Apple has developed it’s version of different software types to go against other packages on its system which snuffs out 3rd party developers from trying to make anything else. This also makes it difficult to find the software at times as well, ie: Media Players, Compression, ect for those not familiar with OS X vs what you can find for Windows.

What would Adobe do if Apple came out with a Photoshop like app? Apple did something like this when it did the iApplications, there are very few low cost options or innovations coming from someone other than Apple. Once iMovie, then Final Cut Express, and Final Cut came out it virtually killed off the competition on the Mac for NLE’s (Non-Linear Editor. Now their challenging After Effects with Motion which has recently add 3D to it.

I’m looking almost like it from the perspective of Blu-ray and Sony one of its major backers. Why would other studios essentially support the competition’s format when they’ll be paying their competition to further compete against them content wise.

Competition is always a good thing though but in the case of Apple they control nearly everything from the hardware to the software and everything in between.

It is way cheaper to support the Mac than it is to support Windows. The variations of the OS + the variation of the hardware make it very expensive and time consuming. The same logic applies to development. Variations aside, I can tell you that developing an app like Daylite or Billings (http://www.marketcircle.com), would take longer. The tool on the Windows side are improving, but I think Cocoa still has an edge – and that makes a difference.

So while the “market share” may be smaller – it is also less costly to operate on the Mac.

The Mac is also far more friendly for smaller developers like myself than Windows. Much of the emphasis on the Mac is selling software online, which allows for far more smaller developers to make it big.

While the Mac community represents only a small percentage of overall computers installed in the market, it also represents a huge number of people in several markets we are targeting: creatives, designers, press people – and yes – students! We give away our software and service, but reaching these creative markets is an essential strategy for our budding company. In his article on ubiquitous computing, Mark Heiser says (I’m paraphrasing) that the when technologies “disappear” people can clearly see goals beyond the technologies themselves and create something new. The Mac users are already freer to pursue creative endeavors and other goals. These are the same people who may have the vision for the next “killer app” in the budding Mobile 2.0 market. I want my software running in these creative circles.