How can I schedule App Store downloads to begin at a certain time

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Level 1

24 points

How can I schedule App Store downloads to begin at a certain time

I have satellite internet connection with limited bandwidth. App Store downloads and updates can quickly cause me to go over bandwith. I am then throttled back to <dialup speeds. Bandwith is not counted if downloads/uploads occur between 12 AM and 5 AM. For most of my downloads or synching to my web host, I use Speed Download which allows me to schedule when a session starts, thus avoiding my bandwith limit.

Speed Download does not work with the App Store (naturally). But, I am wondering if there is some way I can schedule App Store downloads to begin at a certain time. I'm wondering is Automator or even Applescript could do this. Not wnting to duplicate effort, has anyone produced a solution for this problem.

I use OS 10.6, 10.7 and 10.8 with a variety of Macs.

TIA,

Bill

Posted on Sep 3, 2012 12:43 PM

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Answer 1

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,547 points

Sep 3, 2012 3:41 PM in response to bill501

The Apple Support Communities are an international user to user technical support forum. As a man from Mexico, Spanish is my native tongue. I do not speak English very well, however, I do write in English with the aid of the Mac OS X spelling and grammar checks. I also live in a culture perhaps very very different from your own. When offering advice in the ASC, my comments are not meant to be anything more than helpful and certainly not to be taken as insults.

That function is not available for the Mac App Store currently.

Perhaps do research on the free Automator app on your Mac and see if perchance there is the option of creating a workflow that would do that for you.

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Answer 2

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,547 points

Sep 4, 2012 9:32 AM in response to bill501

I am not familiar with Automator other than to know that it exists. Are there not ways to record the process of opening the MAS and the pane for a particular app and to initiate the download. The process will also require that the workflow provide your Apple ID password.

If it is of any help in creating the workflow, AFAIK, all apps in the iTunes App Store/Mac App Store have a page available from the web in a browser as well and a click of a button will open the iTAS or MAS to that app's pane.

An example;

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iphoto/id408981381?mt=12

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iphoto/id497786065?mt=8

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Answer 3

bill501 Author

Level 1

24 points

Sep 4, 2012 9:18 AM in response to Dah•veed

I have been playing with automator, but cannot figure out how to get the real download URL or SSH path for items in the Mac App Store.

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