Apple Mac App Store to Launch January 6
After much speculation, we finally know when you can start downloading apps for your Mac. Apple has confirmed the Mac App Store will officially launch on January 6.
"The App Store revolutionized mobile apps," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs in a company statement. "We hope to do the same for PC apps with the Mac App Store by making finding and buying PC apps easy and fun."
Apple did not say that how many apps will be available at launch , but did say that 90 countries will have access to the Mac App Store at launch.
Mac app developers will have the same 70/30 revenue split that iPhone developers have. Apps will be divided into similar categories as iPhone apps as well.
On January 6, Mac users will be able to download the App Store for free as a software update. The app purchasing and download will be a one-click process, just like it is on the iPhone. Perhaps the most interesting thing will be to see how fast Mac Apps complete the "race to free" that intense competition caused among iPhone app prices. Will larger, more feature-filled apps be able to thrive at the $0.99 mark or even be supported by advertising.
There will still be other options for Mac users. Much like it has done for iPhone apps, Cydia plans to open an app store for Mac computers and offer competing apps.
