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Apple’s Mac App Store to Open Tomorrow

Starting tomorrow, Mac OS X users in 90 countries will be able to enjoy the experience of the App Store on their computers with the launch of the aptly-titled Mac App Store. First announced by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the company’s Back to the Mac event in October, the Mac App Store will make it easy for customers to browse, install and update their favorite apps, as well as to discover new ones.

At first glance, the Mac App Store is a lot like...well, the App Store. Like its’ iOS predecessor, the Mac App Store will feature a wide variety of both free and paid apps across categories like Games, Lifestyle, Education, Productivity and Utilities. You will be able to search within categories as well as browse new and noteworthy apps, staff favorites, and the most popular apps in each section. You will also have the opportunity to rate and review apps, and read what other customers have to say.

Mac apps can be bought, downloaded, and installed with a single click. Just enter the same password you use to buy apps for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, and the new app will appear in your Dock almost instantly. Once you’ve purchased an app, you can even install a copy of it -- as well as any available updates -- on other Apple computers linked to your iTunes store account.

All of these similarities also add up to good news for developers. They will retain the ability to set the price of their apps and split their sales revenue with Apple, still keeping 70 percent of the profit. Those who offer free apps for download are not charged. Developers also don’t have to worry about paying for hosting, bandwidth, marketing, or credit card transaction fees, as they do when providing premium content for other platforms.

“The App Store revolutionized mobile apps,” said Steve Jobs in a recent Apple press release. “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.”

Neither can many frenzied Mac users. Several news sources are reporting that the Mac App Store will open for business tomorrow at 12 noon Eastern time. (That’s 9 am for you West Coast go-getters.) The Mac App Store will be available as a free download through Software Update on all Apple computers running Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the latest version of the company’s desktop operating system.