“I was pretty interested as a consumer when Apple introduced the Mac App Store. Reading through Apple’s developer guidelines, one of the first things I noticed was that apps can’t be designed with any sort of license key,” Michael Gartenberg writes for Macworld. “None. Nada. Zero. And when you read the Mac App Store terms of use, you discover that consumers are allowed to install the software they purchase on as many computers as they own and use. If it’s tied to your iTunes account, it’s legit.”
Gartenberg writes, “Apple’s approach is simple. It’s an honor thing. The company believes that, given the choice, people will do the right thing. It also understands that anti-piracy techniques don’t stop pirates, but they do get in the way of honest users… It’s an honor thing. And that’s a good thing.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Not treating customers as criminals. Imagine that.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “krquet” for the heads up.]
Of course, the no license-key thing pretty much precludes the “try before you buy” model that’s been common in software for over a decade now. The main reason I haven’t bought anything on the Mac App Store yet is that my limit on how much I’ll spend on an app I have to buy before installing is pretty low. I don’t care how many good reviews an app gets, I’m not laying out $30+ for it unless I can kick the tires first.
If I’m wrong about this, if there is some way to incorporate the shareware model into the Mac App Store, please let me know, because browsing around, I haven’t seen it. (In the pre in-App-purchase era of the iTunes App Store, developers got around this by offering free “lite” versions of Apps. I don’t see this happening in the Mac App Store.)
——RM
Try before you buy can still be an option offered directly from the developer’s website, as is the option to purchase direct from the developed or other resale channels.
breeze has got that part right. Just go to the developer’s site if you want a free trial. Until Apple comes up with a better way, that’s the only option at this point.
Also, there will never be any “lite” versions of apps in the Mac App Store, they are explicitly banned in the store rules. Because Mac applications are generally much larger, Apple does not want to pay to host duplicate versions with artificial limitations.
@LordRobin- In a world full of people like you software…or anything else for that matter…wouldn’t exist! Enjoy your island.
Be nice, mdmac!
— From another doctor.
I suppose you bought your last car without taking a test drive. :rolleyes:
——RM
I think the terms and conditions will evolve like the iOS Store did.
Apple is already allowing promo codes for the Mac Store, which they didn’t allow at first and the iOS Store didn’t allow at first either.
I’d say most of them are.
Apple gives us the benefit of the doubt, rather than treating us as though we are thieves. This frees Apple to focus upon creating innovative, super high-quality products rather than chasing after the few who abuse EULAs.
Thank you, Steve Jobs and the entire Apple team!
I hope that giving the benefit of the doubt proves to be the correct route to go. I’d like to believe that the vast majority of people will do the right thing BECAUSE it’s the right thing to do, even if they think they can get away with it.
I believe the vast majority of people opt to take the high road when given the chance.
OK, this is partially true, but it’s also Apple trusting in our selfishness. Say a friend says, “dude, I’m broke. Can you loan me your copy of Aperture?” I might say sure, but when he comes back and says “I also need your iTunes account name and password (which is connected to my credit card”, well, I’m definitely not loaning any copies out when I have to do that.
So not treating customers like criminals is appropriate, but they’re also depending on us looking out for our own best interest, which is the ideal way to get people to be honest!
So…..you don’t trust your “friends”?
I trust my friends to pay me back if I loan money to them in times of need. That doesn’t mean I give them my credit card info, and put myself in a position where my credit rating can be ruined by them, even accidentally.
Now, Apple’s sharing ability for music and apps isn’t quite that bad–but giving out login and password is still indirect access to your CC, it’s just limited to purchases to a single company.
One of the big rules of friendship is to not let money become an issue between you. Granting them (indirect) access to your credit card can easily ruin things down the road.
Fortunately, iTunes allows you to simply copy an app (and videos?) and do a 1-time authorization (in person, or over a secure screenshare). Presumably Mac apps are the same.
I suppose another way is to top up your account with iTunes money cards and don’t save your CC info in your Apple account.
I reckon you’re right. When I bought Office I passed it and the key on to anyone who wanted it (little bit of IT-terrorism there – makes the old man feel young again). This way I’m giving what I buy to no-one for the reasons you state. Mind you another reason is that these are fair prices, not blackmailing, exhorbitant robbery.
Compare this to Adobe’s efforts an untold fortunes, spent over the years solely on copy protection schemes instead of real software improvements and meaningful upgrades…
Right you are. I can’t stomach mud, straw, and manure.
