HT202152: Mac App Store: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Learn about Mac App Store: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
blyle
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Why do I have to repurchase apps I already own through the Mac App Store to get updates there?

It's a simple question but I cannot find an answer.  I just know you can't. It makes no sense to not allow us to even purchase an update at a lower cost as opposed to repurchasing the app from the app store at the full cost.  Can anyone say why this is the case? It makes me not want to ever use the app store.

Posted on Feb 28, 2014 5:02 PM

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blyle

Q: Why do I have to repurchase apps I already own through the Mac App Store to get updates there?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by HACKINT0SH,

    HACKINT0SH HACKINT0SH Feb 28, 2014 5:04 PM in response to blyle
    Level 5 (5,774 points)
    iLife
    Feb 28, 2014 5:04 PM in response to blyle

    I assume you are talking about different releases, and not updates? This was Apple's decision.... and they have no voice here.

  • by blyle,

    blyle blyle Feb 28, 2014 6:03 PM in response to HACKINT0SH
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 28, 2014 6:03 PM in response to HACKINT0SH

    Shouldn't matter... different releases, updates.  We should be able to do either. Its a bad decision.

  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Feb 28, 2014 6:12 PM in response to blyle
    Level 7 (34,765 points)
    Mac App Store
    Feb 28, 2014 6:12 PM in response to blyle

    The Mac App Store is a distribution stream, just like anywhere else a developer sells apps. The apps from the Mac App Store are not interchangeable with the same developer's apps from another source. That's a decision of the developer when they decide where they will sell their apps. It isn't going to change no matter how much you complain.

  • by blyle,

    blyle blyle Feb 28, 2014 6:19 PM in response to Dah•veed
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 28, 2014 6:19 PM in response to Dah•veed

    I get that, but that's not the point.  What I am saying is that the customer experience is poor. It should work the same as it used to when you bought software from a brick and mortar store.

     

    When you buy an app (software) from a sellers website, you should be able to purchase an upgrade from any vendor. This means even though I bought an app like OmniPlan direct from the OmniGroup... It would be nice to purchase the upgrade, or even download the update from Apple's Mac App Store.

     

    It just makes for a better customer experience.    

  • by HACKINT0SH,

    HACKINT0SH HACKINT0SH Feb 28, 2014 11:55 PM in response to blyle
    Level 5 (5,774 points)
    iLife
    Feb 28, 2014 11:55 PM in response to blyle

    Again, there is a difference here. Upgrades are generally free. However, you can't jump from say Logic Pro 6 to Logic Pro X and expect that kind of a jump to be free (or even discounted). Well, you can in the way OS X did, etc. but those are a special case.

     

    If a developer feels they have created an entirely new over-haul on an app, and re-designed it from the ground up, they are entiteld to sell it as though it was fresh. You don't have to purchase it with a gun to your head.

  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed Mar 1, 2014 7:01 AM in response to HACKINT0SH
    Level 7 (34,765 points)
    Mac App Store
    Mar 1, 2014 7:01 AM in response to HACKINT0SH

    You have your terminology wrong. Updates are free. Upgrades are usually paid, unless it is a completely free app like Evernote or Kindle..

  • by GilesHoughton,

    GilesHoughton GilesHoughton May 24, 2014 12:16 PM in response to HACKINT0SH
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 24, 2014 12:16 PM in response to HACKINT0SH

    But in this example, I should be able to re-download Logic Pro 6.  The way Apple has it set up, not onlu can I not pay for the upgrade, and just the upgrade, but I can no longer download the version that I rightfully have licence to use.  Which if you only distribute digitally, with no option to backup the installation binary, isn't really on.

  • by Dah•veed,

    Dah•veed Dah•veed May 24, 2014 2:32 PM in response to GilesHoughton
    Level 7 (34,765 points)
    Mac App Store
    May 24, 2014 2:32 PM in response to GilesHoughton

    LP6 was always a disk version. You couldn't download any version of LP until LP9. There is no upgrade from LP6 to LPX, but there is a tremendous price difference, $499 vs $199. Mac App Strore apps don't need an installer, you should be able to drag & drop the apps to a back-up media or another Mac.

  • by GilesHoughton,

    GilesHoughton GilesHoughton May 25, 2014 12:22 AM in response to Dah•veed
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 25, 2014 12:22 AM in response to Dah•veed

    LP6 was a dumb example by me, I don't use it/have it. Great to know I don't need the installer for other software, e.g. Pixelmator, Keynote, etc. I'll get into my old time machine backup in that case.. Thanks!