The initial rumour was frankly absurd but if dissected far enough makes both financial sense for Apple, developers and will open up the Mac platform to the same ease of use that the iPhone and iPad enjoy.
The undated article appeared on Rixstep last week and suggested that Apple was signing up independent software vendors for the Mac OS X 10.7 developer program which will begin in early Autumn 2010. Rixstep then goes onto say that Apple will develop an App Store similar to that on the iPhone and "No software will be able to run on Mac OS X 10.7 without being approved and signed by Apple, Inc."
The rumour suggests that Apple would have 100% control over every Mac with Mac OS X 10.7 installed on. Problem is, unlike the iPhone and iPad there is already a very established software market for the Mac, lots of free software and software that's built to run exclusively on university and corporate Macs.
Thankfully one developer so gobsmacked by the suggestion emailed Steve Jobs in hope of some clarification on the rumours. The email published by MacStories is unfortunately not entirely concise.
Mac developer Fernando Valente writes:
Hey Steve,
There's a rumor saying there will be a Mac App Store and no software without authorization from Apple will run on Mac OS X. Is that true?
Steve Jobs' reply:
Nope.
Problem is, that was two questions (in one) but only one answer, is that no there won't be a Mac App Store or no there won't be authorisation required or no to both?
If you look at it logically why would Apple not want to capitalise on the success of the App Store by bringing it to the Mac? Imagine all that extra income and let's not forget that developers would get an easier ride too. Their app advertised in the prime place for Mac software and hosted for a small cut of the profits.
Also for all those new Mac owners the Mac App Store could be the first piece of software to run on first start up, easy one-click installation of familiar software from one easy to use repository.
It would be simply crazy for Apple to limit software distribution and installation to a Mac App store but it wouldn't be so crazy for it to exist.