The Race to the Bottom (or, Show Me the Money)

There's a terrific article posted at Wild Chocolate titled "13 Reasons Why Software Isn't Free" - a great read. It summarizes my biggest concern with the Mac App Store - the race for the bottom. I've summarized some of these concerns in the past With the iOS app store, a large number of apps are free (or, at least offer a "lite" version that has fewer features or truncated game play). Having such a large number of free apps has lowered the cost of the other apps; the average cost of an iOS app is only a couple of bucks (I don't know the exact number). For iPhones and iPod Touches - leisure devices - this is fine. Some of the "HD" apps for the iPad are a bit more expensive, but I only see them ringing in at around 5-7 dollars, usually.

Calling the software you buy on the Mac App Store an "app", however, is a little misleading. An "app" sounds like it is easy to make, and anyone can do it, and should therefore be free. This stuff isn't. Just because it's easy to get and download doesn't mean that it isn't a complex program that required a lot of work and careful execution to create. The creator does deserve to get paid for his creation.

A lot of people have been speculating that the advent of the Mac App Store would result in a race to the bottom. While I'm all for lowering costs for the end user, I have some concerns - the lack of quality software. If the Mac App Store marketplace artificially deflates the price, developers may decide not to submit their programs. I fear that the Mac App Store will be overrun with bloated ad-ware and mindless games.

Consequently, it's having good, paying apps that makes the iOS and Mac App Stores far superior to the Android app store or the Blackberry App Store. You're not getting crappy freeware, but solid, reviewed programs that meet certain minimum functionality criteria in order to make it in. Say what you like about "openness", but I prefer an outstanding App Store.

Keynote Remote App - No WiFi

I know this is online on some other blogs that are sure to demand more traffic than mine, but I thought I'd share the tips, nonetheless. I taught a Bible Study at a Youth Service in Lafayette the other day, and I made a Keynote presentation for the lesson. Apple has released a Keynote Remote app (for $0.99 in the app store - seems high) for the iPhone/iPod Touch that connects with the Mac/MacBook over WiFi. It works amazingly well, showing the slide, presenter notes, and the time all in the app. One problem, though - the room I was speaking in doesn't have WiFi (Why Apple didn't include Bluetooth support, I'll never know).

Some quick searching on the web showed me how to make an Ad-Hoc network. Basically, you use your Mac to create a WiFi network that your iPhone (or any WiFi device) can connect to. I don't know all of the functionality for this, but for me, it was perfect.

To set up an AdHoc network, click on the WiFi icon at the top of the screen and select 'Create Network'. A new window pops up, and you can name the network whatever you like; the default is the computer name. If you want, it even allows you to set a password for the network. On your iPhone (or iPod Touch), turn on the WiFi and select the network. Enter the password (if necessary) and you are linked! You can now launch the Keynote app and control the presentation.

It worked great for me, and I plan on using this option many times in the future.