Got a novel Mac for the holidays ? extolment ! We bet you ’re unquiet to get set off using your new Mac — in fact , you might be read this on that young Mac mightily now . The cay to getting things done is to have the right software . Your Mac comes with plenty of software to get you started : Mail , Safari , iCal , Address Book , iLife , and more . But where can you discover software package that ’s not already on your Mac ? One place — and perhaps the well-to-do source to use — is Apple’sMac App Store .
The Mac App Store is filled with M of software programs for all dissimilar types of people and project . you may find recipe databases for the family chef , esthetic effect filter for photographers , audio software program for musician and DJs , system utility for the Mac expert , and upgrades to OS X Lion for your Friend . And , of course , there are games , games , and more games .
But wait — you say you ’ve never bribe anything on the Mac App Store ? Do n’t worry , we ’re here to facilitate . In this tutorial , we ’ll go through the step for buying software program on the Mac App Store . It ’s very comfortable .
You need an Apple ID to use the Mac App Store.
Step 1: Go to the Mac App Store
vocalize uncomplicated enough to start , correct ? It is , if you are black market OS 10 10.6.6 or later . If you have a marque young Mac , that includes you , since it ’s credibly launch the recent edition of OS X , Lion ( 10.7 ) .
If you are using an aged Mac with OS X 10.5.x , you need to corrupt an upgrade toOS X 10.6 Snow Leopard(OS X 10.7 Lion is n’t necessary to reach the Mac App Store ) . Once you advance , you then have to use Software Update to update OS X to the latest version of Snow Leopard , 10.6.8 , which includes the Mac App Store app . ( you may then decide if you want to upgrade to OS X Lion , which you canbuy in the Mac App Store . Or you could get your shopping done first and then upgrade to Lion . )
Assuming you ’ve convey Lion or the latest version of Snow Leopard installed , you should have the Mac App Store app . Look in your Applications folder , your Dock , or ( if you ’re running Lion ) in LaunchPad — it looks like the icon at the top of this article , a disconsolate roach with anAinside . give the app , and you ’re in the store .
You need an Apple ID to use the Mac App Store.
Step 2: Sign In
You call for an Apple ID to use the Mac App Store .
If you ’ve shop at the Mac App Store before , you ’re probably still mechanically signal in . If not , you need to sign in with your Apple ID . If you ’ve used the iTunes Store before , you could use the same Apple ID . Click the Sign In link in the Quick Links section on the ripe - hand side of the Mac App Store windowpane . ( You do n’t need to sign in to browse the contents of the memory , so you could wait to execute this step when you ’re quick to make a leverage . ) A soda water - up corner will appear and propel you to sign in with your Apple ID .
If you do n’t have an Apple ID , click Create Apple ID and produce one — you will need to enter credit visiting card data or a PayPal story .
The Mac App Store organizes its apps into categories. You can also use the Search field in the upper right.
Step 3: Look around
There are different section of the Mac App Store to aid you chance the right app for your needs . The New and Noteworthy subdivision boast apps that have just come in the Mac App Store . The What ’s Hot , Top Paid , and Top Free section show which apps are pop at the moment . Apple also has a Staff Favorites section , as well as a Top Grossing section .
you’re able to also peruse apps by class , either by fall into place on the Categories button at the top of the Mac App Store , or by using the class pop - up menu in the Quick Links part .
The Mac App Store organizes its apps into categories . you could also practice the Search field of view in the upper right .
When you want to buy an app, click it price button. To confirm that you want to buy the app, you need to click the button again when it changes to Buy App.
Of naturally , you’re able to also use the Search area in the upper right corner to recover an app found on its name , or to perform a search found on the case of app you are concerned in .
Step 4: Buy an app
Found an app you want to buy — or , better yet , a costless app you want to try ? Great . When you ’re ready to buy , look for the price of the app in the upper remaining corner of the app ’s Sir Frederick Handley Page . The damage is in reality a button . snap on it , and it changes to a button that reads Buy App . Click the button again to grease one’s palms the app . If you have n’t sign in , you ’ll have to do so at this dot . If you do n’t have an account , you ’ll have to make one to complete the purchase .
When you require to grease one’s palms an app , penetrate it price button . To substantiate that you need to bribe the app , you want to click the button again when it changes to Buy App .
After you ’ve buy the app , the Mac App Store download the app and installs it on your computer . ( Your quotation card or PayPal account will be charged for the leverage . ) If you are running Lion , your Mac ’s screen will switch to Launchpad and you ’ll see the new app ’s icon at the death of the list as a dimmed icon with a progress bar labeled Downloading . you may do other things while you ’re expect for the app to download ; just sink in any vacuous space ( or press out the Escape winder ) to leave Launchpad . The new app will continue downloading in the background knowledge .
The Purchases section of the Mac App Store shows the progress of your download.
If you want to check the progress of your download , you may reopen Launchpad , or you may mark off the Purchases plane section in the Mac App Store app . In the latter , your raw app will be at the top of the listing , displaying a progress bar and the amount of clip left on the download . Below that app are the other apps you have bought ( if any ) .
The Purchases department of the Mac App Store express the progress of your download .
The amount of time it takes to download a new app reckon on the size of the app and the speed of your cyberspace connexion . you may pause the download if needed by clicking the Pause button next to it in the Mac App Store ’s Purchases CRT screen ; to resume the download , just make out back to the Purchases section and dawn the same push button , which is now labeled Resume .
In Launchpad, the Mac App Store will show a red number button when an app update is available.
Step 5: Use your new app
When your new app has finished downloading , it will be listed as Installed in the Purchases segment of the Mac App Store , and the app ’s icon in Launchpad will no longer be dimmed — the app is quick for you to utilize .
you’re able to launch your new app just as you would any other app : by double - clicking it inside the Applications folder , by dawn it in LaunchPad , or , ( if it ’s in the Dock ) by clicking it in the Dock . you may also customize where it appears in Launchpad , if you require . ( We have a separate clause on how to rearrange apps in Launchpad . )
In Launchpad , the Mac App Store will show a reddened act release when an app update is available .
Update your apps
Apps purchased through the Mac App Store are also updated through the Mac App Store , so you might require launch the Mac App Store app every once in a while to learn for updates — just click the Updates button in the toolbar . you could also look at the Mac App Store image in your Dock on in Launchpad ; if the ikon has a carmine badge with a turn on it , there are update available . ( The ruddy badge does not appear on the Mac App Store icon in your Applications leaflet . )
[ Roman Loyola is a Macworld older editor in chief . ]
