MacNN reports, “At the iTunes App Store, it’s common practice for developers to release ‘Lite’ versions of apps in order to attract buyers. Apple bears the financial burden of hosting the software, however, and may not be willing to extend such courtesy for much larger files.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The Mac App Store’s main selling point for developers is that it’ll be the world’s largest store for Mac applications and it will quickly become the place where most Mac users shop for and buy software. If you develop and sell Mac apps, you need to be in Apple’s Mac App Store. Developers can still easily direct Mac App Store shoppers to their websites to download trials, demos or beta apps.
Get the demo in the Mac App Store, purchase it through the developer’s website.
I think this basically guarantees I will never be using the mac app store. If I have to go the main developer’s website to download trials and betas, then I might as well buy the full version straight off their website… I think the least apple could do, is put links to trial versions right in the app description if trials are available, so they simplify the process of clicking the link and downloading the latest trial without hunting for it, or not realizing one was available…
You mean the opposite of what you wrote — demo through the devs site and purchase through the app store.
But, why give Apple 30% of the sale?
This is really lame I mean please…
Honestly, how many of you slept with your partner/spouse before moving in?
Exactly.
On the one hand it is good that Apple is not thinking of preventing people from loading apps outside the app store.
But on the other hand, why would you buy something through the app store when you can directly buy it from the dev.?
Well, developers might want to sell apps through the app store because of the built in DRM and auto upgrade options. That could easily offset the 30% they hand over to Apple.
Then Apple better come up with a refund policy, unless everything is going to cost $1.99
I can see it now, a hot chic in a bar wearing a Try Before You Buy T-shirt.
Like that’s going to happen.
Guys, on the other hand, would buy those T-Shirts big time.
Devs will want to be on tha app store for product placement.
Its retail 101.
Anyone here that can’t understand why a dev would “give” apple 30%, probably doesn’t understand why coke and pepsi pay grocery stores for shelf space.
I really see the Mac App Store as more a way of finding software, rather than purchasing it.
So the common user will rely on the user-reviews in the AppStore. And we all know how good those are…
What are you people not comprehending about this? Apple doesn’t want developers putting free demos on the Mac app store pages for them to host and serve, while offering the full product on their own sites and bypassing Apple’s reimbursement system. Apple should advertise and host other people’s software for free?
I’d say if you offer a lite product on the app store you need to offer the full version there too. Otherwise you are a freeloader and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
I are developer the appz and shud is entitled to me teh free Appel hosting! Gimme gimme free now right away azap.
I do not use a credit card on the internet. I do not use a credit card for iTunes. I buy iTunes gift cards and redeem them.
I will buy App Store gift cards and buy software. Developers whose work is not available in a brick and mortar store will get my money, which they probably never have before. Full stop.
This is the correct answer.
Otherwise, you will have what we get on iOS–The only way to get anything is through Apple, without hacking your equipment.
…”I do not use a credit card on the internet. I do not use a credit card for iTunes.”
Do you mind me asking, why? Without an explanation, your statement sounds extremely bizarre.
This seems like a mistake by Apple, one which will be reversed. Apple could simply require that if they host a “lite” version of your software, they also become the exclusive online retailer for the full version.
Why would anyone bother to buy software from Apple if you have to go to the devs site to get the trial version?
Clarity is a disappearing virtue. At least with this policy something is clear. Nowadays when you search for ‘free’ anything on the Internet virtually nothing really ‘free’ shows up. All are trialware, adware, shareware, or muti-tier-commercial-ware. The meaning of “fully featured, completely, and permanently free” software is all but lost.
Why buy through the app store? How about paying once and Apple letting you redownload for free? No more keeping those damned activation keys and paying $10 extra for a backup disc or extended download priviledges?
I wouldn’t want to house or transfer free trials with no guarantee of profit. Let the dev handle trials and alpha/beta versions.
As usual, a lot of dimwit comments by assholes who know how to run things better than Apple. Dorks.