Here is your daily AAPL (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock news and rumors for Dec. 3, 2010.
Mac OS X 10.6.6 Beta Sheds Light on Mac App Store Support: AAPL has issued a second beta release of the next Snow Leopard operating system update, OS X 10.6.6. The 1,000 MB download “contains developer support for fetching and renewing App Store receipts,” something that hints at both the update’s support for the recently announced new App Store for Apple’s line of desktop and laptop computers as well as the time frame for the update’s release. The Mac App Store is scheduled to launch by March 2011, and is tentatively set to arrive as early as January. In addition to bringing App Store support, the OS X 10.6.6 update will bring updates to a variety of OS X applications. The beta is said to be testing functionality for OpenGL, Dock, Printing, Bonjuor and Spotlight. The printing focus is especially noticeable as the last OS X update, 10.6.5, was supposed to include support for the iOS device wireless printing app AirPlay but did not support the app when it released on Nov. 10.
No Betas, Demos or Trials for Apps on Mac App Store: AAPL has released a steady stream of information regarding the impending Mac App Store this week. In addition to hinting at a release window through the OS X 10.6.6 Snow Leopard update beta, word is that Apple has informed App Store developers that the products they are allowed to offer on Mac platforms will be markedly different than those on iOS handheld devices. Apple, via its New News and Announcement for Apple Developers website, said developers will not be allowed to host early and test versions of their software on the Mac App Store, meaning that there will be no trials, beta, or demo versions of any Mac apps. “Your website is the best place to provide demos, trial versions or betas of your software for customers to explore. The apps you submit to be reviewed for the Mac App Store should be fully functional, retail versions of your apps,” reads Apple’s statement. Many developers have issued demo and beta versions of software on the iPhone and iPad App Stores to both raise awareness of their software to encourage full purchases and use the iOS consumer case as quality assurance testing. It’s possible that Apple’s new policy will help keep the Mac App Store free of clutter, but it may also prevent independent developers from releasing fully-functional retail software in a timely (or complete) fashion.
U.K. Newspaper Details iOS App Subscription Plans: Rumors have been circulating since the beginning of November that AAPL would be hosting a major press event on Dec. 9 to unveil both its new joint venture with News Corp. (NYSE: NWS), iPad newspaper The Daily and a new subscription-based business model for iOS apps sold through the iPhone and iPad app stores. U.K.-based newspaper The Guardian has let information out about the new subscription pay model ahead of the media event by announcing that it plans to debut a subscription-based app in the App Store before the end of 2010. An existing app will be replaced by a new Guardian app that will be, as expected, subscripton-based rather than a single purchase. Readers can buy the app for £2.99 for a 6-month subscription and £3.99 for a 12-month subscription. There will also be a free, advertising-supported edition of the new Guardian app. This does not, however, mean that News Corp. and Apple’s The Daily will be comparably priced. Apple is expected to release a new update of the iOS operating system, iO 4.3, when it announces the other details surrounding the new subscription app model later this month.
As of this writing, Anthony Agnello did not own a position in any of the stocks named here.
