Mac App Store isn't the only software source

I have just spent an hour or so downloading software from the Mac App Store and found lots of great apps to try. All of them were free - if I am paying for apps then I will shop around for the best price and won't immediately click the Buy button in the app store.

One thing struck me when browsing the software in the Mac App Store and that is that there is a danger that some people might assume that the store contains all the software that is available for the Mac. After all, the app store for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch contains all the software for those devices. Nothing is available elsewhere.

Developers that have apps that aren't featured in the app store could see their sales or downloads fall because some Mac users never look anywhere but in the app store. People might go to the Mac App Store and check out the Graphics and Design section and assume that the only free apps are SketchBook Express and Tilen. What about GIMP, a brilliant and very powerful graphics and design program? It's not in the store and it is unlikely to make an appearance their either since it is a Mac conversion of a cross platform open source program built by a community rather than a single developer.

Some great utilities are banned from the Mac App Store because they do things Apple doesn't approve of, such as Growl. There are lots of cheap programs in the app store and people might assume that they are the best available, but this isn't true. Where's Photoshop?

The Mac App Store is an excellent service, but there is lots of software available elsewhere and you'll find some cool stuff in other download sites that isn't in the Apple's store. Just Google 'mac software' or 'mac freeware' or something similar to find some exciting software that isn't in the Mac App Store.