[Update: While Apple has added in-app purchase since this post was originally published, it has also brought in Sandboxing rules which affect our decision to put the Powerpack in the Mac App Store. You can read more on sandboxing in this Nov 2011 blog post.]
Since the Mac App Store was launched on Thursday, there has been a little bit of confusion over how to install the Alfred Powerpack after downloading Alfred from within the Mac App Store.
It's quite simple... You need to download Alfred from our website to use the Powerpack. Think of downloading the version from our website as downloading a Pro or fully-featured version of software from any website. Once you have done this, the Powerpack tab will allow you to enter the serial code you have received and you can enjoy Alfred at his best!
Why can't I just click a button to purchase in-app?
At this point in time, Apple does not support in-app purchase like it does on the iOS store. As soon as this feature becomes available to us developers, I will be right on it so purchasing Alfred will be as easy as clicking a single button!
What happens if I buy the Powerpack now or I already have a Powerpack?
Apple has not provided any mechanism for migrating users from outside the App Store into the App Store. We are not the only company to experience this - it has been talked about by Pixelmator, Panic and many more since launch.
This is not a problem in the slightest though as Alfred has been successfully updating itself automatically outside the App Store since the beginning of 2010. We have a wonderful community of users, including many Powerpack users, who enjoy the fast release cycle and sneak peeks into pre-release features - something we cannot offer to the Mac App Store.
As a user of the non Mac App Store, you will enjoy these benefits indefinitely :)
I don't like reading, show me a picture
I don't like diagrams, show me a better picture
Our cats when they were kittens, Rose (the b&w) and Jack (the ginger).
Cheers,
Andrew
Yesterday, Apple launched its Mac App Store, a new service where over a thousand applications can already be downloaded. We're proud to say that the free Alfred core is available for download from the App Store and that thousands of users have already grabbed a copy.
It was also with great excitement that we discovered that Apple hand-picked us to be in the "New and Noteworthy" featured section.
Upgrading to the Powerpack
Currently, only the Alfred core is available on the App Store as the Powerpack is still evolving quickly. Once Apple adds in-app upgrade and Alfred nears version 1.0, it's very likely that you'll be able to buy the Powerpack in the Mac App Store.
In the meantime, if you're upgrading from the core to Powerpack, you'll need to download Alfred directly from our website first in order to enter your Powerpack code.
We appreciate that this isn't the most straightforward process at the moment, but switching to the non-App-Store version ensures you're on the lead development version and first to see all of the new Powerpack features during pre-releases!
Five-star reviews across the board
Finally, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to leave a review on the App Store. We appreciate your kind feedback, both on Twitter and in the App Store.
We're quickly making our way up into the Top 10 Free Apps in a number of countries, so continue to rate Alfred and help us get to the top! :D
Our Xmas Calendar has come to an end, tips and treats have been shared and now it's time to sit back and enjoy the holiday atmosphere.
2010 has been amazing for us, going from the idea of an app to a fully-featured app that is now nearing version 1.0. We've made so many friends in the Mac world and have had a great time developing Alfred. Looking towards 2011, we can only see things getting better; Alfred will grow up and, who knows, maybe find himself with new siblings? :)
Have a wonderful Christmas day, full of rest and relaxation, and enjoy the last few days of this year.
Joyeux Noël, Veselé Vánoce, Merry Christmas!
Cheers,
Andrew, Véro & Anna
This week, we can't help but feel festive and cheerful. We've been working on bringing you the best treats in our Alfred Xmas Calendar and recently received a treat ourselves when Alfred was featured as one of The Best Mac Software of 2010.
Adding to this, the 0.8 release has been a very strong one; There have been very few reported bugs and feedback from the pre-release users has been fantastic. So we hope you enjoy this pre-Christmas update!
New: Clipboard Snippets
Save your most-used clips as permanent Snippets, and access these through assignable keywords or through the main Clipboard History window. You'll need to enable this Powerpack feature under the Clipboard preferences.
New: 'Eject' command
Under System Commands you can now enable Alfred to 'eject' any mounted drive on your Mac. This is disabled by default so don't forget to go and check the box!
New: Recent documents
You can now show recent documents for your applications. Simply press the right arrow on an app within Alfred and then select the first action "Recent Documents".
New: Customise fallback searches
You can now customise which web searches Alfred offers when he can't find a suitable local result. Go to Preferences > Features > Fallback Searches. We've added a shortcut to help you work out why Alfred may not be finding a result you were expecting, and both of these features can be hidden by going to the Preferences if you prefer the minimal look.
New: Usage graph
Ever wanted to see just how much you use Alfred? For the stats geeks, we've added in a usage tab and a quick way to share your Alfred statistics with all your friends.
For a complete list of what's new in 0.8, have a look at our updated changelog.
With so many features, don't forget to check out all that the the Alfred Powerpack can do. And remember that it's not too late to look at the Christmas Calendar tips and tricks to become an Alfred power user!
The time has come. You've tweeted your love many times, you've told just about everyone you know, and now you can finally put the words into a visual image and let people know. You're a proud Alfred user. To celebrate, show your colours with some luscious purple and teal Alfred backgrounds, available for Mac, iPad as well as iPhone backgrounds.
