Beware the Garden of Steven 580
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."
Mac... (Score:3, Insightful)
was never open.
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Re:Mac... (Score:4, Informative)
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."
Re:Mac... (Score:5, Insightful)
was never open.
I have no idea how an AC was modded +4 Insightful for that tripe. I can sudo in any terminal to gain root access if my account is an administrator. To gain similar access on windows 7, you have to reboot into a special mode otherwise you cannot alter/replace certain system files. All settings on the machine are in accessible plist file. All graphics can be replaced with modded version. Doing similar changes in windows requires accessing a proprietary binary hive database (registry), hacking resources in dll files and then rebooting into the recovery mode to replace the dlls with your hacked version.
The core of OS X is open source. Where is the source for windows? Where can I download it?
Apple released the technology they used to build their pro apps as Core Animation and Core video so I have to ask you, where are the apis MSFT uses for their software for third party devs to use? Why don't they update and use the common controls library for their Office and VS.NET products instead of custom built dialogs?
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Hard to believe everyone's buying the troll.
OS X has an open-sourced kernel. You can install whatever you want on it. I can type ./configure ;make ;make install or use one of the many apt tools out there
Apple's Mac App Store announcement is no different than when they decided to make shelves at the Retail Stores.
Don't Worry! (Score:5, Interesting)
Windows will follow suit in just one version!
The Zune store - which SLAVISHLY copies the entire iTunes / App store business and technology model - will be extendaed past Win Phone 7, right down to the desktop.
Pray that Intel gets here first. Then at least, you will have a federated ecosystem of public, corporate and commercial app stores, with flexible policy boundaries.
Otherwise, you are 4 years away from Palladium. Your PC is just like XBox 360!
Re:Don't Worry! (Score:5, Insightful)
They target two different parts of the market.
For one, unlike in game consoles, Microsoft is not a core hardware provider in the PC space. They only sell peripherals and software. They go after the commodity OS market.
Apple is a hardware and software vendor. They don't want the commodity OS market on commodity hardware, and have fought hard not to allow OS X to be used on commodity hardware. They have a limited breadth, deep stack market with high margins. That's the way they like it. Setting up a central software market for the Mac lets them bring the type of control of experience they've leveraged on the iPhone, iPod, iPod Touch, and iPad to the Mac. It also allows them to expose their core software market to many smaller vendors in one place, and for Apple itself to have some level of quality control over third-party software.
For Microsoft, letting everyone develop and distribute lets them hold on to the widespread use they worked so hard (legally and illegally) to get. For Apple, having control over the quality of third-party apps and offering third-party vendors things like Apple DRM, Apple-sponsored marketing, Apple-paid distribution, and Apple endorsements in exchange for a payment of tribute lets them consolidate control over their most powerful differentiator: nearly identical user experience across applications.
Honestly, I think if Apple mishandles this it'll be disastrous for the Mac. If they execute the plan well, though, it could be a huge strength for them. It's a high-stakes, moderate risk play with huge payoff potential.
What's more, the centralized application repository is popular and familiar among Linux users. We're quite used to making the decision between a fully vendor-supported repository, a third-party repository, and stuff we install ourselves and must update ourselves. Since OS X is a high-end desktop Unix with its own custom user interface (with the option of X), using long-time Linux and BSD software distribution methods makes sense to me. Let's just hope they execute it well and fairly.
Re:Don't Worry! (Score:5, Insightful)
Difference? ALL Apple development tools are free downloads. Not just a cut-down version; the complete development suite with everything in it; same as every other developer uses. You can develop and distribute/sell Mac apps with Apple's tools without giving Apple a cent, and that isn't changing.
Re:Mac... (Score:4, Insightful)
* Is it that (you think) root access beat all DRM?
All DRM is inherently broken, and root access can only make that task easier.
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FUD! (Score:4, Insightful)
Can we seriously cool it with the 'OMG Lockdown!' claims? Yes, Apple introduced an app store for macs this week, but at the moment there are plenty of other ways to get applications, and use of said app store is certainly not required. When the lockdown is actually in place, then we can complain and move on from OS X to [insert your favorite Linux flavor here]. Let's stop rolling down this slippery slope already.
Re:FUD! (Score:5, Insightful)
This just in, Only by using Apple's central repository can you launch and update your apps through Apple's central repository... Err? Duh?
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Okay, so the store itself is locked down, I get that. But I'm not going to get really concerned until Apple starts to make it difficult to install applications outside of said store. At the moment, there are plenty of ways to install applications without the store. I might not like their app store, but I still have a choice not to use it.
