Mac App Store features
Downloading, installing and updating apps and programs - all this is part of the functions of the Mac App Store. As with his little brother on iOS, you will find free content, but also paid software. In addition, the Mac App Store has recently taken over the software update of OS X.
The Mac App Store - More than Apple's software store
- Apple not only sells in-house products such as OS X, but also third-party programs through the Mac App Store. The product range ranges from free apps like Twitter, games and user programs like WISO tax 2014 to high-priced professional software like Final Cut.
- The App Store also keeps programs up to date that you have purchased and installed via the App Store. A red number on the app store icon in the dock informs you of the number of installed programs for which updates are available. You can easily download and install them from the store.
- Since OS X has been distributed almost exclusively via the App Store since Lion, he has now also taken over the previously independent function of software update from OS X.
How to find your way around the Mac App Store and browse
In the header of the Mac App Store you will find the five tabs "Spotlight", "Top Hits", "Categories", "Purchases" and "Updates". In the first three tabs you will also find the "Everything at one click" window, where you can log in or access your account management.
- The best new products are presented in the Spotlight on the Mac App Store homepage.
- In the top hits you will find the most popular programs, sorted by number of sales, downloads and the highest sales.
- In your search, you can browse and be inspired in 21 categories - for example "Developer Tools", "Finance" or "Education".
- Under "Purchases" you will find your purchases. Here you can re-download programs that you have already purchased, for example if you have replaced your Mac's hard drive or even bought a new computer.
- Under "Updates" you will find a list of your programs for which updates are available.
Payment options in the Mac App Store
You can pay in three different ways in the Mac App Store: by credit card, clickandbuy or with a gift card:
- You can store your credit card details in the account settings. VISA, MasterCard and American Express are accepted.
- If you don't want to save your credit card details with Apple, you can create a clickandbuy account as a first alternative. For its part, clickandbuy offers various payment options - for example direct debit or instant transfer.
- As a third alternative, you can buy an iTunes voucher card. You can either enter the card code under "All in one click" directly under "Redeem" or via your account management. Read here how exactly that works.