Mac App Store to Offer Unbundled iLife and iWork Applications?
Several MacRumors readers have pointed out that Apple's promotional materials for its forthcoming Mac App Store show that the company may be planning to offer applications from its iLife and iWork suites on an individual basis. Supporting that notion is the demo offered by Apple's Craig Federighi during yesterday's media event in which he showed how a user could purchase and install Pages from the Mac App Store.
Based on Mac App Store screenshots posted on Apple's pages, it appears that the company is planning to offer portions of its iLife suite (iPhoto, GarageBand, and iMovie) for $14.99 each. It is unclear whether it will also offer iWeb and iDVD, the other two components of the suite that now retails for $49, as standalone purchases.
Apple similarly lists individual components of iWork (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) for $19.99 each. Interestingly, this would result in a total price of $59.97 for the three applications purchased individually, below Apple's $79 price for the entire suite.
In addition, Steve Jobs noted during the media event that applications purchased through the Mac App Store would be licensed for use on all of a purchaser's personal Macs. This would appear to represent a middle ground between Apple's current single-user software packages, which allow for installation on only one machine at a time, and family packs, which permit installation on up to five computers but for multiple persons in a single household.
Apple already offers its iPad versions of Pages, Keynote and Numbers as standalone purchases on the iOS App Store, priced at $9.99 each with no bundled suite even available. The same may be true for the Mac App Store, as Apple's promotional screenshots offer no indication that iLife and iWork suites will be available for download in bundled form. Presumably Apple will continue to offer the bundled suites on physical media, but it is unclear how long this distribution method will continue to be supported by Apple once the Mac App Store begins to take hold.
Based on Mac App Store screenshots posted on Apple's pages, it appears that the company is planning to offer portions of its iLife suite (iPhoto, GarageBand, and iMovie) for $14.99 each. It is unclear whether it will also offer iWeb and iDVD, the other two components of the suite that now retails for $49, as standalone purchases.
Apple similarly lists individual components of iWork (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) for $19.99 each. Interestingly, this would result in a total price of $59.97 for the three applications purchased individually, below Apple's $79 price for the entire suite.
In addition, Steve Jobs noted during the media event that applications purchased through the Mac App Store would be licensed for use on all of a purchaser's personal Macs. This would appear to represent a middle ground between Apple's current single-user software packages, which allow for installation on only one machine at a time, and family packs, which permit installation on up to five computers but for multiple persons in a single household.
Apple already offers its iPad versions of Pages, Keynote and Numbers as standalone purchases on the iOS App Store, priced at $9.99 each with no bundled suite even available. The same may be true for the Mac App Store, as Apple's promotional screenshots offer no indication that iLife and iWork suites will be available for download in bundled form. Presumably Apple will continue to offer the bundled suites on physical media, but it is unclear how long this distribution method will continue to be supported by Apple once the Mac App Store begins to take hold.
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21 months ago
Interesting... I only really use a fraction of these apps and never really feel it necessary to upgrade the bundle in it's entirety would be nice to see the ability to pick and choose which ones I wanted in the future.
21 months ago
We are about to enter a new world of software development, distribution and pricing. Figures that it takes Apple to jump start this approach. You'd think some other tech giant could have done something like this years ago, but one thing is now certain: they are going to copy Apple like crazy now that they are being shown the way to go. Lots of app stores to pop up now.
Can't wait to see the Dell version . . .
Can't wait to see the Dell version . . .
21 months ago
That sounds like a good idea. I am not sure if I want to get the whole iLife '11 suite, but would just pay for the new iMovie.
Also I like Pages and Numbers, but don't have a need for Keynote.
Also I like Pages and Numbers, but don't have a need for Keynote.
21 months ago
And btw, I really like aspects of the iOS app stores. Mainly it's very nice to have the software take care of telling me when updates are ready.
I have all these Mac apps on my Macbook Pro, and every so often I go through an update cycle where I check them all to see if there are new releases. Then I do a mass update.
Will be so much nicer for the App Store apps that automatically tell me when there are new updates ready to be installed.
I have all these Mac apps on my Macbook Pro, and every so often I go through an update cycle where I check them all to see if there are new releases. Then I do a mass update.
Will be so much nicer for the App Store apps that automatically tell me when there are new updates ready to be installed.
21 months ago
Wait that makes total sense you can buy the full ilife for $50 but for three apps its $45 so actually its not a surprise.
21 months ago
I can see this happening and being very useful to the end user. I've owned both iLife '06 and iLife '09; from these I use iPhoto heavily, iMovie, iDvd and iWeb rarely and have only ever launched Garageband once! I could quite easily see myself downloading the latest version of iPhoto each year from the Mac App Store and only upgrading the entire packaging when something monumental changed across the entire suite. Much more flexible for the user.
21 months ago
I was planning on getting iLife '11, but figured I'd watch the Keynote last night first. I noticed iMovie '11 on the App Store when they were demoing it and then found the screen shots. I'm holding out now. I love my 3 year old daughter, but I don't feel the need to make a movie trailer featuring her. And Garageband, while fun to play with, isn't useful for me as I can't play any instruments. iPhoto though? I take pictures every day.
If this happens, I'm all for it!
If this happens, I'm all for it!
21 months ago
I wouldn't bet the farm on anything you see in a technology preview. Still, the possibility of standalone iLife/iWorks applications looks promising.
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