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Re:FUD! (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm betting on mandatory code signing for applications outside the Mac App Store, making freeware impossible and shareware only available if the App Store censor allows it by 10.9. All for the customers' own good, you understand (viruses, uncertainty of downloading off the internet, and stuff).
At that point the web browser starts to become less important as newspapers can be accessed by (paid-for) apps.
Re:FUD! (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm betting on mandatory code signing for applications outside the Mac App Store, making freeware impossible and shareware only available if the App Store censor allows it by 10.9.
That seems highly unlikely. Rather, they'll likely require code signing for apps in the app store as well as more and more of the code Apple ships themselves. Eventually, Apple will probably start using ACLs to provide more and more vocal warnings to users who try to run an unsigned application for the first time. Eventually, OS X may not even run unsigned apps by default, requiring the user to resort to manually whitelisting unsigned apps.
And I must say, they should have done it years ago.
At that point the web browser starts to become less important as newspapers can be accessed by (paid-for) apps.
Seriously? You really think the whole paid app for newspapers thing is going to work and that newspapers will be making apps for every platform instead of just Web pages? It seems unlikely to me.
Re:FUD! (Score:5, Insightful)
If so, they're going to need to fork a Mac OS X Scientist Edition and attend to all the confusion that would entail. I know a lot of good professors and post-docs who use Mac as a "friendly unix", and recommend it to their students for that reason. Apple has actively courted this market, and it'd be outright stupid to risk it now. Not that I'd be shocked, but I'd be fairly surprised and it'd be a really dumb move.
I don't particularly like what they're doing now, since it makes installing free software (like R) from a disk image a "mysterious" thing instead of a commonplace thing, which makes using it in introductory classes more of a burden. Nonetheless it's tolerable. I really hope they don't extrapolate as you're suggesting; as a linux user it's currently slightly easier for me to collaborate with Mac users than Windows users.
Re:FUD! (Score:4, Insightful)
Okay just some random conjecture:
Imagine you've got a program called "Opera Browser" and you are Not distributed through the app store. That means you won't be able to use the LaunchPad and 1-Click Updates. Wouldn't that tend to make your program less attractive than, say, Apple Safari which DOES have those abilities?
Just thinking out loud.
Please don't damage my karma.
Re:FUD! (Score:5, Insightful)
I seem to remember quite the outrage at a certain company whose founder is sometimes compared to a Borg for doing something similar...
Re:FUD! (Score:4, Insightful)
"I already ordered iLife 11 for $50 yesterday. I begrudge giving MS money because it's the same old thing release after release"
The irony of these two sentences side by side is breathtaking.
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I agree with your Borg comment, but MS never created the same value proposition as Apple. Windows is always more of the same.. I spend money, I get the same thing I had, just prettier. Apple on the other hand really gives you amazing stuff that just works. See this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlD6JS0mD7E [youtube.com]
I am willing to give Apple money for their new software, in fact I already ordered iLife 11 for $50 yesterday. I begrudge giving MS money because it's the same old thing release after release. If you look at MS's top 10 list to upgrade to Windows 7 from XP, their marketing department struggles to make the case. Apple and Mac are fundamentally changing the way we interact with technology and innovating with each and every release.
Just spend some time with iMovie and GarageBand and you will understand the shift. And don't bother looking for the mouse button because Apple got rid of that as well, we gesture now.
There is clear differentiation between Windows XP and Windows 7, both in terms of stability and the user interface. It's hardly just a cosmetic difference. I suspect you don't use any Windows systems on a day-to-day basis.
I don't have any particular use for iMovie or GarageBand, so iLife holds little interest for me. Thinking about it now I don't believe I've ever actually launched either application, due to lack of need or desire. I do use iPhoto, but it isn't worth $50 to me just to be able to easily post
Re:FUD! (Score:4, Insightful)
It will indeed be less attractive to get an app from other sources.
However, I watched the entire keynote and as far as I recall, Steve said "you can add your apps to the launchpad."
That being told, the Launchapd is just like the Homescreen in my iPhone, and once I got 3 screens worth of apps I found it to be faster to use Spotlight to find the app I want to run. Guess what? Spotlight is already the way I do the same things on my mac.
I don't think the Launchpad will be the ultimate way to launch apps in the future, at least it wont be for me. I already use the desktop for similar results anyways.
