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So as we near the end of the event, I want to share with you guys a little bit about my personal motivations behind MacHeist, and why I and the other members of the team here have been spending the last few months of our lives on this project.

In short, it's about doing what we can to support the community of independent Mac developers and, in turn, the many users of these freeware and shareware products. This community has given me and the others involved a lot over the years. Friends, jobs, and some truly amazing opportunities.

You know, sometimes it's easy to boot up Adium to chat, Transmit to work on a website, or Delicious Library to organize your media collection, pick whichever freeware or shareware app that's just integral to your Mac experience, and not remember the thousands of hours of loving care poured into each of these creations by their developers. And many of them do it for free, or as a side thing in addition to day jobs, because it's honestly a very hard thing to make a living off of shareware development, even with the Mac community's relatively strong support for it.

Regardless, I know you'll agree that the quality of these apps is in general, surprisingly good. Don't believe me? Just take a walk on the Windows side of VersionTracker...

It's due to your continued and active support of independent Mac developers that these amazing products continue to get made. And with further support, the quality and number of these great products can only improve.

We set out with MacHeist to help improve the Mac shareware scene in two ways. Excite existing fans again by having you guys trying and exploring some great gems we felt deserved more exposure, and perhaps more importantly, bringing new users into the market, perhaps introduced to their first Mac shareware applications, lured in by some fun games and free software.

I think the fact that over 25,000 of you have joined up in a little over a month is extremely significant. I think it's safe to say at this point that, thanks to you guys and support from over a dozen Mac shareware developers so far, we have made some progress along these roads. Maybe nothing really noticeable yet, but perhaps just enough new excitement, and new users, to trigger some positive change. Maybe by this time next year, you guys will be enjoying a few excellent new products from new developers who have jumped in encouraged by your excitement. Or maybe a couple Mac shareware developers will be able to continue their work, when in a different situation, they might've had to shut their doors.

And of course, we have one more trick up our sleeve. As you know, we've been preparing a final bundle of some of the best Mac shareware applications out there. It's a large bundle, and a diverse one, with something for everyone. Even if you're a prolific purchaser of Mac applications, you will probably find great value in this package. But over the past few months, as I've been talking the developers into participating, the focus has slowly shifted from pleasing existing shareware users to creating the most appealing "welcome package" to the world of shareware possible. I feel what we've put together will be giving many people the spectacular "first impression" of Mac shareware that the independent development community deserves. Hopefully you guys will spread the word beyond the usual crowd, and we'll get a lot of first time shareware customers leaving with a great taste of what the community has to offer.

I know MacHeist is wrapping up soon, but I hope this is only the beginning of your exploration and support of independent Mac software for those of you who were recently introduced to it, and for the rest, a new, exciting chapter of your shareware experience.

And, since this is getting rather long-winded, I'll finish it up with a quick request. Mac shareware and freeware has always succeeded best when spreading by word of mouth, not by banner advertisements. So if you find a really cool application and send in some cash for a serial number, don't stop there. Show it to your friends. Share your experience with it on your blog. And the next time a friend looks over your shoulder and asks, "hey, that looks cool, what is it?", think of it as an opportunity to introduce your friend to what is often a truly fun and rewarding aspect of the Mac experience.

Give yourselves a pat on the back for what you've done so far, and maybe send an email of thanks to the developers who have participated so far. They'll appreciate it.

And above all, keep spreading the shareware love!

Co-Creator of MacHeist, Clear, Partner at tap tap tap | follow me on twitter

Thanx for all the fun, I loved it.

I think you guys are doing great stuff!

