Apple Launches Mac App Store

Apple launched its Mac App Store today with around 1,000 free and paid apps for its signature computer hardware line.

“With more than 1,000 apps, the Mac App Store is off to a great start,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO in a statement. “We think users are going to love this innovative new way to discover and buy their favorite apps.”

It's an interesting choice for Apple, given that it has been spending most of its time on its iOS and the App Store, which now has more than 300,000 mobile offerings. (In comparison, 1,000 apps for Mac looks positively anemic.) Users can buy the Mac apps using their iTunes accounts but must be running Mac OS X 10.6, or Snow Leopard, to use the software.

Apps range from games to a la carte programs from Apple office suites. It also looks like Apple is trying to drum up some interest in the apps by making some good deals. Some of the for-sale apps, like  Aperture 3.0, a photo editing program, is discounted more than 50 percent at the app store, from its $199 retail price to $79.99.

However, the site experienced some problems early Thursday morning, with users trying to download apps receiving the message,"“We could not complete your App Store request. An unknown error occurred (100).”

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