Comments on: Solving Software Purchases the iTunes Way

By: Selling Software in iTunes » The Progress Bar

Selling Software in iTunes » The Progress Bar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:48:28 +0000

[...] is such a cool idea. Why not sell software in iTunes? But if software authors were to offer their programs through an application like iTunes, the [...]

By: Solving Software Purchases the iTunes Way

Solving Software Purchases the iTunes Way — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 16:23:42 +0000

[...] question is, does Apple want to further extend their business model? No Tags Original post by Louis Gray and software by Elliott [...]

By: Neil Anderson

Neil Anderson — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 04:31:56 +0000

Great idea! I like the thought of watching a video explaining the software’s benefit and maybe a how-to tutorial.

By: Apple

Apple — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 08:18:09 +0000

[...] música, juegos para el iPod, vídeos y películas (en algunos países no). ¿Y software? En theAppleBlog leo un interesante artículo sobre la viabilidad de que la tienda crezca y podamos comprar software [...]

By: azzamallow

azzamallow — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 10:47:02 +0000

hmmm, in seems the everyone wants everything to go through itunes these days It’s becoming the gateway to all things good it seems.

I like the idea, not through itunes. Conceptually it does not make sense to put it in there. Maybe a dedicated “applications” application, which would manage all installations and allow you to download new ones? even update existing software? that would make more sense to me. Sharing your itunes login would make sense.

my 2 cents….

By: Brandon Eley

Brandon Eley — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:38:57 +0000

@17 Most apps can be downloaded now. I downloaded CS3 Premium (all 4GB) from Adobe.com instead of opting for retail packaging. It downloaded relatively smoothly using a web browser - I’d imagine it could be even better using a better interface that could handle staring/stopping the download and maybe multiple download sources.

By: Brian Rice

Brian Rice — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:35:50 +0000

@17 I don’t think it’d affect the experience at all. Downloading applications would be initiated from the main interface, but occur in a separate one. Downloading could be paused and resumed, as well as throttled for bandwidth.

Additionally, you could utilize something like integrated bittorrent for downloading currently popular applications to speed download time. The end-user wouldn’t have to be aware. Configurations options would be in the preferences alongside an option to disregard bittorrent downloading entirely (though not set by default!)

By: Matt Radel

Matt Radel — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:31:12 +0000

I think this could work for smaller (and cheaper) apps that are comparable to a song in filesize. But if you got the big fish in there, it’d kill the experience. Imagine downloading CS3 that way…

By: steve

steve — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 19:47:24 +0000

would you pay full price for half a sandwhich?
would you buy a ford for the price of a porche?

then why pay full price for half quality music?

what happens if you buy something other than an ipod? either your music is no good anymore or you have to re encode already compressed music, exponentially compressing it and making the quality horrible.

I say no thanks to that.

By: gspence

gspence — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:24:42 +0000

As nice of a pipe dream as it is in my opinion it would never happen. Apple Inc. is not interested in the iTunes Store being just for mac users. It connects with PC and Mac users worldwide. So unless access to it were only bundled with the Mac iTunes download then I think it is way beyond the scope of the Apple iTunes Store business model. The regular cross-platform iTunes store is not about downloads per se as it is about delivering multimedia for iPod, iPhone and PC or Mac Users worldwide.

By: Josh Pigford

Josh Pigford — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:00:32 +0000

@steve: Then laugh away my friend. Then once you’re done laughing, maybe you could do your argument a favor and actually explain yourself. Right now you just sound ignorant.

By: steve

steve — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:41:50 +0000

i laugh at anyone who buys music from the itunes store

however, software would be a very good idea.

By: Eric Ellenberg

Eric Ellenberg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:43:24 +0000

I speculate Apple may already be working on this, or something like it, for third-party iPhone apps. Since Apple wants iTunes to be the management hub for the iPhone, they have to devise a way to manage iPhone apps in an intuitive, secure way. Of course, I’m assuming Apple is working on an actual SDK for the iPhone…

By: ¿iTunes Store como tienda de software?

¿iTunes Store como tienda de software? — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:07:06 +0000

By: Brandon Eley

Brandon Eley — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:44:04 +0000

I really like this idea too… I wish there was a really good way to search for and download software for the Mac. Version Tracker is okay, but it’s not simple and easy enough to use for most people to be comfortable using.

If iTunes doesn’t come up with something, I could see a third party software vendor coming up with something…

By: Marcel

Marcel — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:49:56 +0000

It’s a good idea which is already implemented and is working quite well through Valve’s own Steam system.

You already have Steam to play games like CounterStrike and some such.
It makes sense that they propose price proposal and free weed ends trials.

What you’re suggesting is a Steam like offer for Software.

By: Brian Rice

Brian Rice — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 05:26:49 +0000

DRM in Applications is an idea I’ve been considering for the past few months now.

