Mac App Store for OS X 10.6 and 10.7 unveiled, coming 'within 90 days'

Given its success with the iPhone / iPod touch's App Store, we can't say an OS X version is entirely crazy -- and neither can Apple, who just announced such an App Store for its 10.7 release, Lion. Here's what we know so far: multi-touch gestures, app home screens, full screen apps. "Every app on the iPad is a full screen app," says Steve. Auto save, apps resume when launched. Don't expect on-screen multitouch, as Jobs is very much against vertical touching. "Touch surfaces want to be horizontal" -- you can all but kiss those touchscreen iMac rumors goodbye. Just like iPad, there's automatic installation, auto-updates, a 70 / 30 revenue split for developers, one-click downloads, and the license works for all personal Macs.

The App Store itself is a standalone app that looks a lot like iTunes. Apps are automatically dropped into the dock after download. Expect it to hit OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard users "within 90 days" from today. And developers? Apple's accepting app submissions starting in November.

Update: Apple's main site and developer site have been updated with App Store information pages, although there isn't much new to see beyond what was announced at the event.

Update 2: From the looks of that image above, individual iLife and iWork apps will be unbundled in the future for separate purchase. We're also wondering if this is the end of Apple Family Packs -- volume licensing that lets you install one copy of Apple software on up to five Apple-labeled computers -- after hearing Steve say that Mac App Store apps are "licensed for use on all your personal Macs?"

Check out our liveblog of Apple's Back to the Mac event right here.

Gallery: Mac App Store on OS X 10.7

Mac App Store for OS X 10.6 and 10.7 unveiled, coming 'within 90 days' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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