What the OS X App Store Might Mean for Adobe and Photographers

by Aaron Hockley on November 3, 2010

When Apple held its “Back to the Mac” event a couple weeks ago and announced the forthcoming App Store for OS X applications, speculation and commentary followed about what the App Store would mean for consumers. Most of the conversation I’ve seen surrounds home users purchasing small or utility-style apps like one would for an iPad – apps in the $5-50 range.

Let’s talk a bit about what the App Store might mean for big players. As photographers, let’s talk about what the OS X App Store would mean for Adobe with Photoshop and Lightroom.

The App Store Environment

Keybored?Once the OS X App Store is in play (first for Snow Leopard users and then with the next OS release, Lion), we know the following:

  • The guidelines for apps in the App Store will be similar to those of the iOS App Store
  • Revenue split will be the same as the iOS App Store (Apple gets a 30% cut of all sales)
  • Users will be able to install apps either via the App Store or via a traditional installer
  • There will be a new launcher interface specifically for the App Store apps that will supplement the OS X Dock.

App Store proponents (and Apple themeselves) will argue that if one doesn’t like the App Store, they can simply produce a traditional installer. While not forcing software companies to embrace the App Store, Apple has set themselves up for the App Store to become a de facto standard way to use OS X. Given options that include using the new App Store (with its enhanced application launcher, smooth payment process, and simplified software delivery) versus traditional software purchase and installation using the now decade-old Dock, users are likely to gravitate to the App Store experience.

Downsides for Adobe with Photoshop and Lightroom

While the users will gravitate to the user experience of the App Store, large software vendors such as Adobe and Microsoft aren’t likely to embrace the restrictions and financial implications of the proposed OS X App Store.

  1. Financial: Adobe Photoshop CS5 is currently selling for about $650; do you think Adobe is eager to hand over $200 to Apple for each sale of Photoshop?
  2. Bandwidth: Do all Photoshop users have the bandwidth required to download the multiple gigabytes of software that comprises a CS5 purchase
  3. Trials and Refunds: The App Store doesn’t allow for trial versions of software. Similarly, users cannot return software after it has been purchased.
  4. Upgrades: The App Store doesn’t allow for upgrade pricing. This has been a pain point for iPhone and iPad users and developers; the problem only gets worse when we start talking about bigger software at higher prices.

Does Adobe Get App Store-ified Against Their Will?

What will happen to companies that aren’t thrilled about embracing the App Store? If customers make the App Store the de facto standard purchase/launch interface for OS X, will Adobe embrace the App Store?

Would Apple eliminate third party installation in a future OS update?

Are other users in the same situation as me and asking these questions about the future of OS X for power users? Might the uncertainty lead to folks moving away from the Apple platform?

Tagged as: adobe, app store, apple, cs5, microsoft, os x, os x lion, Photoshop, software

  • http://martymcpadden.com martymcpadden

    Frankly, I think the App Store will be a boon to smaller developers as a way to reduce the cost and complexity of marketing and distributing their apps. One could argue it’s worked quite well for iOS apps. The big players will still be independent for the reasons you mention and users of those higher end applications will demand that. That’s a large part of the Mac user base. I believe both can and will co-exist because it will be good for the user and Apple’s bottomline.

  • http://twitter.com/jmock Jim Mock

    A couple of things:

    LaunchPad (the new app launcher interface) isn’t only for stuff downloaded from the App Store. It’s for any of your installed apps.

    I think most people who use the App Store will be people like my mom–people who have no idea where to go to get software. Power users are likely to use both the App Store for some stuff and 3rd party installers for things like Photoshop, Lightroom, etc.

    Personally, I’d be pretty surprised to see Adobe’s apps on the store due to your first point. The amount of revenue they’d lose would be astronomical. Either they’d have to raise prices to cover it or bank on selling a bunch of additional copies to people who otherwise wouldn’t find it (and I can’t imagine there’d be a ton of those).

    Finally, as for eliminating 3rd party installation in a future OS update, I don’t see that happening any time soon. There are too many restrictions in place for that to be viable (no trials/demos, no upgrades, etc.) and too many big companies are unlikely to put their products on the App Store. Apple would lose a ton of photographers and graphics folk/web developers as customers since the software they need wouldn’t be available.

    - jim

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