After 17 years, Apple has finally developed a browser-based version of the App Store. While it delivers the App Store experience for PC users, the website also includes dedicated app pages for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision, and TV, tucked away in a drop-down menu in the upper-left corner of the page.
Prior to this, the link apps.apple.com would simply redirect you to a bland page that discusses what the App Store is about (seen here). But now, the link will now redirect you to a proper digital storefront for you to explore.
To help you peruse the store’s various offerings, there are several tabs off to the side that can help you sort through games, apps, productivity, and more. This updated website also features a new search interface.
That addition may seem like a no-brainer, but before the update, if you wanted to look up an app, you had to Google it. If you find what you’re looking for, the site redirects you to the app’s product page — and that’s it. Now, apps have a bit more colour to them as well as new iconographies for categories, awards, events, etc.
It’s worth noting that, though this is a digital storefront, you can’t actually buy apps from the comfort of your PC. Instead, when you view a specific app, you’ll be prompted to open its listing in your device’s App Store. Though this browser is a welcome addition, it ultimately begs the question of who is this browser for?
