Mac platform where there are many established products which because of implementation will not be eligible for the MacAppStore due to the implementation restrictions on applications.

In addition, many dual platform [Win/OSX] applications might take a 30% margin hit because of Apple's cut. Such companies face the prospect of either raising their price on all their products and thus loosing any cost advantage; forgoing the appstore altogether and missing a distribution channel; or providing different pricing depending on platform and potentially alienating Mac customers. Companies which have long supported the Mac such as Adobe and Nemetschek AG in particular face these issues.

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aurora72 5641 days ago
I agree. Actually I have avoided paying for any software on MAC OS X because I 've been able to find almost always its equivalent for free elsewhere, including the iWorks (which sells for around $70)

So, it might be the right time for Apple to lower its own MAC OS X software such as the iWorks, from around $70 to $7. Only then may I personally consider buying it from Mac App Store.

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