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The Mac links naturally won't work on an iOS device, but will open the Mac App Store on a Mac. So the next time a friend asks you for a link to an app you've been talking about, or you just want. Making the Most of the App Store. The App Store is a safe and trusted place for customers to discover apps, and a great opportunity for developers to deliver apps and services across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch in 175 regions. Find articles, guidelines, and other resources to help you design incredible apps, reach more users, and grow your business. Open the App Store. Browse or search for the app that you want to download. Apps for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch don't always have a version for Mac. Click the price, then click Buy App. If you don't see a price, click Get, then click Install App. You might need to sign in with your Apple ID.
Weren't the olden days a hassle? Say you needed the newest Call of Duty game for your Mac. You'd have to journey to a brick-and-mortar retail store and look through packages on store shelves to find it. Not in stock? Then you'd have to buy it from an online storefront and either sit through a lengthy download and manual installation process or wait for a disk to be delivered -- in seven to 10 business days.
Enter the Mac App Store. Launched in January 2011, it allows Mac users to research and download free or paid apps, right from their computer, with just a few clicks. https://everrs977.weebly.com/blog/best-todo-app-2018-mac. As of August 2011, the Mac App Store was available in 90 countries and contained 21 different categories with hundreds of applications ranging from language flashcards to yoga routines.
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The Mac App Store is preinstalled on Macs sold with OS X Lion (version 10.7) operating systems. Simply look for the Mac App Store icon, which is a blue circle with a white outline and an 'A' in the middle.
If your Mac is running an older operating system, you may still be able to download the Mac App Store. The Mac App Store is compatible with OS X Snow Leopard (version 10.6) and available for free download when you upgrade to OS X Lion. To get the Mac App Store, click the Apple icon at the top left of the screen, then choose 'software update.' After a dialog box appears, click the 'install' button. When the installation is complete, you will need to restart your Mac and launch the Mac App Store from the icon in your computer's dock.
The Mac App Store is similar in appearance and function to the already-existing App Store on iPhones and iPads. To open the store on a computer, click the Mac App Store icon on the computer's desktop dock. After the Mac App Store opens, users can search for apps by name or keyword, browse for apps by category, view 'new and noteworthy' apps or check out staff favorites.
The Mac App Store is modeled after other Mac apps with built-in purchase utilities, like iTunes and iBooks, through which more than 15 billion songs and 130 million books had been purchased as of June 2011 [source: Porten].
Read on to learn about a few key improvements that OS X Lion made to the Mac App Store.
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Apple's Lion (v10.7) operating system, which was released in July 2011, brought some notable improvements to Mac App Store, allowing users to make in-application purchases and receive push notifications and adding an incremental update system that identifies, downloads and installs only the files that need updating, making the process faster [source: Porten]. However, the Mac App Store doesn't recognize updates for a computer's existing software apps; you'll need to re-purchase the apps from the Mac App Store to receive automatic free updates for the apps [source: Gordon].
Now that downloading and updating apps is an exclusively electronic process that doesn't require disks, packaging materials and shipping, there's less of an environmental impact. Additionally, many Mac apps sold via disk or download had limited permissions that allowed them only to be operated on a single computer. The chief way around this restriction was to buy a pricey group license. Because the Mac App Store keeps track of past purchases, users can now install apps on every Mac they own and download them again as necessary. This is especially helpful for people who buy a new Mac and want to add software that they've already purchased [source: Apple].
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Ever tried to open a file and discovered you don't have the application it requires? On Macs with access to the Mac App Store, a dialog box will open and offer to search the Mac App Store for a program that will open it. If found, you can buy the app instantly [source: Luoma].
The Mac App Store offers free apps, as well as paid. On average, you can expect to pay between $15 and $80 for an app [source: Macworld]. However, there's at least one app -- the iRa Pro mobile video surveillance app -- that costs as much as $899.99.
What's the process for buying this -- or any -- app? On the next page, we offer a step-by-step guide.
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Apple's hardware and software is part of a closed system that makes it difficult -- and sometimes impossible -- to migrate Mac-native components and programs to PCs. However, this closed system means that Apple hardware and software are built to work together across Apple's product lines. The Mac App Store offers a chance for third-party developers to create and sell apps to all Mac users.
