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iOS updates & the App Store

Would you like to see iOS app updates move to the App Store or stay within Settings?

  • Yes

    Votes: 3 30.0%

  • No

    Votes: 7 70.0%
  • Total voters
    10
B

batting1000

macrumors 604
Original poster
Sep 4, 2011
7,464
1,874
Florida
So recently I've been thinking about the Mac App Store and how Apple moved OS updates for the Mac to the Mac App Store when it was released. Now I'm wondering why Apple decided to keep iOS software updates within the Settings app like all other smartphones rather than have them downloadable through the iOS App Store.

I'm curious as to why Apple would put Mac updates in the Mac App Store and not iOS updates in the App Store as well. I know one runs on a computer and one runs on a tablet and phone, but other computer OS's have their updates downloaded through places like the Control Panel and whatnot.

So, why did Apple move software updates for Mac into the Mac App Store, while keeping iOS software updates in the Settings app? They could easily show more information within the App Store, garner reviews like with Mac updates, and even show screenshots of new features like the Mac App Store does.

What are your thoughts and would you like to see iOS app updates move to the App Store or stay within Settings? Curious on what people think about this as I don't really see it mentioned a lot, especially since there's been a lot of convergence of iOS and Mac feature-wise.
 
Last edited:
lordofthereef

lordofthereef

macrumors G5
Nov 29, 2011
13,161
3,721
Boston, MA
If it moved to the appstore, I would certainly want it not to be excluded in the "update all" category, at the very least. For the most part, I am indifferent really.
 
B

batting1000

macrumors 604
Original poster
Sep 4, 2011
7,464
1,874
Florida
lordofthereef said:
If it moved to the appstore, I would certainly want it not to be excluded in the "update all" category, at the very least. For the most part, I am indifferent really.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that would be a must. Otherwise it would be a great way to detail the new features via larger description that what's shown now and with screenshots, etc.
 
lordofthereef

lordofthereef

macrumors G5
Nov 29, 2011
13,161
3,721
Boston, MA
batting1000 said:
Yeah, that would be a must. Otherwise it would be a great way to detail the new features via larger description that what's shown now and with screenshots, etc.
Click to expand...

I just realized there was a typo. It should read that I would want it to be excluded, not what I had written. I wouldn't want to be updating my iOS version automatically when updating apps.
 
B

batting1000

macrumors 604
Original poster
Sep 4, 2011
7,464
1,874
Florida
lordofthereef said:
I just realized there was a typo. It should read that I would want it to be excluded, not what I had written. I wouldn't want to be updating my iOS version automatically when updating apps.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's I figured you meant. What I'm thinking is maybe the update wouldn't appear in the App Store until you went to check for it via Software Updates in Settings. So it wouldn't show in the Updates tab as an update and you'd have to check for an Update in Settings or search it in the App Store (maybe it can be in the Featured tab for awhile then the top charts) to get to the page.
 
Last edited:
I

irDigital0l

Guest
Dec 7, 2010
2,901
0
Don't see the point for iOS.

On Mac kinda because its a paid purchase and they used to sell them with physical copies.
 
B

batting1000

macrumors 604
Original poster
Sep 4, 2011
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irDigital0l said:
Don't see the point for iOS.

On Mac kinda because its a paid purchase and they used to sell them with physical copies.
Click to expand...

How did updates work before the Mac App Store? Could you update from let's say 10.5 to 10.6 (or whatever) on the computer itself or did you have to go out and buy the software? (I don't have a Mac so I'm not really familiar with how it worked before the Mac App Store.)
 
lordofthereef

lordofthereef

macrumors G5
Nov 29, 2011
13,161
3,721
Boston, MA
batting1000 said:
How did updates work before the Mac App Store? Could you update from let's say 10.5 to 10.6 (or whatever) on the computer itself or did you have to go out and buy the software? (I don't have a Mac so I'm not really familiar with how it worked before the Mac App Store.)
Click to expand...

Talking OSX updates? You had to go out and buy a disc to updated. This was as late as Snow leopard. Lion was Apple's first 100% digital download OSX.
 
lordofthereef

lordofthereef

macrumors G5
Nov 29, 2011
13,161
3,721
Boston, MA
batting1000 said:
So you had to go out and buy software each time Apple released a version like 10.x.x? I thought once you bought the 10.x at the store, you got the 10.x.x updates on the computer itself.
Click to expand...

No. You pay for each update in the 10th decimal place. Everything to the right of that was a free update. So yes, MAJOR updates you paid for, and they were on a disc. Really, Apple only does 10.x because they are milking the OSX name. OSX version 12.5 (or whatever variant not 10.x) makes little sense. Their version numbers really truly come after the 10. It will be interesting to see what they do after 10.9. We are getting close!
 
I

irDigital0l

Guest
Dec 7, 2010
2,901
0
batting1000 said:
So you had to go out and buy software each time Apple released a version like 10.x.x? I thought once you bought the 10.x at the store, you got the 10.x.x updates on the computer itself.
Click to expand...

10.x.x are bug fixes...

You asked

Could you update from let's say 10.5 to 10.6 (or whatever) on the computer itself or did you have to go out and buy the software?

10.5 was Leopard and 10.6 was Snow Leopard. You had to go to the Apple Store and buy it.

Yes you had to use a disk.

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&h...7&start=42&ndsp=47&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:42,i:329
 
B

batting1000

macrumors 604
Original poster
Sep 4, 2011
7,464
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Florida
irDigital0l said:
10.x.x are bug fixes...

You asked

Could you update from let's say 10.5 to 10.6 (or whatever) on the computer itself or did you have to go out and buy the software?

10.5 was Leopard and 10.6 was Snow Leopard. You had to go to the Apple Store and buy it.

Yes you had to use a disk.

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&h...7&start=42&ndsp=47&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:42,i:329
Click to expand...

Yeah I know, but then I said "Ah, ok. It was the updates to the major ones that were digital.". When I said "major ones" I was referring to 10.x, didn't really come out right.
 
Ddyracer

Ddyracer

macrumors 68000
Nov 24, 2009
1,786
31
lordofthereef said:
No. You pay for each update in the 10th decimal place. Everything to the right of that was a free update. So yes, MAJOR updates you paid for, and they were on a disc. Really, Apple only does 10.x because they are milking the OSX name. OSX version 12.5 (or whatever variant not 10.x) makes little sense. Their version numbers really truly come after the 10. It will be interesting to see what they do after 10.9. We are getting close!
Click to expand...

I think they might drop the x and call it OS. Also, please no point or numbers like they have now as alias for their main Cat title. Just the appellative mountain lion is good enough.
 
scaredpoet

scaredpoet

macrumors 604
Apr 6, 2007
6,628
360
lordofthereef said:
It will be interesting to see what they do after 10.9. We are getting close!
Click to expand...

10.10. Other software on the mac platform has done this, so there' no reason why they can't.


Or, they might further "merge" the two operating systems and rename it as some iOS variant.
 
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