As any independent software developer can tell you, piracy is one of the biggest problems facing them. Especially with readily avaliable serial databases like SerialBox

Now there are a few software companies out there that do exceptionally well at combating piracy of their products. A few that come to mind would be Karelia and Spiderweb Software.

Specifically, Spiderweb Software uses a code unique to that individual machine as part of the registration process. While this works wonderfully, it can cause a backlog in support issues if they move to a new computer.

My solution is to use that unique machine code and imbed it inside the registered application. When they move the program to a new computer, that machine’s code is also imbeded inside the program, as well as an online database. However there would be a set limit to the number of machines that registration is capable of working with.

By working with the online database, a newly downloaded copy of the software can determine which computers are allowable with that registration code.

I’ve yet to impliment it, but I think it’d work pretty well. If I get the chance, I will try it in the future.

By: Louis Gray

Louis Gray — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:38:05 +0000

This is clearly more likely to be a dream than something I expect an imminent press release on… but worth thinking about as far as future product extensions could go…

@3: I think if Apple would be losing the price war in Europe, you can always shop elsewhere. Posting a 60% markup based on territory doesn’t seem to make much sense.

@4: Brian, you’ve hit on some interesting notes. For an independent (Non-Apple) company to pull this off would be extremely difficult, unless you think a VersionTracker or MacUpdate could leverage their database and make an app to encase it… also, I think point upgrades could be managed within the “New iTunes” as Apple’s Software Update works…

@5: I thought about the download management. Easiest way to go would be to have a target “Downloaded Apps” folder, but I hadn’t considered “Uninstall” or “Redownload”. I assume Apple could put DRM on the apps so they aren’t copied from computer to computer as they do with iTunes songs today…

By: Brian Rice

Brian Rice — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:04:20 +0000

Well really that wouldn’t be hard to manage. Since it would already be keeping track of programs for updating purposes, uninstalling would be a cinch with an integrated AppZapper-type function. Keeping a list of purchased applications is easy too, just keep them in a list. And to move above iTunes…allow them to instantly restore the applications if they are lost!

And to extend the idea a little further, allow them to download demo versions of the software with an x-days remaining view right inside the client that would allow you to purchase and immediately register the application. To even expand on that, develop a framework for developers that would allow the client to register applications immediately after they’ve been downloaded to remove that hassle from the user.

Heh well more to ponder on!

By: Webomatica

Webomatica — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:34:37 +0000

Interesting idea, I think it works for the ease of purchase part, but here’s the additional wrinkle - iTunes is also great for managing the media files that are downloaded. How do you think the applications you buy would work in that metaphor? What would be really slick is if in iTunes you saw a list of the programs you bought and were able to manage the uninstallation with one click

By: Brian Rice

Brian Rice — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:00:20 +0000

Now do you think that this business model could be pulled off by an independent developer? Offer a downloadable client that acts both to preview and purchase the software as well as download it and provide updates via something similar to Sparkle? Would independent developers use it? Would big-time developers use it?

Now concerning the application itself, should it offer an alternate means of payment for applications beyond itself? As I would assume that when applications are purchased you would recieve a small percentage of the sale. Now if alternate payment methods are avaliable, how would you get your income?

Furthermore, would you have other charges? Would there be a charge for developers to add their applications to your avaliable list? If you did, many developers will ignore you, if you don’t will you be able to maintain your client’s upkeep costs? What other charges would you apply?

This was pretty much a blog-worthy post in itself, but it’s something to think over!

By: David Macdonald

David Macdonald — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:53:10 +0000

I think this would be a terrible idea. Currently iTunes songs in the UK cost 60 percent more than they do in the US. I can currently buy US software from US sites at pretty much the same price as the software costs in the US. If Apple got into the market they would probably apply the same price model to software that they do to their music and any software sold through Apple in the UK would be 60 percent more expensive.

By: Jason Guthrie

Jason Guthrie — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:18:55 +0000

I like this idea as well… but I wonder what criteria would have to be met in order for Apple to offer a program. Are they going to limit it to the big players, or only “quality” applications? Also, this would take a lot of work on the part of Apple to constantly deal with the influx of revisions, etc. So how much is Apple’s cut going to be for all that work? 10%? 20%? That starts to cut into the bottom line of the Mac’s great small developers.

I definitely love the idea, but unfortunately I think it’s going to remain a dream.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:24:51 +0000

This is a very interesting idea .. and I agree with you. Maybe some of them could include quick video ’snippets’ showing the software in action to show how they differ from their competitors as well. I have been toying with the idea of downloading/purchasing a good personal finance software but not sure what to get. Everyone has their preferences but a video snippet would help me immensely … especially if I could via them one after the other like listening to songs one after the other.