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Apple's Mac Store is online

by @iPhoneate / January 6, 2011 12:04 AM EST

Hello iPhone user, as mentioned a few weeks ago, the Mac Store is now open. If you don't remember, the Mac Store is the version of the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, but for Macs (iMac or MacBook). It will sell official software and third-party applications. Keep reading for all the information; if you have a Mac, this is for you.


The Apple Mac App Store is officially online as of this morning, available via the Snow Leopard update to version 10.6.6. This application for accessing the app and software marketplace was officially launched to provide an organized and structured way to purchase software for laptops worldwide. The store will have over 1000 titles available, including Apple's official suite such as iLife, separated into parts (iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand) which will be sold for $14.99 each. Also available are Pages, Keynote, and Numberg for $19.99 each, and the exclusive Aperture for $79.99 (all prices in USD). Of course, third-party applications will also be available at launch, such as Autodesk Sketchbook Pro, Pixelmator, Cheetah 3D, and Flight Control HD (an adaptation of the iPad version).

The Mac App Store will be a standalone application that functions just like the App Store, with update notifications and universal installation processes. Currently, the number of available applications is small, but we can expect this number to grow rapidly now that every Mac user will have access to the store.

Why is this a watershed moment? Because of the potential release of a jailbreak for the Mac App Store, which is possibly the reason we should be paying attention. A new horizon for jailbreaking opens up with Jay Freeman's announcement a few weeks ago about the availability of Cydia on the Mac, just as it is on jailbroken iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches. We will keep you informed of all the latest news, and of course, remember that for obvious reasons, the Mac App Store is only for Macs.