Apple has mentioned that this is in response to the success of their iPhone Developer Program , also priced at $99 and this would create potential for iPhone developers to port over their applications to the Mac platform.

While the newly named Mac Developer Program covers most of the essential elements required for developing an app for Mac, it is definitely a much slimmer package than its predecessors. The $99 Mac Developer Program would offer access to Mac OS X pre-releases, technical documentation, Xcode 3 and other tools, development videos, member-only developer forums, and two technical code-level support incidents. Additional support incidents can be purchased in bundles of two for $99 or five for $249.

This program no longer includes significant hardware discounts, 10 support incidents and WWDC material and ticket worth $1200.

Apple has made it further easy for students and indie Mac developers by offering a free version of the Mac Developer Program that gives access to Xcode 3 and other tools, online resources, and bug reporting. For first timers and amateurs who just want to explore the Mac development platform, this is an ideal option.

With this new change in place, it would not be surprising to see a new wave of Mac application development and more so when there are tons of iPhone apps that are already available and can be ported over easily to the Mac platform.

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