Indeed – Adobe have a lot to answer for!
That is great news for Microsoft’s R&D group. They will only need to buy one time for their group to use as they develop their new software products. No more copying hassles. Just download it to the other computers.
Why not a low cost or no cost download with an in-app buy approach to go from limited functionality to full functionality?
It feels nice to be trusted!
I’m a mac user and I’m not honest…!
I <3 Mac App Store.
Perhaps this explains why there aren’t any Microsoft apps in the app store…
I think you meant Adobe.
No, I mean Microsoft Office. They use keys. Can you see Micro$oft allowing the sale of their software without keys?
Load it on any computer you own, as long as it is one of five linked to your iTunes acct. Seems to me like it is just a better mousetrap.
The problem I have is that my other computer is at work where they recently installed something on the internet connection to block secure connections to specific sites. I can’t log into the App Store (or Evernote, or iTunes, or Dropbox, or…).
There may not be a “license key.” However, I believe there is a mechanism that prevents copying the application file to “any” computer. Well, you can copy the file, but the app will only run on computers registered to the purchaser’s Apple ID. So it’s NOT UNprotected; it’s protected in a way that is mostly invisible to honest people.
Apple is smart to take this approach. It sells more hardware if the user knows they don’t have to re-provision each additional computer they own with the software they use.
As an individual, I’m unlikely to be using a particular app on two machines at the same time. In theory, I could de-install and re-install as I switched machines throughout the day, say laptop and desk top, or lap top I carry around and the bigger one I leave at home most of the time. Or take iWork off of my machine and install it on the kids when they need to do homework.
This is so much smarter of an approach. Typical Apple.
But there is a limit. Five.
Not sure where you are getting the “5 computer limit” from. This is from the App Store FAQ:
“Can I use apps from the Mac App Store on more than one computer?
Apps from the Mac App Store may be used on any Macs that you own or control for your personal use.”
See for yourself:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4461
I think the “5” may be a misunderstanding, because that’s the max number of computers that can be associated with an iTunes Store account. The Mac App Store is not directly related to the iTunes Store. The Mac App Store uses an “Apple ID,” which does not have to be the same one used for an iTunes Store account (although it can be).
Also remember the app file is probably tagged with your ID just like iTunes songs. So even if someone circumvents the 5 machine limit, Apple could identify the original source for pirated software.
They won’t use this information unless someone starts trying to make a business out of selling pirated software. i.e. like the guy in Florida a few weeks back.
Part of the iTunes and App Stores’ appeal is the ease of use for someone to browse, buy and download the software they need. Overall this is much easier than looking for pirate software online.
I am not a saint…but Apple can trust me. I may “borrow” a piece of software to see if it does what I want, and if it does…I buy it…if it doesn’t I toss it. There are still software packages that do not have a 30 day trial.
revolutionary? please. you don’t seem to know what is revolutionary. this kind of online stores have already started long time ago. Apple only did integrate into their OS. that’s all. app store has no special feature like itunes. I don’t know what this guys talks about. lives under the rock or something? plus, there are already so many people using online app stores. because apple does something? it is revolutionary? please, you need to recheck the definition of the word.
oh, no matter how Apple tried to smack down piracy, you can’t stop it. you think that you built perfect platform, huh? well, time will tell you. mac app store is not safe. nowadays, even console games are easily hacked. then you can download it free with crack key. even more, mac software is even more vulnerable than windows base apps. in terms of security, unfortunately mas os x is the worst example. it’s only matter of time. market share is only less than 10% or similar, that’s why hackers are still not interesting in mac yet. when you use mac, it’s not totally safe someday. be ready.
It’s not because App Store customers are any more honest. It’s because things are so cheap over there. Few are going to bother to pirate to save one to five bucks.
Check out the piracy schemes for protecting $3000 CAD programs. Some of them use barriers as formidable as the aliens on Predator that squirt acid for blood.
So wait, does this mean that there’s no DRM involved in the Mac App store? Because Ive been wondering though why I haven’t seen any GNU applications like VLC on the Mac App store, and know they’re excluded from the iOS store due to the DRM it employs
I really hate this WordPress.com bar btw.
Agreed. I realy hate this new comment system. Anyone can claim and impersonate the great ZuneTang. Disappointment.
How is that? Let’s see… I should think that my e-mail address, which won’t match yours, might prevent that. But LORDY -LORDY -LORDY, it didn’t here I am, also the great ZuneTang. (Bum).