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Beware the Garden of Steven
theodp writes "With its forthcoming Lion Mac OS and new Apple-curated Mac Apps Store, Apple will be locking down top tier applications on the Mac similar to the way apps are locked down on the iPad and iPhone. Only by submitting their apps to Apple's store and giving up 30% of their receipts will developers get to take advantage of two new OS features. The first is Apple's new 'Launchpad,' a tool for easily opening application; the second is the ability to update apps to new versions with one click. It will be a lot easier to use apps bought from the Mac App Store than ones downloaded in the wild. It didn't have to be that way, says Valleywag's Ryan Tate: 'Apple could have enabled its Launchpad and auto-update features for all applications, sold through the Apple Store or not. For example, an open system for updating applications has been in use for years on Ubuntu... Ubuntu's 'Apt' (Advanced Packaging Tool) lets users install, update, and remove software of their choosing with a single command. There's a central list of apps curated by Ubuntu's maintainers, but users are free to add and install from other lists... But Apple seems to have made a very clear choice not to take the open route.' Longtime Apple developer Dave Winer was also concerned, tweeting during Apple's presentation 'Is this the end of the Mac as an open platform?' The news also prompted developer Anil Dash to call for an open alternative to the Mac App Store."
Steve is given preferential treatment and access to core system services to developers that choose to accept his restrictions.
Uh, what, you mean - like Windows Update - I mean, Microsoft lets anyone use that, right? This article is total FUD. There's no indication that Launchpad will be restriced to App Store apps, I may eat my words, but I would consider moving off the platform if that does become a reality. But, right now, there's nothing from Apple that shows that would be the case. The only 'core' service is the ability to automatically update software, which is something that costs Apple money for hosting, therefore they require you to buy in to their service. Seems like pretty normal business practice to me.
You apparently missed the fact that you also can't include Flash and Java apps in the Mac App Store. If 90% of Mac users get all their apps from the App Store, then that will quickly kill off Flash and Java on the Mac, even before Apple starts locking down the OS.
GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak
Actually, yeah .. Winsus can be extended for third party apps. And it's trivial to point your Windows update at a different update server. That said, only corporate entities and bored hyper-boxers really do that kinda stuff...
Code softly but carry a big magnet.
Look at the apps shown in Launchpad in the demo. Notice Mail, iChat, iCal, Time Machine, Dictionary, DVD Player, Automator, the entire Microsoft Office Suite, etc. I can't imagine that any of those are in there because they were downloaded from the App Store....
Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.
What you might have missed or are ignoring is that apt allows you to specify the location of ANY and MULTIPLE repositories, so its possible for an individual developer to host their own repository for their own stuff that users can acquire and update their software from, without having to touch the official central repositories.
No sig now
The funny thing is if such a thing already existed Apple would have promoted it.
Yes, just like they promoted VirtueDesktops instead of rolling their own virtual desktop solution.
Just like they promoted Watson instead of releasing Sherlock 3.
Just like they promoted Audion instead of purchasing a competitor (SoundJam) and releasing it for free.
Just like they promoted the best app from the range of existing iOS e-book software instead of releasing their own.
Just like they promoted Konfabulator instead of releasing their own widget system.
No, make no mistake about it -- if Apple wants control of a product space, they *will* make sure they get it, whether that means acquiring, ripping off, or otherwise replacing the existing solutions, they will find a way to do it.
The real litigious bastards...
In Ubuntu and Debian, you are not limited to using the central repository with apt. You can add any third-party repositories to the list.
You can do the same with iOS devices.
Only if you represent a business with 500 or more employees, according to the page you linked.
You can work around the Linux repos on Redhat,SuSE, Debian and Ubuntu by just adding your own repo to the list and whatever software you want can still be centrally updated. It's something I've seen several software installers do.
when was the Mac ever an open platform?
Mac OS X is not a free software platform, but it is an open platform to the same extent that the userspace of Windows is an open platform: the platform's maintainer lacks imprimatur power over applications on the platform. The userspace of Android is likewise an open platform unless you're on AT&T (which hides the "Unknown sources" checkbox on its handsets). This stands in sharp contrast to closed platforms such as iOS devices and virtually all video game consoles.
No, it classifies all Apps in your Applications folder (or should we call it Apps folder now) as well as those you downloaded through the Mac App Store.
The rest of the API's (full screen, instant shutdown/save etc...) are completely open and available and quite transparent to existing apps (no need to recode/recompile existing applications)
It's basically that they merged Expose, Dashboard and Spaces and made it more the look-and-feel of iOS and added a Store for free and non-free apps. Especially for individual developers this will give more exposure to some really good applications that are now pretty hard to find. Hosting, update distribution and promotion/ranking for only 30% of your revenue is pretty darn good unless you're Adobe or Microsoft or other software makers that can charge thousands of dollars for 4 or 5 crappy apps.
Hopefully they will also integrate an Enterprise option similar to the iPhone so you can create or package, distribute and automatically update your own set of applications. Currently you still have to rely on third party systems or Apple Remote Desktop for this.
Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
People have been able to freely install software on Apple machines over a decade before Linux even existed.
Fandroids hate facts.
Dear Anil Dash, let me intorduce you to macports. I can do the exact same things people do on Ubuntu's apt, but I have to type, "port" instead of "apt."