All that aside, yea, going back to the attractiveness, App Store distributed apps will indeed be preferred. It will be the first spot for many to look up apps before they reach out to the web. I don't think this will bury non-app store apps, though. At least not for popular apps. I see most free software ending up in the app store for easy access.
Perhaps big software like Photoshop and Office wont make it, mainly because they will refuse to agree with the "buy once, run on any machine you own" policy. At the same time, I look forward for people that start developing small Photoshop alternatives because now they have an easy way to spread their product, selling it for a very affordable amount, and being founded by night-micro transaction income, being able to grow into worthwhile rivals.
Re:FUD! (Score:5, Informative)
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.
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They could allow you to add alternate repositories. Then they are not proving anything other than the package manager to the client with the OS they sold him.
Re:FUD! (Score:5, Funny)
(which I'm sure happens with Linux repos too. I can't imagine they accept any piece of trash "hello world" app just because it was submitted.)
$ aptitude show hello
Package: hello
State: not installed
Version: 2.4-3 [wtf?]
[blah blah blah]
Description: The classic greeting, and a good example
The GNU hello program produces a familiar, friendly greeting. It allows
non-programmers to use a classic computer science tool which would otherwise be
unavailable to them.
Seriously, though: this is an example of how to do a Debian package. It is the
Debian version of the GNU Project's `hello world' program (which is itself an
example for the GNU Project).
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It's already ported. You can already use apt-get to install software from a number of free software repositories on MacOS. I haven't had a Mac in a couple of years now so I'm a little out of date. I've heard Fink is pretty much much dead, but there's a new app repository now. Typically you can't get Aqua apps this way, it's mostly console apps and X Windows apps, but that appears to have more to do with who's submitting apps to the repo than any inherent weakness in the software.
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We have DarwinPorts and Fink, that's your APT. The problem with these and APT is they don't have integrated payment, or hosting, and they don't allow developers to sell their software with DRM. If you want to offer your open-source solution OS X has you covered. But if you want to sell your plain-old proprietary app with copy protection and complete outsourced fulfillment and billing nobody really offers this.
These aren't like good things, but they're clearly what independent for-profit developers want.
Re:FUD! (Score:5, Insightful)
They don't need to make it difficult to install applications outside of the Mac App Store. They just need to re-educate users so that most users will refuse to install applications not from the Mac App Store.
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Is it worth only getting 70% of the money for the extra market presence?
To be fair, you weren't keeping 100% of the money before, either, since you had to spend money packaging/promoting/distributing/selling your app previously by some other method.
For many companies (especially small ones without a lot of volume, business acumen, or resources), having Apple handle all of that will cut their costs by enough that they'll come out ahead.
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at the moment...
When the lockdown is actually in place...
When even those screaming FUD are lacing their posts with tacit admission of the inevitable its time to run away from this platform like your hair is on fire.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Hair on fire? Well I did consider pulling some out... it seems when registering as a developer (updating an ancient ADC account actually), one has to agree to a lengthy agreement. They nicely provide a link to get/read it in a .PDF file (scrolling through a long doc in a web page is a bit much). When I actually clicked to get it all I saw was permission denied. I doubt I can read the one in the web page before being hit by the 10 minute security timeout. Oh well.
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>> Good work, Steve. Your endless desire for control has likely just cost the Mac a lot of developers. Oh, it may not be immediate, but it'll happen. Goddammit.
I think the biggest change mac ecosystem will see from this is that there will be small number of corporations selling their apps (for more or less $$) rather than a lot of small time developers releasing their stuff for free for other mac users.
This comment by Shark was spot on - http://apple.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1829350&cid=339555 [slashdot.org]
Re:FUD! (Score:5, Insightful)
but I can readily admit that most Mac users are Yahoo Answers-grade stupid when it comes to computers.
What, and Windows users aren't? I agree that most Mac users aren't exactly the brightest computer users, but get real, most Windows users don't even know other OS's exist, let alone what an OS is. Mindless flock of sheep, really.
Re:FUD! (Score:5, Funny)
They just don't pay as much to be stupid.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
So... while claiming that Macs need less brains to use, you're also saying Mac users are smarter?? ;)
In my observation, average Mac users are even less cognizant of the distinction between OS and hardware than average Windows users. But the Mac more actively encourages a "magic box" outlook, what with the history of the OS being tied to Apple hardware.
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Re:FUD! (Score:4, Insightful)
Good work, Steve. Your endless desire for control has likely just cost the Mac a lot of developers.
