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Comment by hmhrex | Hacker News Reader

This looks interesting to me, but doesn't Apple hate apps that are too much like the App Store? The Private App Store description seems like it would make it a target for the ban hammer.

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One of the PencilCase devs here, thanks for your question.

We've already been using AppDrop with clients and it's been great for them to distribute apps to their own users.

All price levels get access to AppDrop Community which lets you easily share your creations with a link. The Corporate and Founding Partner levels will also get their very own, configurable custom-branded PencilCase AppDrop store.

That makes a little more sense. I'm very interested in this project. I might actually jump on board after I see it in action for a few months.

Yyyyup.

I'd only give these guys money if "AppDrop" isn't part of the value proposition for you.

(It isn't for me! An app toolkit that works like HC sounds fantastic - I wish they weren't muddying the waters with this app-store business.)

I wouldn't mind being able to send apps to my friends and everything without having to pay another amount to Apple for a developer account. But I don't think it's going to happen.

It's certainly a bit of a subversive concept. Personally I think it's about time that the app distribution model was updated to allow people to share apps with each other. I think the idea here is to add a separate, small, side-distribution channel that you can use to send apps to friends and testers. Once you're done you can certainly market them in the Apple app store.

I think that would be fine with Apple as long as were only able to open apps sent to you, and there's no price attached.

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