Yeah we love macheist! and you.

my playground - http://jonnoriekwel.nl

phill you rock and i hope that the "Next Big Thing" is just as good, if not better then MacHeist has been / still is.
~DrT

---- Andrew Clark Macheist Moderator ----
MaxJG: i just imagined your computer sticking it's finger down it's throat and vomiting up oracle-owned bile
MaxJG: it was weird

Exactly.

wctaiwan

I'm definitely in the group of those that haven't purchased Shareware in the past. I've always gotten by on a Freeware alternative, but I think that's changed. I'm really impressed by the quality of the applications being made, and I see that a couple bucks is a great deal for the amount of work that's gone into these apps.

thats like the story of my life

i never really cared about software until i switched to the mac
then i found that there was alot of exelent freeware
now after all this i can sit back and see that mac development has no limits and cant wait to see the shareware of the future

thanks for everything Phill

Up until 6 months ago when I bought my first Mac (a MacBook Pro), all I ever knew about computers was the Windows world. I had gotten to the point that I only ever sat down at my computer when I absolutely had to. The unbelievable number of buggy applications, viruses, and spyware was just making me completely hate the whole computing experience. So, needless to say, I have been EXTREMELY pleased since switching to Macs, and a huge part of that has to do with the incredible shareware/freeware community that I have found starting with MacZot, MacUpdate, and then MDA, MacHeist, and MacAppADay. It's unbelievable to me how the shareware apps available to Mac users even beat out 98% of the way overpriced commercial apps available for Windows.
Anyway, I just wanted to say how much I am enjoying the Mac switch and send a big thanks to Phill, the developers, and the Mac community for doing such a great job supporting this great OS.

Visit my photography website: http://homepage.mac.com/greenldr

As a recent convert to the Mac world (September) I have been amazed at the amount and quality of share/freeware available for OSX.  Through MacHeist, and My Dream App for that matter, I have been exposed to a host of apps that I probably would have never found with a typical Google search -- some of which I never would have guessed even existed.  It seems as if Phill's two projects have come at a time where the Apple brand is more popular then ever and what a great way to start a new OS experience then to have a host of useful and beautiful apps listed so nicely for you.  I can't wait to see what the final Heist has in store nor what is contained in the final bundle.  This has been a lot of fun not only pulling the various heists but working with the greater Mac community.  Needless to say I don't think I ever found anything quite like this in my two decades as a Windows user.  So, I guess what I'm trying to say is thank you Phill, all of the Directorates and to the developers for making all of this possible.

I like to pull heists.

As a fairly long time mac user and an already big shareware fan, thank you! This has been great and really has continued and furthered my interest in mac shareware. It's a great community and often the devs are very easy to approach and helpful with any issues or questions you may have. It's been a great ride so far (both MH and my shareware experience in general) and I greatly look forward to continuing it!

A big big thank you to all involved here. The developers, directorate and the community. It's all been awesome!

"It has become appallingly clear that our technology has surpassed our humanity."
- Albert Einstein

@Phill,

I've had my mac maybe a year.  I've lost something like 4 or 5 windows hard drives and got tired of replacing computers anually.  Until MacHeist I didn't use my mac for much.  Allthough it is CLEARLY better than any windows, I just don't know my way around it as well.  (I'm the layman "tech support" to my friends and co-workers - for windows)

I'd say "Mission Accomplished."  Since the fun of MacHeist and the curiosity to go "exploring" all the apps we've seen, visited and heard about in the forums I have been asking anyone who will listen: "so, what do you use at home, there's this cool mac thing....."  You've got me hooked.  And I don't see anyway I'll stop talking about it.

And as the lesser informed users come to me with questions my first response is "well, if you can swing the extra money... GO MAC!  You'd have to spend it later anyway"  I don't plan to ever go back!

Thanks for all the fun, both with MacHeist and a *window* into everything that is out there! 

Parenthood is like being pecked to death by a duck

Thanks to everyone involved who made MacHeist great.  Not only did I enjoy the free software, but I also enjoyed doing the heists themselves, and now I'm most likely going to buy shareware apps more often.

Thanks again to all who were involved!  I'm looking forward to Heist 6 and the Bundle!

- Majicman

MacHeist is sweet.  Period.

