Comments on: Apple Downloads

By: John C. Welch

John C. Welch — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:52:30 +0000

Terry,

When has open source EVER cared about the non-technical user?

It doesn’t, because Open Source is not *designed* for end users, it’s a development and distribution methodology. It’s about making life better for programmers and distribution mechanisms. In fact, there’s a rather large part of open source that actively disdains anyone without the skills to patch or write code.

Which is why the main users of “pure” open source are…programmers and sysadmins.

By: Terry Alls

Terry Alls — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 21:59:01 +0000

I want to believe Mac has my best interest at heart, but recent disappointments I have experienced with their desire to obscure software problems with Snow Leopard and their distinct lack of customer/product support leads me to conclude they are becoming nothing more than a flash and glitter organization. Rush to market for the cash and let the customer be on their own.
Open sourcing is the way of the future; both they and Micro** are missing the whole point of technology – service for the user.

By: Vlad the Impala

Vlad the Impala — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:55:05 +0000

FYI, the site now sports at least five pages of new updates, between 5/28 and 5/25.

By: Martin Baker

Martin Baker — Wed, 05 May 2010 09:03:24 +0000

The downloads pages just got new products listed yesterday, so hopefully it was a temporary glitch and updates will continue.

By: David W

David W — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:01:16 +0000

And now Apple no longer have design awards for the Mac at WWDC. If anyone needed further proof of how low the Mac ranks at Apple, there it is.

By: Graham

Graham — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:50:46 +0000

Steve Jobs says “Nope” to the idea of an App Store-like store for Mac software:
http://www.macstories.net/news/steve-jobs-no-mac-app-store/

By: Neil Anderson

Neil Anderson — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 16:45:17 +0000

Looking forward to a Mac app store!

By: David W

David W — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:50:50 +0000

I contacted Apple about the matter, through their support links. I finally received a reply from them, to the effect that if I had a problem with WIDGETS, I should try resubmitting them.

But they completely ignored my questions regarding Mac application downloads.

It doesn’t look good.

By: David W

David W — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:49:55 +0000

IF (if!) Apple does abandon the Mac OS X Downloads page, it will be a very bad move for the developer community.

Many developers — myself included — rely heavily on the Downloads page for our businesses. Yes, it is a courtesy by Apple, but it’s a hugely useful courtesy for both developers and consumers.

Apple, please do not abandon the Downloads system. And do not treat your developers as a resource to be harvested; as a profit-making asset.

By: Sylvain

Sylvain — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:04:25 +0000

Apple has several options:

1. Drop support for download section and let it languish.
Not sure of this.

2. Bring up a new shinny AppStore for the Mac.
That’s much more challenging than the AppStore for iPhone only regarding the required badwitdth. A different solution ala Bodega (http://appbodega.com/) would make more meaningless the approval process (Apple no longer hosts the apps, it’s just a directory).

3. Revamp the download and make it more user friendly.
I rarely find something usefull by just browsing. It’s toooo deep.

I don’t beleive in 1st and 2d solution for now. Future will tell :)