Huh? It's the distribution chains that should be worried, not the devs or the users.
This is the best thing since sliced bread for many of especially the smaller devs. Apple takes care of the bandwidth costs, Apple takes care of the review and feedback system, Apple takes care of the auto-updating mechanism, Apple takes care of getting your apps closer the users than ever since it's an integrated part of the forthcoming OS. The devs? Well, $99/year and 70% of the sales, and that's it. This is a killer feature for all developers who rely on their website on providing the applications, and are worried that their web host will collapse after getting Slashdotted.
No gimping here, far from it. No, rather the opposite. This will attract new developers.
And the users benefit since the updating and exploration part will become a super smooth experience.
Sure, if you do special things with your apps, like installing things like system components outside the app folder, then you have to rely on the traditional means. However, if you have such special needs, your application is also of a special kind, and your users will *have* to get the functionality through your web site. There's no option. So I don't see the problem, really... Photoshop is among those apps who probably can't be shoe-horned into the Mac App Store, but that doesn't mean Adobe will suffer! Of course people will still want Photoshop if they use these kind of tools. And what about VMware? Well, for advanced virtualization software, you *have* to use other channels. And for the random tiny app that installs a driver to do [insert technical thing here], well, there'll be no competition on Mac App Store taking away your users - there's no competition since nothing there would be granted rights to be there anyway.
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You wrote, "a bunch of users don't know anything outside the app store."
Did you know that there is no app store on OS X now? Are you suggesting that people just buy a mac and then use Mail/Safari/Text Edit for all their needs now? Well, there are probably some who do that, but they sure as hey won't buy an app from any store, app or otherwise.
Re:FUD! (Score:4, Insightful)
code-signing (Score:4, Interesting)
I find myself skeptical of the launchpad claim. I suspect that someone if confusing code-signing here. since 10.4 apple has been ramping up the strictness of code signing for apps. as of 10.6 unsigned apps can no longer open ports on the firewall without explicit user permission and all unsigned apps spew warnings to the system.log when launched. This is actually mildly annoying if you are writing and testing compiled binaries for your own intranet since it means that you need to distribute a key to all the people on your intranet if you want the apps to not spew silent warnings to the system log. (e.g. commands that you want to run millions of times get slowed down by such spewing). But you can self sign things so this does not impede anything and is merely a minor nuiscance and I put up with it because of the obvious benefits to my own security for having signed apps.
I suspect what is going on for launchpad is that unsigned apps won't work in launchpad. Thus you have to have them signed by some one with a trusted cert for them to work out of the box. It may be that, and I don't know, that you could have the installer self-sign the app at install time as a work around.
ANyhow thats what I suspect. This is a sedeffect of the highly desirable code-signing and not just a requirement to pay apple to use an OS feature.
Re:FUD! (Score:4, Insightful)
Man falling from 75th floor says "So far so good"!
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Can we seriously cool it with the 'OMG Lockdown!' claims? Yes, Apple introduced an app store for macs this week, but at the moment there are plenty of other ways to get applications, and use of said app store is certainly not required. When the lockdown is actually in place, then we can complain and move on from OS X to [insert your favorite Linux flavor here]. Let's stop rolling down this slippery slope already.
And thats, my friends, is how you boil frogs... (erm, make that sheep)
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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'
Re:FUD! (Score:5, Informative)
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...
Re:FUD! (Score:5, Interesting)
Actually, yeah .. Winsus can be extended for third party apps
I'm genuinely curious now. I've never seen a non-MS application get any updates via Windows Update. Can you give some examples? Better yet, link to e.g. MSDN article/reference on how to add support for that to one's own app?
Re:FUD! (Score:5, Informative)
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....
Re:FUD! (Score:5, Informative)
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.
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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.
As much as you and I and thousands of others would like such a tool, you know the likelihood of it coming from Apple are nearly nil. Apple has neglected Enterprise for years and I see little reason to think they'll change their pattern of behavior any time soon. There is money in Enterprise to be sure, but Apple is making so much more profit from home users that Enterprise simply isn't profitable enough for them to care at this time.
With luck, the 3rd party solutions providers such as JAMF's Composer/Caspe
The battle is ON! (Score:5, Funny)
The battle between the kdawson haters and the Apple haters starts NOW!
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I hate Apple more.
FTW.
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The battle between the kdawson haters and the Apple haters starts NOW!