As a mac user since '87 and an apple user since '83 I really appreciate the fact that their are still people that just enjoy the fun that apple brings to the computing world along with really cool apps. This has been a great experience and a ton of fun. Though I have been extremely busy at work and have not had a lot of time for posting I have enjoyed all of the forums and content from everyone in them. I hope to be involved down the road with continued support of shareware and freeware opportunities. MacHeist was great. Congrats to the team behind this, you pulled off one of the most fun online experiences I've had in a long time.

There is nothing more I can really add to this post except to add my support to all those who have posted here... and said the same things I am thinking and feeling.  I also have supported Shareware and have taken advantage of Freeware as needed.

But until MDA, MAAD and Here I usually had to rely on MacAddict for my knowledge of apps or the Apple Download page.

But these concepts have been a wonderful experience.  As Awojtowski says above we are a unique bunch in the Macniverse.  I really think a lot of PC users are envious.

I know that those Window driven machines are 'faster' have more programs (Store type) and you can get all geeky under the hood with them.  I know there is a large market for that type of 'puting.  But generally there is no allegiance in their grey world except to MS and their collective God Bill Gates. 

But we have Steve Jobs, but more than that.... what other Computer Co. makes the hardware, software and gets with the 3rd party developers and Share/Freeware garage dudes and to work out their apps and hardware to resemble something right of the Apple Labs?! 

We are a World, albeit a small one, unto ourselves.  And I kinda like it that way.

We need to support these Garage Developers.... We need to support our little corner of the world.  Every time I see someone on a Mac at a coffee shop or someplace  I always walk up and tell them that they have good taste or something along those lines.

This is one Cult worth belonging too.... because it makes sitting at the computer engaging.

Been Drinking the Mac KoolAid since 1984
See You in the Land Of The Useless
Neon Charity Films

I'll add my thanks as well. Pretty amazing work, everyone

Back on my two feet

To all of you at MacHeist and the community you created.  Thank you.  Ditto what has been said above this post.  You all made a stranger feel quite welcomed... thanks and Merry Christmas and a very profitable New Year to all.

www.usheroes.us Pray for Peace. Go Orange!

Thanks Phill.  It's been a fun time doing this.  I can't wait to see what you've got planned next.

Website | Twitter
PM me

Thanks Phill and the rest of the team, including the Moderators that were added along the way.

I have only had my iMac since April and before that I only used my computer as a "toy".  Something to play games on and write the occasional letter.  Now, my friends want to know where I am....why haven't I been to the game sites to play....where is all the fun email jokes that I used to send?  I tell them all they are missing the fun, the community and the great people willing to help with whatever the issue is at that moment.  I tell them that when the time comes, do not stay with their Windows machine.  Come over to the Apple side of the world and what a great world that is!

I do think I will need a support group when the heists are over, when MacAppADay is done, when I can't stand getting one more AppZapper at MacZot.....sigh

???? Proud Member of the BLUE Team™ ????

Not meaning to get overly touchy, but this has been one of the most fun and engaging experiences I've ever seen on the series of tubes (pardon the millionth reference to our wonderful senator).
I do have one question that I haven't been able to find an answer to, I'm planning on switching to a mac (have been for the last couple of months) and I was wondering of how long the apps that I have on my account will last. Since the apps that I got from MDA are nowhere to be found anymore I was wondering if the accounts for Mac Heist will be closed at the end as well.
Thanks.

Zoomrix.com

Thanks to all the team and to shareware developpers that let their apps for free in the macheist experience. I'm glad to have been a part of it

/tear

thank you phill

Maybe not. We have loot this time.

right back at ya phill

+1:

- people who didn't, as a rule, invest in shareware but now do thanks in part to this initiative.
- people who've lost time allocated to other tasks, fallen behind in deadlines, lost sleep, and are happy about it. =]
- recent switchers (September here, too) thrilled by the "Welcome Wagon." I really feel like I selected the best time to switch.

