Apple announced on Monday that the company ’s popularMac OS X Downloads sitewill no longer feature apps .
In an east - chain armour message to registered developer , the caller state that as of January 6 , 2011 — the appointment the Mac App Store will debut — the Mac OS X Downloads website will “ no longer extend apps . ” The company suggests that developers should or else submit their software to the Mac App Store , which Apple says will be “ the best destination for users to discover , leverage , and download your apps . ”
The site has long been a popular destination for Mac users face for third - company software program , as it has provided a semi - curated library of software , browsable by class , date , popularity , or the ever - coveted - by - developers Staff Picks .
The annunciation should n’t come as a surprisal , present Apple ’s recent focus on the Mac App Store . Indeed , it would be quite un - Apple - the like for the ship’s company to offer both a software entrepot and a software - listing Website . However , the move is certain to raise some hackles in the developer residential district , cave in thatnot every piece of software system listed on the Downloads site will be available — or evencouldbe available — on the Mac App Store . The Mac App Store already presented a merchandising challenge for developer of such computer software ; they ’ll now be even more reliant on the Mac media , word of oral cavity , and other Mac - software system sites such asMacUpdateandi use this .
It ’s unclear if Apple will go on to use the Mac OS X Downloads website to kick upstairs its own Mac software , or if the company will just roll such furtherance into themain Downloads internet site .
The full text edition of the atomic number 99 - ring armor message is below .
Thank you for pass water the Mac OS X Download internet site a great goal with apps that offer substance abuser new ways to work , spiel , learn , and create on their Mac .
We recently announced that on January 6 , 2011 , the Mac App Store will open to users around the world , face you with an exciting , newfangled opportunity to extend to zillion of customers . Since the introduction of the App Store in 2008 , we ’ve been thrill with the unbelievable accompaniment from developers and the enthusiastic response from users . Now we ’re bringing the revolutionary experience of the App Store to Mac OS X.
Because we believe the Mac App Store will be the best goal for user to discover , purchase , and download your apps , we will no longer offer apps on the Mac OS ten Downloads web site . alternatively , beginning January 6 , we will be manoeuver substance abuser to explore the range of apps usable on the Mac App Store .
We appreciate your support of the Mac program and hope you ’ll take advantage of this new opportunity to showcase your apps to even more drug user . To learn how you’re able to offer up your apps on the Mac App Store , see the Apple Developer website at http://developer.apple.com/programs/mac/.
Best heed ,
Ron OkamotoVice President , Worldwide Developer RelationsApple Inc.
