Apple launches new iTunes with App Store

Apple has launched the latest version of its iTunes Store a day earlier than anticipated.

iTunes version 7.7, available now for Windows and Mac, includes the App Store, a method for delivering third-party iPhone applications.

The download appears to have some quirks: for this user, the version number remained at 7.6.2, and no direct link to the App Store was available, but it could still be reached by linking here.

Apple's new App Store

(Credit: Apple)

The newest version of the iPhone is due out Friday. The App Store will be preinstalled on the new iPhone 3G, but it will also be available as a download for owners of the current iPhone.

The App Store has 27 pages of applications, including games like FreeCell and Sudoku, as well as applications for Facebook, MySpace, The New York Times, Pandora, PayPal, and Twitter.

CNET Reviews will have more on the new applications shortly.

The Facebook application

(Credit: Apple)

[lil-yankee]

I was really exited about this version of the iphone but then came AT&T again with their stupid plans. I had an iphone that I unlocked to not have to wait for this new one to come to have these goodies with me. So then, what do you know, my cellphone got bricked, and what do you know, I bough another cellphone the P1 to be exact. Now this iphone is like better looking, true, but then is just the software that apple saw during the jacks that are know legal and that you must pay for.
I like mobileme, I dont like to pay 100 dollards for that service but hey, is their business. I mean, i THOUGH jobs said 200 and 300 not 599 and 699, which is what im seeing now as a slogan in the stores unless you are an user from at&t and are eligible for and upgrade.
I hear him said that this time iphone was intended to reach a milestone in sales because of price (I mean *** it still the same unless you are an AT&T user). Or so it was that he meant to say that apple intended to reach a milestone among AT&T users then thats fine with me. I just know that you that are reading this are an enthusiastic apple fan or pro iphone (I am too have a mac pro and Ipod's and time capsules and stuff) but I just wanted to warn some of you guys. If you are not from AT&T and you do not have to upgrade your contract you are looking at 599 and 699 prices, go to their page for more details.

[Special(e)]

Correct.

[Xtoo]

WRONG! If you aren't an AT&T customer and want an iPhne all ou have to do is switch to AT&T and sign up for a 2-year iPhone plan. Then you get the iPhone for $199 or $299.

[Balrob]

You are wrong - the non-contract iPhones (at $599 & $699) - are still LOCKED to ATT - you just don't have a contract.

[lil-yankee]

Yeah i mean, come on. These arent like the first ones even if you get them they are locked.
You have the phone without a contract pretty much and ipod touch.
They should let you unlock it or something

[Crematum]

I got the latest 7.7 and found out how to get the app store easily. Just go into the options and add "Applications" as another choice in the Library list. Once you do that, you can click on applications in iTunes and you'll find a link at the bottom right that will bring you to the store.

[kmslogic]

Now if they'd just put up the 2.0 iPhone software update too so I could use those apps...

[Vegaman_Dan]

It's up now and ready for download.

[benjaminstraight]

So a few kinks are being worked out....

[Lampen1129]

I cannot wait until tomorrow... This is going to be SWEET!!!!!!!

[livecrunch]

I am about to update, but what I don't get is how people can only talk about Iphone, what about Ipod Touch fans? Sometimes we just forget about things that are have same features except one :) .

Good post, thank you for sharing.

Btw guy yesterday had his own opinion here.

http://ipodtouchtricks.blogspot.com

[MaLvaDo39]

Here comes the bloodbath for other phone makers!

[givemeglenn]

You can download it from Apple's website. Once there, select the download tab, and then select the iTunes tab. Even though it shows v 7.6.2 on the tab to the left, when you click it, it will take you to v 7.7.

[Vegaman_Dan]

The Apps store is up! It has games, tip calculators, games, bus schedules, games, public domain books (free to anyone in the world- 99 cents for iTunes), games... and... um, that's it.

I was really REALLY hoping for a simple checkbook. That's not even listed. There appears to be a serious lack of any database application that allows you save and manipulate user data. I'm beginning to wonder if this is one of those restrictions Apple placed on developers against allowing background proceses and that all apps had to shut down completely with no data. I had thought you could have an app save data like a database file, but that appears to be missing.

I may be missing this basic application. Palm and Window Mobile have hundreds of similar apps. This pretty much dooms the use by me. I need that checkbook app or no sale.

On the other hand, I see they have multiple voice recorders for notes. A shame that you still can't have voice command/dialing like 99% of the rest of the cell phones in the world. Hopefully there will be some hack out there soon to enable this as well.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Ah, now the apps are starting to roll in. Yes indeed, there are more than 500 listed. Great! Okay, let's see that checkbook, PDF viewer, doc/spreadsheet viewer...

Drat. Nothing. The unlocked community still has more variety and use than what is currently available. This may change though, so give it time.

[open-mind]

Apple only let a small fraction of the developers into the beta SDK program, so those are the only apps you are seeing so far. I expect the floodgates to open soon.

A tip calculator? It has other functions! ;-)

[purcell429]

Ah, but the 2.0 firmware IS avaliable!! Running some apps right now...

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/07/10/iphone-2-0-firmware-5a347-available-early/

It also has instructions for installing (if using windows, hold shift instead) Takes 10-15 to update.

[CitizenJag]

Do all these apps work for the iPod touch as well as the iPhone? do any of them?

[open-mind]

Anything that doesn't depend on features unique to the iPhone (speaker, mic, phone, etc) should work fine with a Touch.

[jawash22]

I thought the App store would help with messaging charges, but.....robbery....AT&T charges for IM just like text messaging. Seriously..why! It's not SMS, it's data right? They really force heavy text messagers to fork out another $20 for unlimited msgs....geeezzzzz.....guess I willl stick with my BB!!!

[mcharge]

What was the pricing like?

[kevz55]

@jawash22: can you point so something from at&t saying it will treat IMs sent via the AIM app as SMS messages? That would be awful, but I'm not so sure it's accurate.

[sephirothis666]

Great, now iTunes is even more bloated.