Developers can register for free with Apple to download a developer kit, peruse guidelines, read articles and connect with other developers. When an app is complete, it can be submitted for approval along with an icon and keyword description [source: Lewis].
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Third party developers pay an annual $99 subscription fee to Apple, but being part of an audience-rich marketplace means they can avoid spending money on marketing and hosting. Developers set their own prices for apps and don't need to pay credit card fees for purchases because Apple processes the cards and pays the 2-percent to 4-percent fee. Of the retail price, Apple keeps 30 percent and the developer receives 70 percent [source: Evans].
The purchase process is a relatively simple one on the users' end. Launch the Mac App Store, select an app and click the price icon (it will either say 'free' or show the purchase price). Then you will be prompted again with an icon that says 'buy app,' followed by a dialog box that requires your Apple ID and password to complete your purchase. You can pay using a credit or debit card, an iTunes card or a Paypal account. The app will begin downloading immediately and will be installed in your computer's Applications folder [source: Macworld].
If you'd like to know more about an app before you buy it, you can scroll through multiple screen shots. However, trial or demonstration versions aren't available, so you may have to rely on the app's user reviews to find out how the app performs. Or you can conduct research on other sites to find more objective opinions. The Apple Mac Store doesn't vet its reviews, so the opinions offer varying levels of helpfulness.
The Mac App Store offers genre categories, as well a 'new and noteworthy' section that features 12 apps on the Mac App Store's launch page and a total of 40 apps under the category's own tab. These apps are chosen by Apple; there aren't any published guidelines for selection, although developers speculate it has to do with having an appealing icon and price point [source: Touch Arcade].
While the Mac App Store continues to grow, both in number of apps and users, it seems Apple is turning its attention to some of its other devices. A major iPhone hardware and software revamp is in the works, scheduled for a 2012 release [source: Luk]. It's expected to include a new way to charge the phone. If it does switch to a cable-free charging method, that may in turn influence a few positive changes in future Mac computers, just as the iPhone's App Store influenced the Mac App Store.
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Related Articles
Sources
- Apple.com. 'The Mac App Store.' January 2011. (Aug. 14, 2011) http://www.apple.com/mac/app-store/
- Evans, Jonny. 'Collected: What We Know about the Mac App Store.' Jan. 6, 2011. (Aug. 14, 2011) Computerworld.com. http://blogs.computerworld.com/17618/collected_what_we_know_about_the_mac_app_store
- Gordon, Whitson. 'Why the Mac App Store Sucks.' Lifehacker.com. Jan. 6, 2011. (Aug. 14, 2011) http://lifehacker.com/5726764/why-the-mac-app-store-sucks
- Lewis, Jim. 'How to Become a Mac App Store Developer.' R-tt.com. Jan. 5, 2011. (Aug. 14, 2011) http://macappstore-developer.articles.r-tt.com/
- Luoma, T.J. 'Finder Now Offers to Search App Store for Unknown File Types.' Tuaw.com. Jan. 7, 2011. (Aug. 14, 2011) http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/07/finder-now-offers-to-search-app-store-for-unknown-file-types/
- Macworld.com. 'The Mac App Store: What You Need to Know.' Jan. 6, 2011. (Aug. 14, 2011) http://www.macworld.com/article/156962/2011/01/mac_app_store_faq.html
- O'Dell, Jolie. 'Windows Gets an App Store of its Own: Avenue.' Mashable.com. June 28, 2011. (Aug. 14, 2011) http://mashable.com/2011/06/28/netvolution-avenue/
- Porten, Jeff. 'WWDC: Apple Touts App Store Successes.' Mac World. June 6, 2011. (Aug. 14, 2011) http://www.macworld.com/article/160331/2011/06/wwdc_mac_app_store.html
- TouchArcade.com. 'How to Get on 'New and Noteworthy' May 27, 2009. (Aug. 14, 2011) http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=14134
Pages App On Mac
You can browse and buy apps in the App Store on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, on your Apple Watch, on your Mac or on your Apple TV.
