Apple today gave the public a taste of the OSX future by demonstrating its newest operating system, OSX 10.7 Lion. What is even more, Apple also introduced its latest retail opportunity, the Mac App Store.
The Mac App Store appears tightly integrated with the OSX operating system, offering users the opportunity to download apps much in the same way as the iPad and iPhone App Stores. The apps will be stored locally on a user’s computer and, in OSX Lion, can be called up with a single click via a new ‘Launchpad’ interface, offering a grid of apps, similar to the iPad.
The Mac App Store will be launched within 90 days so that users can take advantage of it sooner rather than later whereas OSX Lion will be launched in the summer of 2011.
There is no word on whether Apple will update Snow Leopard to include ‘Mission Control’ and ‘Launchpad’ but it is likely that users will have to wait until OSX 10.7 for this feature. Rather, apps will simply be launched from the dock.
This is an interesting approach for Apple but users have discussed for months the possibility of a tighter integration of OSX and the mobile iOS operating systems. The launch of a Mac App Store appears to be the initiation of this integration, but currently it appears as if developers will have to create Mac specific apps rather than allowing existing iPhone and iPad apps to run inside the operating system using an emulator.
Furthermore, while the Mac App Store looks pretty awesome, it does not really offer many new features other than a centralized and integrated way of purchasing software applications, except that software will be subject to Apple’s approval and regulations. It seems that Apple is taking 30% of the sales profit from developers and publishers simply to organize and categorize their software. Granted, users may discover new software in a much easier way but there is nothing new about it in the meantime.
A new and crafty way for Apple to make money and a revolution for users?
Image via Engadget.
Underwhelmed?
