macOS AppStore Questions

[HiRez]

1. Will there be any way to give volume license discounts?

2. Will there be any way to set up payment through the AppStore for a subscription model (GPS navigation software might use this, for example, where you get updated maps).

3. How does the updating work? You just upload a new version and each current user gets a notification on their iPhone. With the new push notification service this should be possible.

4. Is there an Apple approval process (delay) for each update, or can I just upload and it's available?

5. How easy is it to change the price of an app? Will I be able to upload beta versions for free to have people test them, and then start charging at full release? Or must I use the Ad Hoc model for beta testing, with its limitation of only 100 users?

6. Is there a facility for demo mode where the user downloads the full version and gets an unlocking code when they decide to pay? Or would you just post a separate crippled demo version?

7. Will there be links to other products by the same developer? What about links for "other users also downloaded..." like on the iTunes store and Amazon? Ratings and user reviews?

8. Why not an AppStore for desktop Mac apps as well?

 

[liptonlover]

1. I suppose by just manually changing the price for a certain amount of time, then changing it back. Just like other online app stores I'm sure it's updatable.

2. I don't know for sure, but it makes sense to be able to.

3. Most apps have to check to see if they've been updated, it's not something the store front usually deals with, but the programmer if they want

4. There was a lot of discussion about this, apple has to approve your app before it gets put up. They say this is to keep bad stuff off the iphone and to make sure damaging apps don't get in but some people are saying it's also so they can prevent competitors from making an app.

5. Again, no doubt you can update your listings. If you can't, simply put up the free beta, and when you make the finished product put it up as a new application, for sale.

6. Someone mentioned this at some point... I don't really know much about creating unlock keys, I just do the new file upon purchasing method. But I believe doing an unlockable key will be an option.

7. That might be a little hard given the smaller screen, but I'm sure they will if they can. Remember this isn't just a core, basic app store. It's a full featured apple made application and it will be made easy to use.

8. One word: Itunes. I'm 99% positive It was mentioned on one of my podcasts, twit or macbreak maybe. If you don't want to buy directly on your device or don't have wifi but do have a hard wire connection, you can buy through Itunes.

 

[HiRez]

1. I suppose by just manually changing the price for a certain amount of time, then changing it back. Just like other online app stores I'm sure it's updatable.

But I can only change the price globally for all users, right? I'd want the ability to let someone purchase 1 copy for $10, 10 copies for $8 each, or 100 copies for $5 each, and soforth. In other words, developer-selectable ranges of volume pricing. But, I don't know how they'd handle the DRM in this kind of case. Maybe you'd have to use the enterprise app store instead, I guess.

4. There was a lot of discussion about this, apple has to approve your app before it gets put up. They say this is to keep bad stuff off the iphone and to make sure damaging apps don't get in but some people are saying it's also so they can prevent competitors from making an app.

I realize applications must be approved, but does each additional update also need to be approved, delayed the update for an indeterminate time? What if there's a critical bug that needs an immediate update? I know, I know..."Don't ship critical bugs".

8. One word: Itunes. I'm 99% positive It was mentioned on one of my podcasts, twit or macbreak maybe. If you don't want to buy directly on your device or don't have wifi but do have a hard wire connection, you can buy through Itunes.

I'm actually wondering about selling Mac desktop applications through an AppStore, not an AppStore desktop client.

 

[admanimal]

4. Is there an Apple approval process (delay) for each update, or can I just upload and it's available?

8. Why not an AppStore for desktop Mac apps as well?

4. I am almost sure there will be a delay. I would suspect the way it will work is that your changes appear the day after they are submitted, or however often they decide to update the store.

8. It costs Apple a lot of money to run the store; with larger desktop apps, the costs are only going to increase and most developers who are used to getting (close to) 100% of their profits aren't going to like sharing it. It is easier to just distribute desktop apps over the web.

 

[liptonlover]

ok I didn't understand the question sorry

Most stores don't have to approve updates in my experience, but it does make sense to approve those as well because really an update is putting up a new listing. You could get some little app approved, then put something harmful or bad up as an update.

Sorry read the question wrong

 

[Greencardman]

Apple Insider has some good info and a sneak peek.

 

[Sijmen]

Apple Insider has some good info and a sneak peek.

Awesome!

I like the pricing system. It's fair to non-US currencies.

 

[liptonlover]

idk... they may try slipping in a little profit while doing the calculations.

 

[HiRez]

ok I didn't understand the question sorry

No problem!

Apple Insider has some good info and a sneak peek.

Thanks for the link, that answers a lot of my questions. Don't see anything about volume licenses or subscription though (I don't personally have anything requiring such right now, but I imagine some people will want that *cough*iWoW*cough*).

 

[Greencardman]

liptonlover - any profit Apple gets the developer also gets. More in fact Although I would say its more a currency exchange thing, since they're changing all the time. I'm working on a post (not likely to be up for a while though) on exchange rates and how it would affect your profit when you sell an App. Basically, if a currency rises dramatically, you could make more money by focusing your marketing towards currencies that have risen since those calculations went into effect.

 

[Sijmen]

Also, in some (or many? don't know) countries the tax is included in the retail prices.