OS X 10.7 Possibility
09 Jan 2011Now that Apple has officially launched the Mac App Store, I have been speculating about what is next. My speculation is not on the next product or OS feature per se, but further speculation about the possibilities that the Mac App Store have in that regard.
The Store itself passed 1,000,000 downloads in the first day, and I concur withShawn Blancs postabout the Simplicity that Apple is bringing to the OS.
As I showed via the raw numbers in my previous post:Apples Historical 1st Days. Apple has a history of using technology to create easy-to-use markets/platforms. In regards to this post, and probably to Apple in general, the terms Usability and Simplicity can be interchanged.
Apple brought simplicity to the MP3 player. You cannot deny the
simplicity and success of the iPod & iTunes combination.
Apple brought simplicity to the music purchasing arena. Just think about
this: Prior to the iTunes Music Store, how could you possibly purchase
only a single song from an album that was not released as a single?
Apple brought simplicity to the Phone & Mobile Software. This is not
about if Apple was first or if Apple is Best. Apple made itSimple.
It is that simplicity that has given them a large market share. My mom
uses an iPhone, and I am sure you have non-technical friends and
relatives who do so as well. The iOS App Store has puta lotof
amazing apps into the hands of both the technical and non-technical
alike, with a simplicity that is astounding when you really consider
what is going on behind the scenes.
Apple now appears to be bringing that Simplicity to Mac OS X. AsShawnstates:
It used to be that buying and installing an app was a chore. But now, with the Mac App Store, its as simple as finding an app you want and clicking a button. Just like buying a song or renting a movie in iTunes. The whole experience is familiar, easy, and even a little bit fun.
I completely agree. What if Apple does not just stop there? What if they bring the simplicity of the Mac App Store to updating your OS between major releases? (i.e. 10.6 -> 10.7) What if OS X 10.7 could be purchased and downloaded via the Mac App Store?
Consider these items:
- Applications that are available in the iOS Store and now the Mac App Store can easily be downloaded, installed, & updated across multiple computers.
- Your iOS devices OS can be updated with relative ease and simplicity, even for major iOS releases.
- Apple recently released theSoftware Reinstall Drivewith the MacBook Air. Further moving away from Optical Disc Technology, which is still the primary platform for OS distribution.
The primary drawback is an argument similar to other cloud computing services: if your Mac crashed, you had no backup or Software Reinstall Drive/Disc or Internet Access what do you do? Since your OS is nowin the cloudwaiting to be downloaded via the Mac App Store, it could be complicated. Presumably this is a marginal risk, but as opposed to just Applications, this is the core OS. Further, I feel that the Software Reinstall Drive will continue to be prioritized over Optical Discs, and hope that these drives will also be used for standard distribution of major OS releases, if the Mac App Store is not.
Overall I think that providing Major OS X Updates via the Mac App Store does bring simplicity for theeveryday Mac userwho appears to be the primary target audience of the Mac App Store. I hope to see 10.7 launched via the Mac App Store.