iTunes Store for applications?

[dogtanian]

I've always wondered why Apple hasn't approached developers of popular applications and offered them a 'market' for the sale of their apps.

iTunes would surly be the perfect medium for leveraging the sale of great mac applications and programmes for consumers, such as Comic Life, Delicious Library and Acquisition. All payments and application information would be through iTunes.

Apple could take a small portion of the sale, but hopefully it would boost sales for the developers.

What would be the pros and cons of this exercise should Apple undertake it?

 

[anti-microsoft]

I've always wondered why Apple hasn't approached developers of popular applications and offered them a 'market' for the sale of their apps.

iTunes would surly be the perfect medium for leveraging the sale of great mac applications and programmes for consumers, such as Comic Life, Delicious Library and Acquisition. All payments and application information would be through iTunes.

Apple could take a small portion of the sale, but hopefully it would boost sales for the developers.

What would be the pros and cons of this exercise should Apple undertake it?

Nope not happening, that is a big no no. The iTunes store is for you to buy media and store it in iTunes.

Now you have given me an idea... What about third-party iPhone apps in The iTunes store!

 

[dogtanian]

I think thats fairly logical, iPhone apps and iTunes I mean. I just feel that if they're gonna do that (Almost a done deal in my opinion) they could easily do the same for OS X Apps. Why would they not go there so to speak?

 

[yetanotherdave]

I think thats fairly logical, iPhone apps and iTunes I mean. I just feel that if they're gonna do that (Almost a done deal in my opinion) they could easily do the same for OS X Apps. Why would they not go there so to speak?

Because most developers distribute their content themselves. It gives them control over updating and changing their application, without having to rely on some admin making changes for them. Because they don't feel the need to give apple a slice of their revenue. Because it would offer little to no advantage for them OR the user. Because it would kill shareware/freeware apps (which most are) as both rely on payment/donations after the software has been downloaded, not at point of download, and because there is just no need for apple to have that level of control over the apps that can run on their system.

Just think of the mocking we would dish out at microsoft if they suddenly closed the windows platform and decided that all applications could be purchased only through them!

 

[dogtanian]

Because most developers distribute their content themselves. It gives them control over updating and changing their application, without having to rely on some admin making changes for them. Because they don't feel the need to give apple a slice of their revenue. Because it would offer little to no advantage for them OR the user. Because it would kill shareware/freeware apps (which most are) as both rely on payment/donations after the software has been downloaded, not at point of download, and because there is just no need for apple to have that level of control over the apps that can run on their system.

Just think of the mocking we would dish out at microsoft if they suddenly closed the windows platform and decided that all applications could be purchased only through them!

Well that all certainly makes sense. I think I should mention that in my hypothetical app store through iTunes wouldn't be the only method of distribution! I think the community would have no problem with iTunes selling third party iPhone apps so why not OS X apps too!

I think it would open up these apps to a new audience that wouldn't go looking for them because they didn't know they existed.

 

[yetanotherdave]

Well that all certainly makes sense. I think I should mention that in my hypothetical app store through iTunes wouldn't be the only method of distribution! I think the community would have no problem with iTunes selling third party iPhone apps so why not OS X apps too!

I think it would open up these apps to a new audience that wouldn't go looking for them because they didn't know they existed.

I don't think people mind as much with the itunes store selling ipod/phone apps because it's a closed system. OS X isn't closed, so most developers would be very resistant to this.

Also, if apple starts selling the apps, they may need to support them, which I doubt they'll want to take on.

 

[dogtanian]

The support is something I didn't think of. I expect it would be quite a task to undertake (the whole sales process).