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Pixelmator reports $1 million haul from Mac App Store in just 20 days

Less than three weeks after listing Pixelmator on Apple's new Mac App Store, its developers report grossing a million dollars from the title, while Microsoft and some other big Mac developers have yet to engage the new online market.

Pixelmator's co-developer Saulius Dailide wrote in the company's blog that he was "ecstatic" to be able to report the news, and noted the apps high ratings in the US, UK and German App Stores.

"Such an amazing success feels fantastic. Thank you so much for your enthusiastic support."

Pixelmator is currently the fourth highest grossing title in the Mac App Store, behind Apple's own Aperture, iPhoto, and Pages (non of which are new versions; Aperture is significantly reduced in price however.)

The rest of the top grossing list includes the $5 Angry Birds game at fifth place, the $50 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare at seventh, $30 Civilization IV Colonization at number ten, and filled in by Apple's iMovie, Keynote and Numbers at sixth, eighth and ninth, respectively.

This indicates Apple itself is making additional millions from its current versions of iLife and iWork titles. While iLife was updated last fall, iWork apps haven't seen a major new reference release since the beginning of 2009.

Betting big on the Mac App Store

Pixelmator's developers decided to bank on the success of the new Mac App Store from the start, announcing plans to exclusively distribute its app online via the new store, phasing out direct sales.

The company also slashed the price of Pixelmator from $59.99 to a limited time offer of $29.99, in part as a concession to existing users who will need to repurchase the app to get downloads through the App Store.

The limited time offer is available to everyone however, and includes a free upgrade to the upcoming 2.0 release.

A report by Wall Street Journal blogger John Paczkowski cited Pixelmator co-founder Aidas Dailide as saying that the company sold about 33,000 copies of the software at $29.99 to gross $1 million, noting that “the jump in sales was dramatic.”

The report also stated that Pixelmator's developers had no problem with Apple taking a cut to merchandize and promote their work, with Dailide saying, “the 30 percent cut is definitely worth it. The increase in sales and exposure is worth much more than that. Especially in our case.”

52 Comments

macinthe408 19 Years · 1050 comments

Quote:
not being able to install background processes, needing to be self contained, and being unable to use undocumented, private APIs.

Really? Had no idea. Does this break a lot current apps, or is it easy for devs to work around?

Isn't "self contained" and "no background processes" redundant?

bcahill009 15 Years · 163 comments

My biggest problem with the mac app store so far is that I cant trust the reviews, everything I have looked at has gotten very good ratings. Leading me to think the early adopters are excited about the process and that's clouding their judgement or there's something shady happening.

My point: I have been looking at purchasing Pixelmator but wanted a review I could trust. I'd love to hear peoples opinion of it.

youda farmer 14 Years · 9 comments

This show just how good the APple is at running an App Store.

What Apple needs to do ASAP is open the Windows App Store - APPLE STYLE !

This would totally rock and would finally give the Windows platform the one-click app install sorely needed. Apple needs to bring Windows into the fold and give all those desperate Windows users the true "Apple ecosystem experience", it would totally be a game changer for the worlds most popular desktop platform.

These stores are gold mines for Cupertino and they need to expand them as rapidly as possible because everybody seems to be copying Apple's every move these days. No time to waste here. Lets get this done ASAP !

Also, absolutely no reason Apple could not create a much superior Android App Store than the horrendous Market that the Google haphazardly slapped together. It is totally ironic that the search king makes it almost impossible to find (aka search) apps on the Android platform.

hal 9000 18 Years · 101 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by macinthe408

really? Had no idea. Does this break a lot current apps, or is it easy for devs to work around?

Isn't "self contained" and "no background processes" redundant?

I think self contained means that it is all in one package of files and not spread all over the system.

Background processes probably means no "calling home" invisible apps and no autoupdate app.

adamiigs 16 Years · 351 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by Youda Farmer

This show just how good the APple is at running an App Store.

What Apple needs to do ASAP is open the Windows App Store - APPLE STYLE !

This would totally rock and would finally give the Windows platform the one-click app install sorely needed. Apple needs to bring Windows into the fold and give all those desperate Windows users the true "Apple ecosystem experience", it would totally be a game changer for the worlds most popular desktop platform.

These stores are gold mines for Cupertino and they need to expand them as rapidly as possible because everybody seems to be copying Apple's every move these days. No time to waste here. Lets get this done ASAP !

Also, absolutely no reason Apple could not create a much superior Android App Store than the horrendous Market that the Google haphazardly slapped together. It is totally ironic that the search king makes it almost impossible to find (aka search) apps on the Android platform.

You are kidding, yes, or do you totally miss the point of an app store and what it is really for? =\\