*leans over, then steps forward in time with snapping fingers*
Not yet but.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Flash and Java not excluded from OS X (Score:2)
The runtimes just won't be provided as part of the Mac OS distribution anymore. That is a good thing because Mac OS used to always ship out-of-date versions of both runtimes, so they lacked features and/or were insecure.
On iOS you cannot load them if you want to. In Mac OS X you just have to go get the latest version straight from the source. That is a good thing IMO.
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Re:Flash and Java not excluded from OS X (Score:5, Informative)
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Has anyone from Apple or Oracle said that Oracle's going to do a Mac JVM?
Half the Java team have walked, could they even do one by Lion's launch date if Larry told them to do it? And secondly, it's rather difficult to integrate it into Cocoa as well as Apple have done, if Apple haven't handed the source code to Oracle then they'd need to take Apple developers on.
If Larry is even aware of what's happened he's probably himself how many yachts he can get out of distributing a free JVM for Mac after taking cost
Re:Not yet but.. (Score:5, Insightful)
I think it's more like Apple asking, "Hey we've come up with all this new interface stuff that people have really loved, how can we take some of what we've learned and use it to make our other products more similar?"
The Mac is finally starting to make some inroads on Windows market share, Apple makes the vast majority of their revenue off of selling hardware, and they're selling record numbers of their computers, all with profit margins that any other computer manufacturer would kill for. Why would they be so eager to even risk stomping on all of that momentum in exchange for a 30% cut of a bunch of 99 cent apps?
It would destroy the platform that developers use to make apps for iOS, it would alienate all of the big software companies that make mac software, and it would turn the technical community entirely against them. I don't think they're that stupid.
This. (Score:5, Insightful)
The chicken-little fear of OSX becoming "closed" ignores the reality: Macs have barely 10% marketshare, Cross-platform development is common and well understood these days, and if power users (who act as system evangelists) start abandoning OSX, Apple stands to lose LOTS of money.
The moment it becomes even difficult to do my daily job on a Mac is the day I go to Linux permanently... it's quite easy and usable today, but the Mac is more usable and affords me (with VMWare) the best OS for development for now.
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Au contraire, Apple has over 20% of all PC sales now
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The Flash and Java exclusion timings
Stopping to maintain their own versions of this is not even remotely the same as excluding them. Anyone who currently has Java and Flash on their Mac will still be able to use it.
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They're excluded from the App Store, as are any apps built using them. Perhaps you missed that.
"Ubuntu's Apt"? (Score:5, Funny)
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.
Man, this "apt" business sounds amazing. Wouldn't it be great if Debian had something like this? Ubuntu should definitely contribute this "apt" upstream.
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If you were given a free trip into the past you could fix it so that his "Ubuntu's Apt" statement would be correct.
Apt is from Debian. (Score:2, Informative)
Lets not let the tail wag the dog. APT was created on and used initially with Debian.
It's been adapted for numerous other platforms.... including to the iPhone/iPod Touch. It's what Cydia uses.
Fink also uses it for portions of package management.
Re:Apt is from Debian. (Score:5, Funny)
Lets not let the tail wag the dog. APT was created on and used initially with Debian.
The distro that makes a no-frills version of Ubuntu? Props to them for sending it upstream.
Launchpad not limited to App Store (Score:5, Insightful)
I have not seen any evidence that the Launchpad is limited ONLY to apps from the Mac App Store. What the Apple site says is that apps from the store are automatically added to Launchpad. That's not the same thing as saying "only" store apps are added to Launchpad. In fact what it says is "Your open windows fade away, replaced by an elegant, full-screen display of all the apps on your Mac." All the apps. (If there's a statement I'm not aware, please post a link...)
Including the apps in the update tool might be useful, but most apps on my Mac check for updates themselves when I start them. It's not like I have to remember to go out and check the Firefox or Adobe sites for patches myself.
Incidentally (Score:2, Funny)
Apple using logo of Belgian Neo-Nazi party [gizmodo.com]
Wow (Score:2)
If this is true and they do decide to make the Launchpad available only to Mac App Store apps, Redmond shall be very pleased. Very pleased, indeed.
Funny stuff, Mr. Jobs (Score:5, Insightful)
Longtime Apple developer Dave Winer was also concerned, tweeting during Apple's presentation 'Is this the end of the Mac as an open platform?'
If Apple is restricting operating system features to whitelisted applications, then it is, by definition, no longer an open platform. There are degrees of openness, of course, but given Apple's approach to the iPhone, my guess is that the Mac will eventually become a similar prison.
