App Store & Family license (5 users*)

Tripp

[quote name='MacMacken' timestamp='1315754482' post='47754']

The Mac App Store app will only inform you about an available upgrade if you are running the app with the icon visible in the Dock and if you are logged in with the Apple ID you used to 'buy' the app. Using more than one Apple ID for software 'purchases' is therefore not recommendable except if you like to manually log in and out of your Apple IDs in the Mac App Store all the time just to keep track of available updates …

[/quote]



[quote name='stu' timestamp='1315763539' post='47821']

Thanks for the info, Ken.



I've been thinking about this for my own setup at home and I'm tempted to setup a shared Apple ID myself and my parents to use for app purchases. That said, once I installed 1Password on the Mac Mini we use with my Apple ID they could use the app without any issues in their user accounts and without having to authenticate with my Apple ID.

[/quote]





Time for me to reminisce. While catching up on this thread I launched 1Password to check on something. And low and behold 1Password tells me I have an update available. It asks me if I want to update now. (very politely I must add) I click the OK button. Next thing it does is ask me if I want to relaunch now. I say yes. The whole thing took 30 seconds, tops. Done.... Finis... End of story....



No passwords needed. No need to be logged in with the Apple ID. NOTHING... It just works, (as Steve'y used to say) This is what I want from my Mac. Not "conveniences" that create more complications. Agile may sell more product from the Mac App Store, but I don't see how that makes it easier for me or my partner on any of our "Family Plan" computers.



Was that a "Rant". Well, as I read it back to myself, I guess it is. Timing is everything, as they say.



I don't mind paying for upgrades that are upgrades. The point of 1Password is convenience and the complication this adds, "Family Plan," or no is not convenience.

Ben

Admittedly convenience from the MAS upgrade process comes in when you have multiple apps from the MAS, and by clicking a single button you can update all of them, instead of having to update each individually. I'll grant that for a single app, it probably does add an extra click to the process.



Thanks for the feedback!

Tripp

[quote name='bwoodruff' timestamp='1316630723' post='50908']

Admittedly convenience from the MAS upgrade process comes in when you have multiple apps from the MAS, and by clicking a single button you can update all of them, instead of having to update each individually. I'll grant that for a single app, it probably does add an extra click to the process.



Thanks for the feedback!

[/quote]





It adds more than a single click and it means that you must stay logged in. Something that I choose not to do on my computer. And something that my partner will not do either because she is not me.



The fact that I need to use a login that is connected to my Credit Card just to check for updates is a bit disconcerting to me. I don't find Apples claim of impenetrable security all that comforting. And what if I forget and walk away from my computer and someone slips in. And then there's that idea proposed by some at Agile that I share my Apple ID password with others so they may be able to get updates themselves on Apps purchased with my ID on their computers. They then become responsible for a password that is connected to someone else's Credit Card (mine). That does not seem fair to them or me.



And this is just to check to see IF there are any updates.



Apple likes and it appears that Agile likes the idea that people should have their Credit Cards hooked up and on-line at all times so that spontaneous shopping has no impediments, but I find this policy disconcerting. When the App Store checks for updates without the need for my Credit Card number I will be more inclined to look at it closer. That is when it checks without a login to the MAC application, similar to the way "Software Update" functions. Daily or weekly is nice with just one click is nice. (one actual click) (and sometimes none, if you put it on a schedule) There is no real need for us to login to check for updates. It seems to be more about money and control.



Typing a truly secure password into the Mac App Store is not a "single click" as you have represented it. The popularity and success of 1Password is The Proof of this fact.



As an aside, do you expect the 1Password will be able to offer Mac App Store login support??





I remember when 1Password was telling us that we would only ever again need to remember just a single password. That was when I bought it. And it "just worked." I do use 1Password for my Apple ID but as you know this takes several clicks and some typing, twice.

Tripp

I just noticed on the web that there has been at least one LION update done through the "Software Update". It is possible.

Ben

Tripp,



I understand where you are coming from, but this is really no different than iTunes accounts and families who want to share purchased music? That has been a widely accepted model for years. If you want to share purchased music, you share iTunes accounts. If you don't, you don't. Of course, there aren't really "updates" for songs, but you still run into the same kinds of things (multiple computers, one account).



This all sounds like great feedback for Apple on their iTunes/App Store model. Ultimately the only choice we have is: do we participate, or not. For a number of reasons, including letting our developers get back to developing, we've opted to participate.



I do understand your concern about typing your account password into other computers, and this gets back to the whole security vs convenience vs cost argument (the "you can't have all three" argument). If it is as big of a show stopper as you outline, it is possible for each individual to purchase their own copy of each MAS app. This gives you both security and convenience, but not cost advantage. I found [url="http://lauxmyth.blogspot.com/2010/04/security-vs-convenience-vs-price.html"]this[/url] blog post quite interesting.







[quote name='Tripp' timestamp='1316637829' post='50933']

I just noticed on the web that there has been at least one LION update done through the "Software Update". It is possible.

[/quote]



For Apple its possible. <img src='http://forum.agilebits.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> I'm not sure this is available to Joe Developer.

Tripp

[quote name='roustem' timestamp='1315677775' post='47286']

Thank you, hmurchison, for answering the questions!



I am setting up a [url="https://onepassword-osx.tenderapp.com/kb/purchasing/i-have-multiple-macs-do-i-need-to-purchase-1password-more-than-once"]knowledge base article[/url] about this. Please let me know if there is anything I need to add.

[/quote]



I Have a solution of sorts for the Family Plan Issue. You may want to add it to you article mentioned above. I plan to execute it momentarily. I will let you know if it fails.



I found some articles online that show how to remover your Credit Card number from the Mac App Store and it came to me the way to do "Family Plans" for any household for any and all shared applications is to create a "Family Apple ID." At this point you enter a Credit Card number when you make purchases and then remove said number when you are done. The MAS application will still run with you logged in and as I understand it it will check for updates etcetera. The only difference is that you cannot make purchases without entering a card number. And if the owner of the computer needs to make purchases they merely log out of that account temporarily and into their own account for the purchase. Unless of course they are buying for the whole house. If that is the case then they stay in the "Family Account" and add a card number for the purchase and then remove said card number after purchase.



I have to admit that I do not find this solution ideal. But I believe that it is workable for many a household or family.



The way to remove the Credit Card info is really quite simple. Just go to the Account screen and click the [u]edit[/u] button for "Payment Information". At the top where you see the Payment Type's listed you will see a button that says "None". Click that and then the button that says "Done" and it is fixed.





There are caveats though. I have read that you cannot make changes if you have incomplete or inaccurate info entered about the card. As if you have an expired card you will need to replace it with a good card first and then it will let you select the "None" option. I can vouch for this as I had not entered my security number and it would not let me select the "None" button until I entered the correct number. After that it was fine.



I will admit also that the Application on my computer does not like me trying to close with no card info in place and I have sometimes needed to quit it when it keeps giving me the same "Done" button after several tries. It goes peacefully and the changes stick, but as I have said elsewhere the application should be labeled a 0.6 beta instead of 1.0.2 version.



Tripp

khad

I agree, that doesn't sound like an ideal solution, but it is definitely an interesting and useful one for some folks.



Hopefully Apple continues to improve things in these sorts of situations as more and more developers sell through the App Store.



We are always here to help, and great solutions posted by users like you are part of the reason we love having these forums available. <img src='http://forum.agilebits.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/skype_smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':-)' />