Apple has shut down the Mac OS X Downloads pages ahead of its release of Mac OS X Lion, reports MacStories.
Apple informed developers that the page would be shut down last December and is instead directing customers towards the Mac App Store to find applications.
"We believe the Mac App Store will be the best destination for users to discover, purchase, and download your apps, we will no longer offer apps on the Mac OS X Downloads site."
This will be disappointing to developers whose applications are not eligible for or not available on the Mac App Store.
Good thinking Apple,
I never would have thought to kill off support for customers on PPC machines or Intel based macs that don't support OSX Snow Leopard (A requirement for the Mac App Store). Thankfully your software (at least some of it) is available from other sources. Well for those of you with older Mac's that don't meet the system requirements for Snow Leopard and the Mac App Store I'd say it's time for an upgrade. Just send Apple the Bill ;)
I've been very disappointed with the slow adoption of the Mac app store by developers. Especially the Free Apps. There is no reason why the hundreds or thousands of free downloads that were offered In that section are not already on the App Store.