I am a fan of the iOs ecosystem and I think is the future, we can cry, all that we want about how close, or bad, or poor is the iOS/apple ecosystem, but let me tell you a story. I have been a technology advocate, geek and fan for longer that I can remember, I was installing apps in my devices in the mid 1990’s (yes, you could install apps then),for some people the concept of apps is as recent as 2008, even 2010. I began using a Palm Pilot in 1996, I was what you can qualify as a geek. I like to think that I use my Palm to the maximum potential. I move to iOS on 2008, when they announce that there would be apps available. Since then I had upgrade systems and iOS in the same way I use to do it with the palm, every time there was a significant upgrade I get a new one.
I hadn't notice how nice is the upgrade process in this iOS devices until last week. I leave a software called Splash ID that I have been using in my palm for years, I like to think that at least 2002, i move the database from Palm to the iPhone. I stop using it last week for a new one called 1Password. The reason, cloud sync, or more accurate DropBox sync.
While I did that, and since any of the companies make the migration easy, I decided to go one by one and purge. There was no problem until I got to the Software Category, there was over 200 entries, of pieces of software mostly for the old palm. It was nice to get rid of the baggage, but was equally nice to noticed how nice the licensing issues works in the iOS / apple ecosystem, you have one password and an email that works as your apple id, and connects you to the apple servers.
That bring me to think into the apple mac store, that is basically the new concept apple has to bring software to the mac, and if I had any doubt that the model was going to be a success I don't have it any more, I will be able to install and delete software without anything else than a connection to the web and the apple servers to restore, no more trying to find the license, the DVD or the external DVD because now the machine doesn't have any, like the Mac Book Air.
Think about it for a moment. You walk into the apple store and get s new mac. Your choice. You get the box, and go to one of the open tables and connect you mac. Allow it to charge while configure your name, your apple id and install all the software you had brought that you wan to transfer to this machine. Next step, you connect to your DropBox account, in the perfect apple world you will to mobile me, but for documents is not optimal, and finally connect to Mobile Me. Depending on the amount of data you have, you will walk out of the apple store with your mac ready to work, with address book, calendar and files already synchronized. What else do you need.
The iOs store is the future, no more trying to save the passwords, of spending hours in support because you are trying to install the license you legally had into the new computer, just connect to the ecosystem, download, install and begin working. It’s like a dream come true, is like, the future is here.
Now think about how much this save you in time as wasted time...
** As a friend of mine point me the other scenario, do you imagine the same things in the new Microsoft store? I guess if you have enough time, and a big enough bag you will be able to avoid a blue screen or two.