The new App Store is great. We love that we can now download applications previously limited to iOS devices. We’re happy to see that the App Store has streamlined the downloading and updating process to make it simpler than ever. And we’re glad the App Store will allow us to install apps on all our computers rather than have to buy them individually. But this isn’t what we find to be the most interesting aspect about it. We think there is a much more important characteristic going on behind all that.
What we find to be the most intriguing aspect of the App Store is the enhanced opportunity for designers and developers to release their software and have it seen by millions. Interestingly enough, some are arguing the exact opposite is true. They believe the App Store isn’t making design more democratic, but it is in fact stifling designers by regulating what can and can’t be sold. Well with a 95% acceptance rate within 7 days, we don’t really see any problem with Apple being rejection-happy.
So what do we like about this? We think that the App Store is making it easier for smaller companies and amateur designers to make a name for themselves in a market that was originally very hard to penetrate. Now, everyone is on an even playing field and has the possibility to get mass exposure. A perfect example of this is the inexplicable success of overnight sensation Bubble Ball which claimed the #1 free app download, beating out the ever popular Angry Birds. But what really is catching everyone’s attention is the fact that the creator is only 14 years old. Now, we played the game and beat it in a day, but it was still very impressive to see Robert Nay’s video game spread like wildfire across the tech world, getting coverage from ABC News to the Guardian.
Nay’s success is rare but it makes the point that Apple is ushering in yet another new way we consume media and its implications could lead to a much more diverse market (with cheaper apps as well). There will be more options available to the consumer as well as a greater potential for success on the developer’s part and we're all pretty excited to see what innovations this will bring into play from the developers.
(Images: Flickr users Cristiano Betta and Brendan Lynch under license from Creative Commons.)
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Comments (4)
Nice placement of the Chinese flag app logo. Seems appropriate.
"Well with a 95% acceptance rate within 7 days, we don’t really see any problem with Apple being rejection-happy. "
If you were in the other 5%, you might feel differently.
"Now, everyone is on an even playing field and has the possibility to get mass exposure."
Kind of like that place called the web, where anyone can put up a site and anyone can get to it? (Well, unless you live somewhere like China) No Apple approval required!
The mass exposure part will go away just as soon as more apps are added. Look at the app store for the iphone. It's very easy to get your app lost in there. I'm sure there are plenty of companies, developers and designers who would rather they had a choice to put their iphone apps out on their own web site, with their own marketing instead of being at the mercy of Apple.
One nice thing about the Mac App Store over the iphone app store... you don't have to use it. Macs can still install apps from places other than the App Store... at least for now.
The Mac App Store is a nice convenience. There are certainly benefits to it but let's not be glib about the potential downsides, especially when dealing with a company that has a long history of being obsessed with control.
Well, it is good if you are an Apple shareholder, as Apple now has another way to make money off of content someone else paid (time, money, etc) to create...
Lifehacker had a good rundown of why this will be bad for developers and consumers.
http://lifehacker.com/5726764/why-you-shouldnt-care-about-the-mac-app-store
And another one from Gizmodo.
http://gizmodo.com/5670812/big-brother-apple-and-the-death-of-the-program
This article is mostly nonsense, the ability to "download applications previously limited to iOS devices" is purely because developers built a mac version which they could have done without the mac store, which wouldn't help them develop for a different OS, it's purely a distribution channel.
It also doesn't create and "even playing field," if your app gets on the front page then you get a huge amount of exposure but almost everything else gets lost in the depth of an archive that is a pain to sift through.