Browse and buy
To download and buy apps from the App Store, you need an Apple ID. Your Apple ID is the account that you use to access Apple services. If you use other Apple services such as iCloud, sign in to the App Store with the same Apple ID. If you don't have an Apple ID, you can create one.
If you're in the App Store on any of your devices and see the download button near an app, you already bought or downloaded that app. When you tap or click the download button , the app is downloaded to your device again, but you are not charged again. You can also see a list of apps that you purchased, and redownload them.
Learn what payment methods you can use to buy apps and other content. You can also create an Apple ID without a payment method when you download a free app.
How to buy apps on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
- Tap the App Store app on your Home screen.
- Browse or search for the app that you want to download, then tap the app.
- Tap the price or tap Get. You might need to sign in with your Apple ID.
If you find a game that says Arcade, subscribe to Apple Arcade to play the game.
After your app has finished downloading, you can move it to a different spot on your Home screen. Apps stay up to date by default, but you can learn more about updating apps.
You can make additional purchases within some apps. If you set up Family Sharing, you can use Ask to Buy so that children need to get permission before they make in-app purchases. Learn more about in-app purchases.
If an app is sold with an iMessage app or sticker pack, you can open it in Messages.
How to buy apps on your Apple Watch
With watchOS 6, you can download apps directly from the App Store on your Apple Watch. You can also add apps to your Apple Watch from your iPhone.
- Open the App Store app.
- Browse or search for the app that you want to download, then tap the app.
- Tap the price or tap Get. You might need to sign in with your Apple ID.
Apps stay up to date by default, but you can find out more about updating apps.
If you set up Family Sharing, you can use Ask to Buy so that kids must get permission before they download an app or make an in-app purchase. Learn more about in-app purchases.
How to buy apps on your Mac
- Open the App Store.
- Browse or search for the app that you want to download. Apps for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch don't always have a version for Mac.
- Click the app.
- Click the price, then click Buy App. If you can't see a price, click Get, then click Install App. You might need to sign in with your Apple ID. If you find a game that says Arcade, subscribe to Apple Arcade to play the game.
After your app has finished downloading, you can find it and keep it organised in Launchpad. Apps stay up to date by default, but you can find out more about updating apps.
You can make additional purchases within some apps. If you set up Family Sharing, you can use Ask to Buy so that children need to get permission before they make in-app purchases. Learn more about in-app purchases.
How to buy apps on your Apple TV
- Open the App Store on your Apple TV.
- Browse or search for the app that you want to download, then select the app.
- Select the price or select Get. You might need to sign in with your Apple ID.
If you find a game that says Arcade, subscribe to Apple Arcade to play the game.
After your app has finished downloading, you can move it around on your Home screen. Your apps will be updated automatically.
You can make additional purchases within some apps. You can use Restrictions to restrict, block or allow in-app purchases. Learn more about in-app purchases.
The App Store isn’t available on Apple TV (3rd generation or earlier). How to download macos catalina.
Get information about an app
If you want to find specific information about an app, such as what languages the app is available in, the app’s file size or its compatibility with other Apple devices, scroll to the bottom of the app’s page. You might be able to tap some sections to find out more.
You can also contact the app developer for help with an app's functionality.
Get help with billing
Mac App Store Homepage App
- Learn what to do if you see a charge from an app that you don't recognise.
- Learn how to cancel an in-app subscription.
- If you can’t update your apps because your payment method is declined, update or change your payment method.
- If you have another issue with an app, report a problem or contact Apple Support.
Learn more
- If your App Store is missing or you can't find it on your device, you might have parental controls turned on. Adjust your iTunes & App Store Purchases settings and make sure that you choose 'Allow' for the Installing Apps setting.
- Learn what to do if an app unexpectedly quits, stops responding while installing, or won't open.
- Learn what to do if you can't download apps, or if apps get stuck.
- If you want to download apps that are larger than 200 MB over mobile, go to Settings > [your name] > iTunes & App Store, tap App Downloads and choose the option you want.
- If you bought part of an app bundle, the price of the full app bundle is reduced by the amount you already spent.