Were n’t the olden days a dogfight ? Say you needed the newest Call of Duty game for your Mac . You ’d have to travel to a brick - and - mortar retail store and look through packages on memory board shelf to find it . Not in stock ? Then you ’d have to grease one’s palms it from an on-line storefront and either ride through a lengthy download and manual installation process or await for a disk to be delivered – in seven to 10 business enterprise day .
Enter the Mac App Store . Launched in January 2011 , it permit Mac users to research and download free or paid apps , right from their computer , with just a few clicks . As of August 2011 , the Mac App Store was available in 90 area and contained 21 different categories with hundred of app lay out from speech communication flashcards to yoga routine .
The Mac App Store is preinstalled on Macs sold with OS X Lion ( version 10.7 ) operating systems . just look for the Mac App Store ikon , which is a blue circle with a white precis and an " A " in the midsection .
If your Mac is running an olderoperating system , you may still be able-bodied to download the Mac App Store . The Mac App Store is compatible with OS X Snow Leopard ( version 10.6 ) and useable for free download when you raise to OS X Lion . To get the Mac App Store , click the Apple ikon at the top left of the projection screen , then choose " software package update . " After a dialog boxful appears , click the " install " clit . When the installation is complete , you will need to restart the Mac and launch the Mac App Store from the icon in your electronic computer ’s sorrel .
The Mac App Store is similar in appearance and mapping to the already - existing App Store oniPhonesandiPads . To launch the computer memory on a figurer , sink in the Mac App Store icon on the computer ’s background wharf . After the Mac App Store unfold , substance abuser can search for apps by name or keyword , browse for apps by category , see " new and noteworthy " apps or check out staff favourite .
The Mac App Store is modeled after other Mac apps with built - in leverage utilities , likeiTunesand iBooks , through which more than 15 billion songs and 130 million books had been purchased as of June 2011 [ source : Porten ] .
Read on to learn about a few primal improvements that OS X Lion made to the Mac App Store .
Tips for Using the Mac App Store
Apple ’s Lion ( v10.7)operating system of rules , which was released in July 2011 , brought some notable improvements to Mac App Store , allowing users to make in - program purchases and receive button telling and tally an incremental update organization that discover , downloads and installs only the file that involve update , make the process faster [ seed : Porten ] . However , the Mac App Store does n’t acknowledge update for a computer ’s existing software apps ; you ’ll need to re - buy the apps from the Mac App Store to get automatonlike free updates for the apps [ reference : Gordon ] .
Now that download and updating apps is an alone electronic procedure that does n’t require disks , publicity textile and shipping , there ’s less of an environmental impact . Additionally , many Mac apps sell via phonograph record or download had limited permit that allowed them only to be mesh on a single computer . The main direction around this confinement was to purchase a pricey mathematical group license . Because the Mac App Store keeps racecourse of preceding purchases , users can now instal apps on every Mac they own and download them again as necessary . This is especially helpful for people who buy a new Mac and need to add software program that they ’ve already purchase [ source : Apple ] .
Ever try out to open a file and distinguish you do n’t have the software it require ? On Macs with entree to the Mac App Store , a dialog box will open up and offer to search the Mac App Store for a programme that will spread it . If bump , you’re able to corrupt the app like a shot [ germ : Luoma ] .
The Mac App Store offers costless apps , as well as paid . On average , you’re able to expect to pay between $ 15 and $ 80 for an app [ beginning : Macworld ] . However , there ’s at least one app – the iRa Pro mobile video surveillance app – that cost as much as $ 899.99 .
What ’s the process for buying this – or any – app ? On the next pageboy , we tender a step - by - stone’s throw guide .
Mac App Store Guidelines
Apple ’s hardware and software program is part of a closed system that makes it difficult – and sometimes impossible – to migrate Mac - aboriginal components and programs toPCs . However , this closed system intend that Apple ironware and software program are built to work together across Apple ’s product lines . The Mac App Store bid a probability for third - company developer to make and sell apps to all Mac users .
Developers canregister for freewith Apple to download a developer outfit , peruse guidelines , read clause and unite with other developer . When an app is perfect , it can be relegate for approval along with an picture and keyword description [ source : Lewis ] .
Third party developers compensate an annual $ 99 subscription fee to Apple , but being part of an hearing - full-bodied market place mean they can avoid spend money on marketing and hosting . Developers position their own prices for apps and do n’t need to compensate credit visiting card fee for purchases because Apple process the cards and pay the 2 - per centum to 4 - percentage fee . Of the retail price , Apple keeps 30 percent and the developer receives 70 per centum [ source : Evans ] .
The purchase unconscious process is a relatively simple one on the users ' end . Launch the Mac App Store , select an app and click the cost icon ( it will either say " innocent " or show the purchase monetary value ) . Then you will be prompted again with an icon that says " buy app , " followed by a dialog corner that requires your Apple ID and watchword to make out your leverage . you may pay off using a acknowledgment or debit card , an iTunes card or aPaypalaccount . The app will begin download now and will be installed in your computer ’s Applications folder [ source : Macworld ] .
If you ’d like to know more about an app before you buy it , you’re able to scroll through multiple screen shots . However , visitation or presentation versions are n’t available , so you may have to rely on the app ’s user reviews to find out how the app performs . Or you could conduct enquiry on other sites to find more accusative opinions . The Apple Mac Store does n’t vet its review , so the opinions tender depart levels of helpfulness .
The Mac App Store offers musical style family , as well a " novel and noteworthy " section that boast 12 apps on the Mac App Store ’s launch Thomas Nelson Page and a aggregate of 40 apps under the class ’s own tab . These apps are chosen by Apple ; there are n’t any release guidelines for choice , although developer speculate it has to do with having an appealing icon and price peak [ source : Touch Arcade ] .
While the Mac App Store continues to grow , both in identification number of apps and users , it seems Apple is plough its attention to some of its other twist . A majoriPhonehardware and software revamp is in the works , schedule for a 2012 release [ source : Luk ] . It ’s expect to include a young way to consign the earpiece . If it does switch to a cable - free charging method , that may in turn influence a few positive changes in next Mac figurer , just as the iPhone ’s App Store regulate the Mac App Store .