Most of all, +1 to appreciation of the MH team, +1 to gratitude for undertaking and investing so much time and energy into this delectable morsel of creativity, +1 to appreciation of developers who not only participated, but went above and beyond with free updates (with an especially appreciative nod to developer code poetry, who countered a seemingly illicit request for Notae with a discount coupon), and +1 to the increased enthusiasm to support the microISVs who give us such lubly software.

Finally, thanks also to the MH participants who've made this experience what it's been, and especially to the excellent moderators selected to help maintain a standard of excellence in these forums.

@Zoomrix: I tried PM'ing you this message so I wouldn't derail this thread, but for some reason it won't go through. Apologies to everone else for the interruption.
--------------------------------
Hi Zoomrix,

You're not the first to ask how long the vault will remain open for us to be able to download our loot. I'm not sure a definitive response has been provided by the Directorate, but it's assumed to be at least until the end of the sale, at least until the end of MacHeist.

That doesn't sound like it's long enough for you. If it isn't, I'd suggest downloading all the applications to your PC (do not unzip the zipped archives) and burning them to disc. You can use Firefox's "ScreenGrab" extension to take a snapshot of the loot page so that you have all the serial numbers in one place when you need them later. Of course, you can also just write them down.

An advanced welcome to the community. I recently switched myself (September) and it's been an amazing experience so far.

.g

I've had my Mac for only a year and a half, and I have never bought shareware - just gotten by on the free stuff.
Thanks for introducing all this cool stuff, and making me max out my boyfriends paypal account! It definatly been fun.
Thank you

monkey magic in [img]http://leomancini.net/other_images/logos/macheistVIP/dark.png[/img]

yeh i love this macheist and all the apps recieved - and a great thanks to phill, the  directorate, the developers and all the people who helped and participated

i luv macheist - yay

in short, thank you too.
in short no. 2, maybe we should have macheist everytime the app go thru an update.  hehe.

Penguin in the ArcticZOT

I will thank all the developers once this is done... just like I will over at MAAD.  No sense doing it now... what if the Developer has other treats here or there.

I think that's the best way to thank them plus if I use the app and find it very useful then I will pay when it needs to be upgraded.  That might be the best Thank You.

I'm in The Useless, are you?

Been Drinking the Mac KoolAid since 1984
See You in the Land Of The Useless
Neon Charity Films

Let's keep up this Shareware scene. Support the community, yall!

Yea, I'm sure I'll keep on coming back here.  Just so I can keep in contact with all of you.  That is, unless Phill goes off and drags us somewhere else.

Website | Twitter
PM me

Phil et al,

I echo the gratitude of the community...and what a community it is....MacHeist reminds me of the Burning Man festival....out of nowhere, in the desert this community is born.  The desert, in this case is the Internet, and you have created a community that pulls in members from around the world...some, we watch, rise to the rakes of moderators, some just lurk around - all contribute in one way or another.  How you treat this community is what makes it grow beyond the festival.   

The job your team has done is incredible.  To say thank you is not enough....instead we all should commit to buying and promoting more of these great apps.  You will see me doing exactly that!

Thanks to all....Phill and crew..and the entire community....it is a great ride!

-john

Poetry...

▛▞▞▟ Proud Member of the BLUE Team™ ▙▚▚▜
CMSEC FTW!

I stumbled upon MacHeist by chance (I missed out on MDA) and what a great experience it was!

THANKS!!!

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

I've been showing this thread to a lot of the developers involved, and they've all enjoyed reading your responses. Thanks!

Co-Creator of MacHeist, Clear, Partner at tap tap tap | follow me on twitter

I'm glad.  You wouldn't believe how much shareware I've been introduced to and purchased over the last five weeks...  and there are a few apps that I've got in mind that I will be purchasing should they not make it into the final bundle.

You've done a terriffic thing for the community here, and even inspired some of us, myself included, to learn what it takes and begin development on our own app ideas that have been milling around for awhile.

Kudos, and thank you.

...too close for missiles.  I'm switching to guns.

This has been, and still is, an awesome event. Thanks Phill et al.
-Chris

Thanks for starting the Heist in the first place. Hope more is to come!

