Comments on: The State of Mac Apps / Bundles Galore! http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/ Mac Apps, Reviews, Previews, Interviews, and Giveaways. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:19:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: The State of Mac Apps / Bundles Galore! | oogleauto.com http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/comment-page-1/#comment-44718 The State of Mac Apps / Bundles Galore! | oogleauto.com Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:22:00 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/#comment-44718 [...] State of Mac Apps / Bundles Galore! Posted in January 30th, 2008 by photoshoper9 in Photoshop News The State of Mac Apps / Bundles Galore! By Michael Mistretta Sure, buying software in a box works well for Final Cut Studio, Adobe CS3, [...] [...] State of Mac Apps / Bundles Galore! Posted in January 30th, 2008 by photoshoper9 in Photoshop News The State of Mac Apps / Bundles Galore! By Michael Mistretta Sure, buying software in a box works well for Final Cut Studio, Adobe CS3, [...]

]]> By: Michael Mistretta http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/comment-page-1/#comment-29999 Michael Mistretta Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:54:03 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/#comment-29999 @James Very true. @James Very true.

]]> By: James http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/comment-page-1/#comment-29995 James Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:49:48 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/#comment-29995 @Michael. Don't get me wrong. I'm all in support of software bundles. I think they're great for both the developer and the consumer. However, what I don't support is the way MacHeist went about it. The money they donated to charity was more than enough, but the portion they gave to developers was <b>far</b> too small. For the amount of effort that was put into MacHeist, I think $150,000 split between all three of them would have been more than adequate. That would have left like $250,000 more for the developers. Any sane person cannot believe that their true intentions were to support the developers (as they stated) when they took 88% of the profit. Even though I'm tossing around all these figures, it's not even about money. It's about doing the right thing, and not trying to fool people into thinking your intentions are altruistic. They wanted to make a ton of money, and they did. Had they just stated their true intentions in the first place, no one would care. "I guess you just have to examine what’s more important to you. Money, or customers for life…" Good point. But if the developers had received a more fitting share of the profit, they still would have had the customers. It's doesn't have to be money <b>or</b> customers. If the MacHeist team had done the right thing, it would have been money <b>and</b> customers for the developers, as well as quite a bit of money still for the MacHeist team. @Michael. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all in support of software bundles. I think they’re great for both the developer and the consumer. However, what I don’t support is the way MacHeist went about it. The money they donated to charity was more than enough, but the portion they gave to developers was far too small. For the amount of effort that was put into MacHeist, I think $150,000 split between all three of them would have been more than adequate. That would have left like $250,000 more for the developers. Any sane person cannot believe that their true intentions were to support the developers (as they stated) when they took 88% of the profit.

Even though I’m tossing around all these figures, it’s not even about money. It’s about doing the right thing, and not trying to fool people into thinking your intentions are altruistic. They wanted to make a ton of money, and they did. Had they just stated their true intentions in the first place, no one would care.

“I guess you just have to examine what’s more important to you. Money, or customers for life…”

Good point. But if the developers had received a more fitting share of the profit, they still would have had the customers. It’s doesn’t have to be money or customers. If the MacHeist team had done the right thing, it would have been money and customers for the developers, as well as quite a bit of money still for the MacHeist team.

]]> By: Michael Mistretta http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/comment-page-1/#comment-29992 Michael Mistretta Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:35:39 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/#comment-29992 @James Yes, Macheist did get a lot of the money, and I'm not saying that all the money they got was right. I don't even think they expected to sell that many copies. But the developers benefited more than you know. I always used to ignore DEVONtechnologies products. Then I won, or bought every single one of them from Macheist. And now, to this day, I still buy their products. I wouldn't be a customer for life if it wasn't for macheist. And when TextMate 2, and Delicious Library 2 come out, I'll buy them too. I guess you just have to examine what's more important to you. Money, or customers for life... @James Yes, Macheist did get a lot of the money, and I’m not saying that all the money they got was right. I don’t even think they expected to sell that many copies. But the developers benefited more than you know. I always used to ignore DEVONtechnologies products. Then I won, or bought every single one of them from Macheist. And now, to this day, I still buy their products. I wouldn’t be a customer for life if it wasn’t for macheist. And when TextMate 2, and Delicious Library 2 come out, I’ll buy them too.

I guess you just have to examine what’s more important to you. Money, or customers for life…

]]> By: James http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/comment-page-1/#comment-29988 James Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:14:39 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/#comment-29988 "Last year, they sold over 16 000 bundles generating them over $800 000 in revenue. They were able to pay the developers, donate $200 000 to charity, and still pay themselves." You make it sound like the organizers got a tiny slice of the pie. You obviously didn't read Gruber's financial analysis. The MacHeist team got about 88% of profit. <b>88%!!</b> The developers (you remember them right? The people without whom MacHeist wouldn't even be possible!) each got 1.3% of the profit. That statement is the most slanted, biased, and spun thing I have ever heard. A much more accurate description would be: "They were able to make a huge profit for themselves, give a good amount to charity, and still have a little left over for the developers" Check out John Grubers post at http://daringfireball.net/2006/12/macheist_lousy_tshirt for the analysis. “Last year, they sold over 16 000 bundles generating them over $800 000 in revenue. They were able to pay the developers, donate $200 000 to charity, and still pay themselves.”

