If you missed Apple’s announcement of Lion this past fall then you are in for a surprise when you get on your Mac tomorrow. Apple is releasing an update to Mac OS X Snow Leopard that will introduce the concept of the App Store that has been so successful with iOS devices to the Mac platform. This means that Mac users will now be able to access an App Store on their Mac and purchase apps for use on their Macs.
Below I highlight some of the features you should expect to see tomorrow when the Mac Store becomes available to Mac users. If the past is any indication of the future, the store will probably appear sometime at 1PM EST.
App Store App for Mac
The Mac App Store is just like the App Store you are accustomed to on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. Apps are a search query away or can be found by exploring Top Lists, Categories, and maybe even Genius recommendations. Like the iOS counterpart, the Mac App Store will provide users with reviews, screenshots, and information about apps.
App Pricing Similar to iOS
It appears that some iOS developers who plan to port applications to the Mac platform will offer prices that are in line with those seen in the iOS App Store. Some Apps will be sold in the $0.99 to $4.99 price range which could spell the end of the $20+ Mac application. It seems that developers will make up for lower unit prices with higher volume sales of popular titles.
Easy Installations a la iOS
Open the Mac App Store, find the application you wish to purchase, enter your iTunes password and within a couple of seconds the new App will be installed, that simple.
The Mac App Store revolutionizes the way applications are installed on a computer — it happens in one step. Enter the same iTunes password you use to buy apps on iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. And within seconds, your new app flies to your Dock, ready to go.
App Updates à la iOS
If you own an iOS device then you are probably familiar with the number badge that appears on the App Store icon on a daily basis. This badge indicates the number of apps that have available updates, all you have to do is hit the Update All button and you are set, within a couple of minutes you will have the latest version of all the applications on your iOS device. The same will hold true for Apps purchased via the Mac App Store for your Mac.
Ability to Redownload Purchased Apps
Did your Mac die? Purchase a new Mac? Not a problem, log in to your iTunes account and redownload all of your purchased Apps like if nothing ever occurred. There’s no indication of application preferences being saved as well, but I would expect that this is an option that would come at a later time or can be integrated into MobileMe Sync.
Precursor to Mac OS X Lion
When Lion ships later this summer, Apple will finally bring the rest of the iOS experience to the desktop combining the Mac App Store with the look and feel of iOS.
What are your thoughts on the Mac App Store? Will it flop or will it prove to be successful like its iOS counterpart?
The Mac App Store will debut in anticipation of a more iOS-like experience that is expected in the next update to Mac OS X, Lion.
