Apple has redesigned its App Store’s web interface, making it actually usable for people who don’t visit the store on Apple devices.
Before this update, users could see individual pages of apps on the web – which they likely found through a search engine – but there was no way to navigate the App Store. On a MacBook, going to an app’s iOS store page in the browser would prompt the native App Store software to launch. But on non-Apple hardware, this would lead you to a dead end.
The new interface allows users to browse apps by category and platform. There are separate sections for apps on iPhone, iPad, Watch and other devices. Although users cannot currently download apps from the web, this feature may eventually be added later.
Granted, the subset of people trying to learn about iOS apps from a Microsoft device, for example, is likely small – perhaps this would be useful to app developers or researchers working on products in the iOS and Google ecosystems.
This redesign also signifies Apple’s continued desire to present itself as a more open ecosystem. For years, governments around the world have filed lawsuits against Apple, accusing the company of acting like a monopoly to discourage competition. Any steps Apple takes to make its products more accessible beyond its own ecosystem are relevant to these ongoing legal battles.