You make it sound like the organizers got a tiny slice of the pie. You obviously didn’t read Gruber’s financial analysis. The MacHeist team got about 88% of profit. 88%!! The developers (you remember them right? The people without whom MacHeist wouldn’t even be possible!) each got 1.3% of the profit.

That statement is the most slanted, biased, and spun thing I have ever heard. A much more accurate description would be:

“They were able to make a huge profit for themselves, give a good amount to charity, and still have a little left over for the developers”

Check out John Grubers post at http://daringfireball.net/2006/12/macheist_lousy_tshirt for the analysis.

]]> By: Oliver Nielsen http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/comment-page-1/#comment-29973 Oliver Nielsen Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:07:12 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/#comment-29973 I think it's great to be offered some discounts on useful software. It gives me an incentive to purchase apps that I've long pondered whether or not to buy. It is sales, marketing. Just like everywhere else, it's a win win situation, so please, PCX and BRIN, there's no reason to be sorry for the developer, who simply SELLS MORE and gains more awareness of his/her products. Sorry to be harsh but you disgust me bit with your brand loyalty / politically correct consumer-attitude. Study some business practices and marketing, and you'll see this is not all that bad. I think it’s great to be offered some discounts on useful software. It gives me an incentive to purchase apps that I’ve long pondered whether or not to buy.

It is sales, marketing. Just like everywhere else, it’s a win win situation, so please, PCX and BRIN, there’s no reason to be sorry for the developer, who simply SELLS MORE and gains more awareness of his/her products.

Sorry to be harsh but you disgust me bit with your brand loyalty / politically correct consumer-attitude. Study some business practices and marketing, and you’ll see this is not all that bad.

]]> By: Spiritually Significant Films » Blog Archive » The State of Mac Apps / Bundles Galore! http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/comment-page-1/#comment-29701 Spiritually Significant Films » Blog Archive » The State of Mac Apps / Bundles Galore! Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:27:55 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/#comment-29701 [...] The State of Mac Apps / Bundles Galore!By Michael MistrettaBut again, like the other bundles, this will only last for a few more days. Macheist is really the idea that started this whole movement of offering apps for a discounted price, or even for free, in order to attract mac users to …MacApper - http://macapper.com [...] [...] The State of Mac Apps / Bundles Galore!By Michael MistrettaBut again, like the other bundles, this will only last for a few more days. Macheist is really the idea that started this whole movement of offering apps for a discounted price, or even for free, in order to attract mac users to …MacApper – http://macapper.com [...]

]]> By: Don http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/comment-page-1/#comment-29640 Don Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:41:28 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/#comment-29640 When I need a particular piece of software for a task, I look at the options at macupdate.com or versiontracker.com and choose the program that fits best. I weigh the reviews, the reputability of the person/company supporting it and generally try a few demos if they are available. The problem that I see is what used to be crap freeware is now crap shareware. There are a few classes: those that simply aren't useful, those that don't work, and those that put fancy GUIs on tasks that really don't need them. As the 'crap' label implies, much of this junk is useless and the only way you can get people to buy it is to bundle it with something useful. When I need a particular piece of software for a task, I look at the options at macupdate.com or versiontracker.com and choose the program that fits best. I weigh the reviews, the reputability of the person/company supporting it and generally try a few demos if they are available.

The problem that I see is what used to be crap freeware is now crap shareware. There are a few classes: those that simply aren’t useful, those that don’t work, and those that put fancy GUIs on tasks that really don’t need them. As the ‘crap’ label implies, much of this junk is useless and the only way you can get people to buy it is to bundle it with something useful.

]]> By: Brin http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/comment-page-1/#comment-29600 Brin Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:08:33 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/#comment-29600 @pcx: That's a bit harsh considering the savings offered by _some_ of the bundle people is fairly substantial. I will however add my vote that I usually try to make sure the developers get all of my money by buying direct. @pcx: That’s a bit harsh considering the savings offered by _some_ of the bundle people is fairly substantial.

I will however add my vote that I usually try to make sure the developers get all of my money by buying direct.

]]> By: pcx http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/comment-page-1/#comment-29598 pcx Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:53:12 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/12/06/the-state-of-mac-apps/#comment-29598 "It is no longer good enough to make a good app. " Pretty sad time. "Do these bundles and discounts encourage you to buy apps and support developers? Or does it have the opposite effect?" I buy the apps i need and make sure the developer is getting all my money. Any developer who chooses to be involved in something where most of the money is going to someone else pretty much gets blacklisted by me. “It is no longer good enough to make a good app. ”

Pretty sad time.

“Do these bundles and discounts encourage you to buy apps and support developers? Or does it have the opposite effect?”

I buy the apps i need and make sure the developer is getting all my money. Any developer who chooses to be involved in something where most of the money is going to someone else pretty much gets blacklisted by me.

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