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Comment by Cthulhu_ | Hacker News Reader

Why aren't more apps like Zoom and this one distributed via the app store? I mean besides the installer hackery they are legitimate and free apps right?

Or would that mean that their premium services would require paying the fees to Apple, which they avoid this way?

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Because logging in, downloading and installing from the App Store is higher friction than how it works now. Typically Zoom is installed for the first time at the very moment a meeting is starting. Seconds matter.

Can you even use the app store with a company mac? Who has the login - your personal account or some corporate one?

Good question, I think it should be the corporate one, and even if it might be a bit more work to setup, it's definitely in the company's interest, since then the applications that are installed can be sandboxed and be vetted/whitelisted more easily.

App Store is disabled on my enterprise mac, same for my last job. I think it's fairly common.

Same as mine, but I didn't know if it was common or not.

On my company computer we can login to the App Store however we want. I created a new Apple ID with my work email but there would have been nothing stopping me from re-using an existing one.

Sure, you just make an account with your company email.

I know at least slack from the App Store can’t screen share for some reason. Maybe it’s not available as a permission from the App Store. [edit] apparently this may be old info

Yes it can.

well that's interesting! i have to look that up again. i have it in our on boarding manual to not install it from the app store for that specific reason. thanks for the update

The app store is disabled on my work mac where I am most likely to need zoom/WebEx.

So your company prevents you from downloading vetted apps from the AppStore but will let you install random apps downloaded on the internet? Well that’s a good one!

Most folks can't install anyting at all. Dev can request admin rights. I don't make the rules..

This is fair enough for managed situations where your company has signed-off on certain apps that they let you install.

But when everyone and their dog is using Zoom on their personal machines, Mac App Store should be an option.

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