The Mac App Store, built in to the Mac OS 10.6.6 update and soon to be part of Mac OS 10.7 Lion, certainly made it easy to buy Mac software. Tied to the same account you’re already using for the iTunes Store, it lets you buy new applications with a click and a password, and they’re then installed automatically, with free updates coming through the store. You’re certainly free to buy software the old-school way, through developers’ websites or even in boxes at your local Apple Store, but in terms of convenience, the Mac App Store is a no-brainer.
But like the iOS App Store, it’s starting to fill up fast. This is good news for consumers -- lots of choice! However, when you type in a keyword or open up a category, you’re often faced with multiple options. The user reviews are pretty solid, especially compared to the iOS store’s, and many small Mac developers pay close attention to the instant feedback they provide, adding requested features in future updates. To save you some time and money, we offer a more expert opinion. The Mac|Life staff put dozens of Mac App Store offerings through our ringer of a reviews process, to settle on these 20 diverse applications that all scored well and come with our recommendation. We think they’ll make your Mac life better, and for less than $20 a pop.
In the gallery below, you can click any screenshot to make it bigger. The first link takes you to the Mac App Store online preview page, and the second link is for our full review of each app. Enjoy!
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