OS X Lion 10.7.1 update hits Mac App Store - one week later
One week after its release through Software Update, the 10.7.1 update for OS X Lion has made its way onto the Mac App Store. It's not clear if the delay was intentional or not. Unforeseen technical issues may have complicated issuing an update to such a large piece of software on Apple's new app distribution platform.
However, it's just as likely that this will be Apple's strategy going forward: offer OS X updates through traditional channels like Software Update and direct download to more tech-savvy users who typically watch for these kinds of things, give the update a week to settle, then offer the download to the more casual set who only updates via the Mac App Store. In that case, those of us who update right away might end up acting as de facto beta testers during that week.
It's too early to tell either way what Apple's intent for future OS X updates will be. However, if the 10.7.2 Lion update has the same weeklong delay between Software Update and the Mac App Store, it makes it more likely that Apple plans to follow that pattern going forward.
