Do you remember Apple’s OS X Downloads page? That page used to be a resource for many of the best apps and widgets on the Mac.
We say “used to” because the OS X Downloads page has actually been shut down and replaced with a pretty Mac App Store banner.
Apple emailed its developers back in December with the following message,
“Because we believe the Mac App Store will be the best destination for users to discover, purchase, and download your apps, we will no longer offer apps on the Mac OS X Downloads site. Instead, beginning January 6, we will be directing users to explore the range of apps available on the Mac App Store.
We appreciate your support of the Mac platform and hope you’ll take advantage of this new opportunity to showcase your apps to even more users.”
It took over six months, but Apple has finally closed the doors on the OS X Downloads page. This move precedes the launch of OS X Lion, which will be offered exclusively through the Mac App Store.
Before the Mac App Store, the OS X Downloads page was the best place for developers to showcase their apps. Apple’s intense focus on its App Store ecosystem no longer leaves room for a resource like the OS X Downloads page.
Widgets for the Mac can still be accessed through a new, independent webpage. It’s unclear as to whether Apple will implement a widget category into the Mac App Store.
Does anyone miss the OS X Downloads page? In my opinion, long live the App Store!
[via MacStories]
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
19 responses to “Apple Closes Door on OS X Downloads Page”
This is actually pretty upsetting to me. When I do computer repairs I love not having to waste time downloading updates and just pulling from my pre-downloaded stash. Can I not do this now? Will we have to surrender ourselves to always being connected to the Internet?
The downloads page is still there. Yes, it does have a “Pretty Banner” for the Mac App Store, all the widgets and Safari Extensions are still there, you just have to scroll down!
So, where are people with 10.5 and earlier or people with pre-Software Update machines going to download individual updates?
Time for an upgrade?
That’s exactly what I was going to say.
The page is still there. It’s just a little bit different now, Alex.
Those people are going to go and get 10.6!!!
I paid $32.67 for a XBOX 360 and my mom got a 17 inch Toshiba laptop for $94.83 being delivered to our house tomorrow by FedEX. I will never again pay expensive retail prices at stores. I even sold a 46 inch HDTV to my boss for $650 and it only cost me $52.78 to get. Here is the website we using to get all this stuff, LiveCent.com
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They will have to search online for OS 10.5 software if they want it. But soon enough, they won’t be supported. 10.6+ requires universal Intel which 10.5 does not.
Only choice is to save up and buy a 10.7 when the machines come out. Many industries will be dropping PowerPC 10.5 support.
They need to keep it while they haven’t added widgets and Safari Extensions to the App Store.