HN Explorer

Ask HN:is it worth building a Mac app that can't be sold in the App Store?

4 points by cyberneticcook ↗ HN
I know that there are applications on OSX that are successful even without appearing on the App Store. However all those I can think of have been made before the coming of the App Store.<p>With more and more users shifting to the App Store, I fear that I would only waste my time developing an application that I know won't be approved because its functionality doesn't comply with Apple guidelines. What do you think ? Is there a way and is it worth to commercialise a Mac app outside the App Store nowadays ?

5 comments

[ 24.0 ms ] story [ 383 ms ] thread
thaumaturgy
Check out what Panic had to say on the subject: http://www.panic.com/blog/2011/01/panic-on-the-mac-app-store...

I'm extremely skeptical about the long-term viability of the app store model, just as I was about trying to build on top of other people's platforms (Twitter, Facebook). But, that doesn't mean it can't work for you for a while, and if a company like Panic thinks that they should be in the app store, then that's probably worth considering.

cyberneticcook
very helpful link, thanks.

"there’s no question this will become the way new Mac users will find Mac software".

It's true, and you have to be there if you want to be found.

[dead] shasty
Funny you should ask. I had a suite of apps for iPad/iPhone and Mac that I submitted to the app store. Primarily because I wanted to build on top of iCloud (you have no choice there, non app store apps cant use iCloud). I wrote the desktop app first, submitted it, then wrote the iPad/iPhone app, and submitted them. To my surprise the iOS apps got approved in 6 hours, the desktop app for the Mac app store sat in review status for a month.

I cant get into the details, but only after I bugged the app review team did they tell me that the Mac app (which is exactly the same as the iOS apps), would be declined even though the iOS app had been on sale for weeks and was approved in 6 hours.

They also said that they will be potentially pulling the iOS apps now that they realized their mistake.

Anyway, its a great idea to build for these platforms. And this is the rub, because you never know what Apple is going to do, you tend to shortchange yourself, and reduce your investment of time and energy, because you dont know when your done if Apple will approve it.

As for iCloud Apple suggested I use a different cloud API. I find that pretty shitty, and I had other apps planned for iCloud that I will not be building on top of their stuff at this point.

This kind of experience is not unique to me. But seriously consider whether the distribution channel is worth the hassle. Chances are its not and getting your app in google search results can be generally easy.

good luck.

jamesjguthrie
I'd say probably niche apps would be worthwhile selling outside of the store as you will need to go and sell the apps to potential users and while doing that you can tell them where to download it.
tstegart
Consumer apps might be a hard sell, although Steam might soon have its own app store. If you're selling a business app, then yes, you can easily succeed outside the app store.