The news also prompted developer Anil Dash to call for an open alternative to the Mac App Store."
Rather, pick an open alternative to Apple. It's truly remarkable that Steve Jobs is finally starting to make Microsoft look good. And this comes at a time when Windows is, actually, looking halfway decent and MacOS is starting to look a little dated. If Ballmer has half a brain he'll exploit this to the max.
I guess Apple is expecting the same mindset that made the iPod and iPhone so phenomenally successful to carry over into the personal computer world. Time will tell, but truthfully I don't think much of the bulk of Macintosh users' hold on reality, so chances are, Jobs is going to be right once again. Enough people will stand for this that it will make a metric fuckton of money. That depresses me, somehow.
The amazing thing to me, speaking as someone who was in the ground floor of the personal computer revolution, and still has an Apple ][ Standard with the Integer ROM sitting on a shelf somewhere, is that it is Apple Computer that is pulling this crap on its users. It's the kind of thing that one would more reasonably have expected from the likes of the old IBM, or even MIcrosoft. But no, it comes from the company that once stood for freedom in computing.
No thanks. You've fallen a looong way, Mr. Jobs. What little respect I once had for you just jumped out the window.
In a world of does, Mac doesn't. How's that for a marketing tagline?
Re:Funny stuff, Mr. Jobs (Score:4, Interesting)
If Apple is restricting operating system features to whitelisted applications, then it is, by definition, no longer an open platform. There are degrees of openness, of course, but given Apple's approach to the iPhone, my guess is that the Mac will eventually become a similar prison.
The logical problem to your conclusion is the 'if' and 'only' parts. So far, it appears that Apple is launching an additional distribution channel for applications, and there is no evidence that Apple will restrict applications to only this channel. Like today you can get music from iTunes, CDs, Amazon, etc. you will be able to get applications from retail, downloads, etc.
Re:Funny stuff, Mr. Jobs (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm a little confused how you can possibly say there is no evidence when the iPhone is so locked down. Apple has proven that it is not above lockdown and they tout loud and clear that it is the best way to operate and you are seriously saying their is no evidence? Given the number of people worried about and the press it's gotten you would think Apple would put out a clear mission statement stating that they don't intend to lock down the platform, except that is exactly what they want to do.
Apple from the beginning of iOS said that it was going to be locked down and they gave no ambiguity about it. They presented the Mac App Store as new distribution channel.
Even today CIFS support in OS X is atrocious due to bad default options designed specifically to hinder interoperation with Microsoft.
Maybe that has to do with MS never publishing the entire spec until recently and Apple (as well as Samba team) having to guess what the protocol entailed?
Apple has never liked to play with others and it's entirely unsurprising that they would seek to lock down their platform. The timing of it is unknown as this point but it's pretty inevitable given all the rhetoric about walled gardens coming straight from Apple.
Yes, how they bought CUPS and destroyed it. How they refused to release WebKit as open source. How they keep Grand Central Dispatch and Bonjour to themselves. Yes Apple doesn't play well with others like open source.
They won't do it right away as it would be suicide. Look at AppleTV or any of Apple's new product, open they are not. Of course Apple can shift directions but right now they are on a clear path to walled gardens everywhere which will be good for some and bad for others. Fortunately there are plenty of valid alternatives.
Since when has AppleTV been open? It has always been closed. So none of the new Apple products are open? All their recent laptop and desktop refreshes have been closed?
Re:Funny stuff, Mr. Jobs (Score:5, Insightful)
The article is enormous FUD of the highest order.
There is absolutely no evidence that LaunchPad is restricted to App Store apps only - in fact, the inference from Apple's literature is quite the opposite. However, no one can actually confirm one way or the other.
Drawing conclusions on this evidence is... questionable.
Also, it should surprise no one that autoupdating from an Apple-hosted repository would perhaps be a service that costs money to run (thus, if you want in [as a developer], you need to pay for it).
"developer Anil Dash"???? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Open alternative? (Score:4, Insightful)
The news also prompted developer Anil Dash to call for an open alternative to the Mac App Store.
Wow, what an incredible idea. You mean, like, promoting your app and selling it on your own so that anyone can download it? Like we've been doing for years?
Re: (Score:2)
Yep. Then users can put it in a directory off to the side instead of in /bin with all the other first-class programs that just show up for other users when new accounts are created.
Jobs didn't invent software bigotry, but he's going to catch heat for trying to get something out of it.
