Apple revamps App Store on the web

You can now search and browse, but you can’t remotely install apps

The new way to search for Apple’s apps online is a website that looks the same as the Mac App Store.

Previously, you needed to either search for apps on Apple’s website or share a link to an App from an Apple device with your browser. There wasn’t any browsable experience, but now there is.

The new App Store is available online at the Apps.apple.com URL and appears to function properly on both Safari and Chrome in my brief tests. However, unlike Google’s online app marketplace, there is no way to remotely install apps on your devices. The current form only lets you copy a link, which you can then send to your iPhone or Mac.

For Canadians, you should also be aware that this is the U.S. version of the App Store, so prices may look a little cheaper than we’re used to. It seems like only the App Stores for Mexico, France, Brazil, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, China, Russia, and Arab nations are available so far.

During my browsing, it also seemed to be missing some Mac titles. For instance, I wasn’t able to find listings for Cyberpunk 2077 or Assassin’s Creed Shadows. That said, Assassin’s Creed Mirage was listed for iPhone.

Overall, this is a nice quality-of-life improvement for looking up apps on the go, but I do wonder why Apple decided to create an online version of its App Store. Does this signify a less restrictive store to compete against EU third-party stores? There is also the simple fact that Apple has had no competition for its App Store in the past so perhaps the launch of the EU stores has prompted the company to push out more updates.

Source: Apple

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