Windows 7

Both Microsoft and Apple are putting app stores into their desktop operating systems (at least the Microsoft story is true according to a leak earlier this year from HP) but Apple is set to beat Microsoft off the starting-blocks by a whole year and a half.

Not content to wait until the launch of the next version of OS X, the company will launch the Mac App Store on January 6th 2011 according to Business Newswire.

In a statement Apple boss Steve Jobs said “The App Store revolutionized mobile apps.  We hope to do the same for PC apps with the Mac App Store by making finding and buying PC apps easy and fun. We can’t wait to get started on January 6.”

Apple has had enormous success with their app store for the iPhone, especially with the business model of making money from every app sold, and are hoping to replicate this on the desktop.  With the goodwill so many Apple users have towards the iTunes App Store as it is, it is entirely possible the new store will be a resounding success from the off.

It’s also an opportunity for Microsoft to watch how things go and to see how Apple are running things.  What are the biggest criticisms of the store?  Will it be run just through iTunes?  There will be a lot of opportunity here for Microsoft to find out the best way to implement their own Windows 8 (and presumably Windows 7 too) app store in time for the Windows 8 launch in 2012.

So far as selling your own apps on the Mac app store goes, developers can set the price of their apps and keep 70% of the revenue.  There will be no charge for free apps and no charges for hosting, marketing or credit card transactions.

Related posts:

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2. Will 2011 be the Year People Begin the Move Away from Windows?
3. Will Windows 7 Launch Before January 2010?
4. Have you Noticed… Windows 7 Now HAS an App Store!
5. Games for Windows Marketplace – PC Store