geekosystem

The developer behind the exploit that lets users bypass Apple's authentication servers with in-app purchases, Alexey Borodin, has revealed that the same weakness can be utilized with OS X applications. This comes on the heels of Apple letting developers know that iOS 6 would plug the hole but that they could put in place measures to prevent it as well. Guess they didn't bother checking to see if their other similar programs had, y'know, similar issues.

One day after the launch of the Mac App Store, the above graphic--which can be seen on Apple's website--takes on a whole new meaning: The Mac App Store has been cracked, allowing users to pirate any app found in the store after installing a crack called "Kickback." Read on past the jump for details.

The Mac App Store launched earlier today, bringing the relative ease and slight addictiveness of obtaining programs the iOS way to Apple's computers, finally allowing OS X users to nickel-and-dime our e-wallets to death the way all those iPhone and iPad users get to. Upon browsing the store, in the midst of the obligatory litany of throw-away games and limited demos masquerading as free games lies a decent amount of extremely worthwhile and critically acclaimed games -- something most platforms don't generally accomplish at launch.

Leave it to Apple to try to one-up CES without even attending: The Mac App Store went live this morning, before its anticipated launch time of 1pm this afternoon and before the electronic show's post-Ballmer-keynote debut. The Mac App Store launches with over 1,000 apps, including such Apple stalwarts as its iLife and iWork software suites and such newcomers to OS X as (yes) Angry Birds, which we told you was coming to every platform ever. There are also a decent assortment of free apps, including a Twitter app, Evernote, and free games. (Still waiting on a desktop Shazam, though.) I'll confess that even as someone who runs a geek website, it took me a few minutes to figure out how to get the Mac App Store up and running on my computer.

Google's Chrome web store may have beaten Apple to market by a little bit, but even Google fans will concede that this is the bigger event: Apple has confirmed that its Mac App Store will be available in 90 countries as of January 6th. Available to Snow Leopard users as a free download, it will be divided into categories that will sound familiar to iOS users, such as Education, Games, Graphics & Design, Lifestyle, Productivity and Utilities.

“The App Store revolutionized mobile apps,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We hope to do the same for PC apps with the Mac App Store by making finding and buying PC apps easy and fun. We can’t wait to get started on January 6.” The Mac App Store lets you browse new and noteworthy apps, find out what’s hot, view staff favorites, search categories and read customer ratings and reviews. Like on iPhone®, iPod touch® and iPad™, you can purchase, download and install apps in just one click and start using them immediately. Purchased apps can run on all of your personal Macs and updates are delivered directly through the Mac App Store so it’s easy to keep all of your apps up to date. The Mac App Store is available to Mac OS X Snow Leopard® users as a free download through Software Update.

No word on how many apps will be available at launch, but considering that developers have been able to submit apps to Apple since November, that Apple's offering a 70-30 revenue split, and that lots of people will be hungry to reach the Mac-wielding populace, I'd guess a pretty decent number. Desktop Angry Birds, anyone? (Apple)

Apple held its "Back to the Mac" event and streamed it across the Internet for all to see. The big announcements were a new iLife suite, FaceTime coming to OS X, a new version of OS X dubbed "Lion," a new MacBook Air, and the Mac App Store. Head past the jump for details and screenshots.