Bodega - a desktop app bazaar for Mac launches

Written on 1:50 AM by Mujtaba

It was only a matter of time before someone took the App Store concept and modified it for the desktop. Take IDFusion’s Bodega Store, a free desktop app bazaar for Mac software featuring a number of App Store-like features.

Pitched as a one-stop shop for software needs, the for Mac software, launched yesterday, is a free download for OS X. The storefront features a rich user interface that takes clues from both desktop iTunes and the App Store: The left-hand side row lists app categories ranging from Internet, iPod&iTunes, and Email&Chat, to Business, Desktop Enhancements, and Games.

Extensive information provided for each listed app includes a detailed, developer-provided description, in addition to links to blog posts and online reviews, ratings, and user reviews. There’s also a powerful search that lets you drill through the offerings using a wide variety of search fields. You can also browse the top-rated and most-downloaded apps.

Although the storefront currently lists only 160 apps (remember, Apple’s App Store launched with just 500 apps), IDFusion hopes that Mac developers will recognize Bodega as an efficient alternative to their own distribution efforts. Unlike the App Store, the Bodega Store doesn’t process app purchases so developers have full control of the pricing and get to keep 100% of the revenue.

The store carries paid, free, and open-source apps. When you purchase an app through Bodega, the storefront app saves your receipt, making reinstallation a hassle-free process. Bodega even keeps you up-to-date by tracking updates for apps installed through the store. A future version will include a batch update feature, IDFusion said.

The company has setup a for Mac developers who would like to have their apps included in the store. Using provided tools, developers can link press reviews, buy premium ad space inside the storefront app, and browse detailed reports that include a customer’s OS version, geographical information, and what other apps customers are buying. Most importantly, there’s no approval process, meaning that apps appear on the Bodega shelves the same day. The company is even giving away an $10 iTunes Gift Card to developers who submit their apps.

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