There's already an alternative to Mac app store... (Score:4, Insightful)
There's already an alternative to the Mac app store - it's called the internet.
Did author read any details of the App store? (Score:5, Insightful)
My understanding that an Apple announced an additional distribution channel using the Mac App store. Apple was not replacing the existing methods of retail, online, etc. Also Apple is not introducing any DRM to prevent installation. He also doesn't understand existing distribution systems today.
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, a Linux based operating system. Ubuntu's "Apt" (Advanced Packaging Tool) lets users install, update and remove software of their choosing with a single command.
So the author expects that somehow that apps not submitted to Apple will appear magically appear for auto-update? In the case of Ubuntu, there is a system to do handle updates. However, any code installed outside of the system (i.e. tarball or gzip) does not get auto-updated within the system.
Re:Did author read any details of the App store? (Score:4, Insightful)
So the author expects that somehow that apps not submitted to Apple will appear magically appear for auto-update? In the case of Ubuntu, there is a system to do handle updates. However, any code installed outside of the system (i.e. tarball or gzip) does not get auto-updated within the system.
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. Applications from those repositories will be automatically upgraded on equal terms with the distribution's own applications.
Not for individuals or small businesses (Score:5, Informative)
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.
Re:Did author read any details of the App store? (Score:5, Informative)
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.
Open Alternative to the Mac App Store (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Open Alternative to the Mac App Store (Score:5, Informative)
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.
Cornell LaunchPad (Score:3, Interesting)
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.
And guess what Cornell's application updater/downloader/launcher system is called? Yup, "LaunchPad". Since 1993.
Oh, bullshit. (Score:5, Insightful)
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
Where exactly does it say that no apps except those bought from the App Store will be available in the Launchpad? Doesn't say that on Apple's page, and the way it's written doesn't even imply it, unless you're out looking for something to post an anti-Apple screed.
the second is the ability to update apps to new versions with one click.
Yeah, because no Mac applications currently have that ability. Oh, unless you count the ~750 listed here [iusethis.com], that use Sparkle [andymatuschak.org].
~Philly
fud FUD fud FUD fud FUD fud FUD (Score:5, Insightful)
I know, I know, word meanings change, languages devolve over time....blah de blah. Still, I miss the days when English was a tool of subtlety and precision.
signed - Wistful Grammar Nazi.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
I remember when "FUD" didn't mean anything, and we used subtle and precise words to explain things rather than catchphrases. :-)
Here's the thing (Score:3, Informative)
I don't know of they are moving to complete lockdown, only the top at Apple knows. But what I do now is that:
a) Apple has screwed developer before
b) Apple makes a ton of money with the iPad/iPhone model of walled garden.
c) Jobs likes to take a boil the frog method in marketing by getting a little wedge towards what he wants, and when it's shown to be valuable, move even farther. He did it with the iPod, he did it with iTunes, he did it with the iPhone.
So ti's not hysteria to think he might be moving towards a completely locked down system. It doesn't mean they are or aren't moving that way.
This will wipe out developers and hurt Apple (Score:4, Insightful)
This kind of panic has happened before. I don't understand why so many people freak out any time Apple gets serious about distribution.
Apple's decision to open its own retail stores nearly a decade ago was attacked as a move that would destroy Apple's retail presence and piss off consumers. One clever analyst told MacWorld [macworld.com]: "It's another case of Apple being Jobs driven and not consumer driven." Guys like him got it completely backwards. Customers didn't actually enjoy having to look all over the place to find Apple products. Apple customers benefited from the stores. Developers benefited. Apple benefited.
A few years later, Apple created the App Store. It was widely derided as being overly restrictive for developers. There were a lot of statements about how it would strangle the platform. We all know how that turned out.
As for Winer, I think he'd rather Apple stick with the Mac [scripting.com] as the future of the company. That ain't gonna happen. Consumers have voted with their wallets. They want an easier experience all the way 'round, from finding apps to purchasing and using them, and Apple is providing that. The company has become a global powerhouse over the last few years by giving people what they want; developers can either get on board with that and find ways to profit, or they can develop on other platforms.
There's a fair amount of snarkiness in the tech community about all those fools in the business world, about all the dinosaurs who can't keep up with the times, but when it comes right down to it, we're often just as attached to the status quo, and just as slow to react.
Good Lord, people, get hold of yourselves... (Score:5, Insightful)
Good Lord, people, get hold of yourselves...
