The new App Store, which launched Friday, July 11th, is a big development for iTunes and the iPod and iPhone families. Originally the iTunes Music Store (eventually changed to the iTunes Store when other kinds of content were added), the popular online store was a way for iPod users to buy music and load it directly onto their players. Now, after movies and TV shows, we finally have another kind of media: software. Specifically this software has been developed specifically for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch.
After browsing the App Store for a little bit here are a few tips to help you get started:
- The App Store can be accessed through the iTunes Store part of iTunes.
- To get any App (free or not free) you must have an iTunes account.
- Once you purchase an App, it goes into your "Applications" section under "Library" on the left sidebar.
- If you can't see the Applications section, go to your Preferences (under Edit) and check it to make it visible.
- The Apps in the Application section don't do much, but I'm assuming that one will be able to check them or uncheck them for syncing with an iPod Touch or iPhone.
- Some Apps only work with one device or the other. Also, some Apps require GPS, so those will probably not function with the first generation iPhone.
I really like the way they have the App Store set up. It is a very big step for Apple and thus far it seems to be going smoothly (unlike the IPhone 2.0 activation process ;-).
A few things to think about: First, some of the Apps have a cost, so try to find out as much as you can about them before you buy. Second, the Apps will take up space on your iPhone hard drive, so make sure you have enough room.
I haven't had a chance to try out any of the Apps thus far, but these are the ones I plan to try out:
- AIM - an AIM client from AOL
- Cube Runner - some kind of accelerometer-steered game
- Facebook - an App for Facebook
- Google Mobile App - Google's search App for the iPhone
- Light - turns your iPhone into a very bright light source
- Mobile Banking - the App from Bank of America
- Molecules - a molecular modeling App (I'm a microbiologist)
- PhoneSaber - iPhone lightsaber (I'm also a Jedi)
- Remote - an Apple-made remote for iTunes, very cool
- Twittelator - twitter client
- Twitterrific - better known twitter client
Good luck on the App Store! Let us know what your favorite apps are in the comments section.