Thank you MacHeist!

+1. See you over at the coders' forums (fora?), attabui. =)

I was in the same boat as them, as I grew up on a Windows computer, so I rarely ever found new software.  I then moved to a Mac this year, May 10th, 1 day after my 14th birthday, and still didn't buy any software.  Until MacHeist, I thought that I could get by on freeware apps, and now, I can see the time and work these developers put into these apps, and now I full heartedly chip in a few bucks here and there for them.

Thanks Phill!

(  Chad Ohman  )

Like WordPress? You'll like this better.

wow.
I think that the mac has an amazing developers community, one that can't be found on the windows side of things. I believe that anything that can promote this community is great, and that macheist has done it in an outstanding way.
the apps really rock, the devs really rock, and the macheist team really rocks.
well done.
P.S. i'm going to miss MH...

Follow me, don't follow me / I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush
Collar me, don't collar me / I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush
We are agents of the free (R.E.M)

Ditto.

Phil et al. : For the hours of hair-pulling frustration, and the feeling of exhilaration once the heist - or mini heist was completed - thank you

The developers - Thanks for supporting the Mac community with all your hard work.  The 'shareware' apps you produce are oft far more finished and presentable than commercial applications.

Phil's webhost - thanks for not dying on us as we 'mob' the site to complete our heists.

Was that 5 weeks?
no.....
I started life as a windows user, and about 3 months ago switched.
Because of my windowsish, i NEVER trusted any program which was not opensource or big name. Shareware just did not come into it.
Ever since i have had this thing about shareware... but now i have been proved wrong!
yay!
we love you phill and crew!

Here comes my fourth season of MacHeist!

I think Mac Heist is certainly having the desired effect.  As a direct result I've bought my first Mac Shareware application having previously used a freeware alternative.  The interesting thing is that I was so disillusioned with software as a whole before switching to Mac that I refused to pay for anything.  Having recently switched, I find myself far more willing to part with money for shareware and low cost applications.  I'm excited by software again!  Of course thats not solely down to Mac Heist, or even the Mac community that do promote the apps they love, its more down to the sheer quality of the apps that are out there.  Compared to Windows, and even *nix, its like chalk and cheese.

As an aside, I have put off buying some apps just in case they appear in the final bundle.  And I'll not be happy if the app I did just buy ends up as part of it (previous forum posts and the means by which I acquired it suggest not though).

Cheers.

This is truly incredible opportunity...a big thanks to all involved with this project!

I made the transition from Windoze about a year ago so I didn't even expect there would be a community like this.

This has really made a big difference in the way I look at shareware and the developers.

Thanks Again!

I've never used Windows willingly, but MacHeist has introduced me to a couple of new worlds in the Mac community. Now I have something other than pure fanaticism to present to my benighted Windows friends, family and acquaintances. Thank you all for that and thank you for a great time!!

- a nerd of a different color

Thanks.  It's been great playin these heists and all the free stuff is awesome. Thanks again.

Hopefully having a signature will increase my points...

So far I already have 2 of the 4 applications in the bundle, and I’m probably purchasing it anyway. I do believe in supporting shareware, donationware, postcardware, and pint-ware (remember Finder Pop?)
I’ve used Mac shareware/freeware for a while now, and it has been a great experience to interact with many developers, particularly the ones willing to help out starving students

Thanks for the great experience.
I would have liked a more responsive Support Desk, though.

Look Ma, no teeth!

Make that 3 of the 5 programs

Look Ma, no teeth!

Hey Phill & Company!

Thank you *SO* much for going to the trouble of organizing this whole thing.  I'm one of those "new to the Mac Shareware Community" folks you spoke of... heck, I'm relatively new to the whole Mac Community, too. 

Not only has MacHeist introduced me to some AMAZING developers, but to some cool sites like MacAppADay.com and MacRumors.com.

Thanks for all your hard work.  You're making it harder and harder to switch over to my PC to do things.

Clay

Clay
http://MoronLife.com