Only one problem with this complete nonsense about the platform becoming "locked down" with the creation of the Mac App Store. It's a complete load of crap. The "Mac" and Mac OS X is and will continue to be a general purpose computer system, where you will _always_ be able to install software from any site on the web or install from any boxed CD or DVD or USB stick. The Mac App Store is a brilliant piece of marketing strategy that the Mac users will absolutely adore from day one. When it is in place Apple will have finally succeeded in getting the general public to use something that the Unix/Linux world has been madly barking about for decades: a nearly system-wide package management system. Only Apple will have managed to create a package management system that commercial entities will actually "buy into", so to speak, which has been the major flaw in the package management systems in the Unix/Linux world for so very long. Once again, without even breaking a sweat, Apple is about to something we wish we'd been able to do for the last couple of decades.
Mac OS X has had a sort of package management system (which works very well, BTW) for system updates for... well pretty much forever. Since its inception, I believe. But now, with a Mac App Store, users will have a single source to browse for and download both free and commercial software, have it _automatically_ install itself in the proper location with a single click*, and then keep dozens upon dozens of large and small apps completely up to date with a system-wide single-click update mechanism. Users will know that software from the Mac App Store has been vetted as being safe, having a certain quality level and not being completely pointless. Currently, most Mac applications are pretty smart about telling you there is an update available, and many of them will do a single-click download and update without much fuss. But this normally only happens when you run the app. Unfortunately, when you're starting an app it's usually because you want to use it, so it's kind of a pain to be constantly having one individual app after another telling you there is an update available. With the Mac App Store the users will have a central place to look for and receive notices of application updates, and a single button that will download and apply all relevant updates.
The moment the Mac App Store was revealed I immediately saw that it would change the way the typical Mac user will manage software on their computer, and everyone else will once again be stuck trying to cobble something together and catch up. Microsoft will desperately attempt to have something similar in place in the next version of Windows. Of course they will fail horribly, as usual. What will happen is that the Mac platform will continue to accelerate and gain more and more users on into the foreseeable future, because Apple is completely boxing in all market demographics. Between the iPhone, the iPad and now a new mind-bogglingly simple to use Mac platform, the PC world is going to be in serious trouble. Mark my words. Remember, the paying market could not care less about the kinds of "openness" we're always worrying about here on /. They want stuff that's as easy to use as their TV, and Apple is the only one giving them what they want.
Trust me folks, this is going to be _big_. The few developers who complain that the Mac App Store is too tightly controlled and refuse to use it will unfortunately be completely drowned out by the thundering horde who will be rushing to use it and showering praise on it for the next decade. Those of us "in the know" will continue to download apps from the general internet and use our general purpose computers as general purpose computers. That simply won't change. If it does change somewhere down the line, there's always Linux. Ten years from now I'm sure Linux will be kicking some major ass and still be just as open as ever. And even if the Mac platform keeps growing phenomenally the way it h
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Jobs is turning Apple into the very thing he railed against in the early 80s. The hypocrisy is astounding.
Well, then again Jobs is an asshole. He was an asshole in the seventies, a bigger asshole in the 80's growing by leaps and bounds through the nineties and now he's completely unmanageable. But, has more money. A LOT more money. That's what makes me nervous, he has the power to do a lot of damage.
Re: (Score:2)
Why did Ubuntu get the credit for using this "open system" you speak of. Why not instead give credit to the other package managers that actually don't suck.
Because Ubuntu is about the highest-profile Linux distro out there right now. People I know who barely grasp the idea there is operating system other than Windows, or (if pressed) the Macintosh, seem to equate Ubuntu with Linux. Mention Mandriva, Opensuse, Mepis, etc. to these people, and they go "What?"
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
My dollars. My rules.
I think I bought a discount iPod nano, once. It melted itself. And it was hard to copy music to. Enough of that.
No dollars for Steve.
Re:Their platform, their rules. (Score:4, Insightful)
Who said it's a surprise? Why does everyone on slashdot think you can only criticize things you're surprised at? I just don't get it.
"Open platform" defined (Score:4, Informative)
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 [wikipedia.org] 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.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Except that of those only Solaris, HP/UX and AIX are actually "real Unix". And OSX is a BSD.
-uso.
OS X has a XNU kernel which is a blend of the Mach kernel and some BSD code. It is not strictly a BSD. It also ships with System V branch UNIX code and some GNU userland tools as well as Apple developed tools. OS X is a commercial UNIX both in the trademark sense and that it contains some commercial UNIX code.