For those unaware, MacUpdate offers a piece of software every day for a discount on their MacUpdate Promo website. This week, they’re offering a big bundle of apps for $49. You get GraphicConverter, Fetch, iWOW, GarageSale, Cocktail, ProfCast, and Amadeus Pro. With enough purchases, you get Little Snitch, Intaglio, and TechTool Pro. Assuming 9,999 people buy, I’d be interested in Little Snitch and TechTool Pro (I already own GraphicConverter, but it’s a classic Mac app).
But wait, there’s more! MacHeist says MacUpdate stole the idea!
See, apparently MacUpdate is pretty confident in squashing us, because they began sending us anonymous taunts by email a week ago showing plans and designs for a sale clearly lifted directly from the MacHeist bundle week concept. (Unlock points. Number of apps. Price point. Design elements. Marketing tactics.) Very confident. Confident enough for the head of MacUpdate to leave, at 6:00 AM EDT, for a two day long vacation. We kid you not.
Their mistake. Thanks to techniques and tools discovered and developed respectively by Arn Kim of MacRumors and Flow developer Brian Amerige, the skunk works community was able to break through MacUpdate security and install a few modifications, and now the stage is set for the most glorious heist so far.
No way! That’s awesome!!!1!! I can’t believe they stole the idea that …. Ok. Can I stop now? I can’t take the melodrama. Let me be straight about it. They’ve teamed up with MacUpdate to offer a few bonus apps for customers. By following the links on their site, or going direct with referrer URL. You get BrowseBack, Exces, early beta access to Pixelmator and Flow, early access to the next skunk works project, and another free app.
All good things, but I just couldn’t bring myself to read all the way through the site and deal with its double scroll bars. I might put down the money for a copy of Little Snitch and TechTool Pro (as I’m fairly confident they’ll meet their sales goals), but I’d like a version for adults next time.
Personally, I'm more concerned about this bait-and-switch idea. No one seems to be complaining about the fact that you buy a bundle of apps, but you're not sure you'll get them all. I think this is not only illegal, but immoral.
Kirk: There is no bait and switch. We are selling 7 items in the bundle for $49. And there's a chance more could get added for free. How is this immoral or bait and switch? It doesn't get any more straight forward than this. Sorry buddy!