After seeing the success of the App Store, many expressed interests (and rumoured about) Apple implementing a Mac App Store into iTunes. Turns out, it didn’t take an Apple to get there. Enterprising developers at IDFusion Software and Centrix have created their own little Mac store, Bodega, getting together hundreds of developers to sell their apps.
The Bodega App Store is free to join for developers, and is a free download for end users. Revenue is earned by means of advertising, so that’s a win win situation for everyone. As for the app itself, the developers have created a beautiful 3D Store, yet keeping the navigational experience much like iTunes. Even the ads are a jiggly bunch of awesome.
You can navigate the app catalog in icons-on-3D-shelves view or a traditional list view. Search through the entire catalog using the search bar, or just use the categories listing in the sidebar. One inside an app’s listing, you can see a short blurb, screenshots, as well as sections for user and press reviews. You can download the trial from the app itself, as well as purchase it. For purchasing an app, Bodega throws down a web view sheet, so you continue on as you normally would on the developer’s site. Bodega will save your receipt in its database though, so you don’t lose your license. One more ‘value add’, is Bodega’s ability to keep your apps up-to-date.
Note that I haven’t tested Bodega to the mettle, but it sure seems like a solid first release. While it doesn’t still have all the major indie developers on board, it can only go upwards from here. From a user’s perspective, I see no reason not to check it out.
