Me and the Mac App Store...

.. aren't getting on. I think it's time for the "we need to talk...." conversation.

I was surprised this morning to find that none of my apps are showing on the Store, something to do with contracts (I think they may want an annual fee from me, it may be my fault that it's lapsed)

So I duly clicked the 'agreements...' link, expecting to pay them more money and get my stuff back online, but see this...

It just doesn't feel like Apple are the friendly company they were when we met. We've grown apart.

It also feels like there are three of us in this relationship now. I really think Apple cares more about *her* (that plain and two-dimensional cow, iOS)

I need some space. I'm going to take some time out.

To be frank, getting an app available on the MAS is a real ball-ache (and I haven't even got any).

Submitting an app takes time. There are so many hoops to jump through and potential problems right there. Once submitted you sit back for maybe a couple of weeks waiting for Apple to get around to inspecting it and you may well get a rejection.

Once you've had a few rejections in a row, sometimes your own fault, sometimes not, and then run into a stupid submission problems that you can't get over, it simply becomes not worth the time and effort. This is what happened with Philips Hue app for OSX Hue-topia. Apologies to those who originally obtained it from the Store, but I've been more than happy to give those people a licence for the web version when they've asked.

(That's not to mention sandboxing, a security measure which is compulsory for apps available on the Store. It also makes certain features impossible).

If it weren't for the fact that I really want to make an iOS app to support my business software Organise (and have already spent a lot of development time) then I'd happily walk away right now and worry solely about my web sales (thank you Paddle for being easy to use and incredibly supportive). The whole monopoly thing, making the app store the only way to obtain iOS apps was a cold and calculating move. (Oh sure, 'it's all about security'. And you taking 30% of sales.) With each release of OSX I'm half expecting the same thing there.

Let me be absolutely clear to my wonderful users, lovely people all. My commitment to my apps is 110%. I will continue to develop and support, the only thing that's in question is my future with the Store. Irreconcilable differences and all that.