Almost all owners of "apple" mobile gadgets and many users of stationary computers or laptops from Apple with the appropriate operating systems on board almost every day encounter a pre-installed applet called the App Store. What is it, and try to figure it out, although its definition as an application to this software is very arbitrary. The concept of the App Store is much broader. And that's why.
What is it on the app store?
Let's start by decrypting this abbreviation. Many people mistakenly attribute its value to the Apple Store, but it is formed from the full phrase Application Store, which literally can be translated as “application store” or “software store”.
Thus, in the broadest sense, this is not even a program, but a kind of “warehouse” or “store” in which you can find the necessary or recommended program, and then install it on your device (with or without a purchase, if the application is free) .
The main purpose and the most interesting features
As the main name implies, the main purpose of this kind of store is the ability to download and install any of the applets there on your own device. In this case, you should pay attention to the fact that all applications in the App Store are divided into several categories, depending on the scope, and also sorted by cost criterion. In addition, there is a special section with recommended applets, which are either the most popular in the selected direction or maximally correspond to user-defined search queries.
As for the capabilities of the App Store, which is part of iTunes (and not vice versa), among them are many standard solutions inherent in almost all similar services.
However, the most interesting ones are the possibilities of giving applications to other users, logging in using the identifier that is the same for all devices and services, as well as the ability to reload applets and the cloud if they were removed from the App Store for any reason. What does this mean for the last paragraph?
Only that if you have downloaded and installed some software from the storage at least once, but then, say, it was deleted due to obsolescence, you can easily download and install it on your device again, because the copy is linked to your Registration will be automatically saved to the cloud service. Agree, it looks very convenient, especially in cases where you remove the application from your gadget yourself, reset the settings or simply change the technique to a more modern one (but also made by Apple).
History tour
But what is it? App Store, as it turns out, in its current form appeared relatively recently. Many testimonies and official sources indicate that neither this repository, but the applet of the same name was not even mentioned when the very first iPhone was released! Actually, in the first versions of the iOS operating system it was not possible to install this application. The official date of the appearance of both the repository and the software responsible for it is 2008. Only after that they began to be used in the form in which they are presented now.
Do I need an App Store ID to use
Many users justifiably ask questions about registering in the store.
By and large, you do not need to create a separate account, since the ID that is created at the initial stage of setting up the mobile device, for example, when you first turn it on, is enough to enter. But special attention should be paid to linking the card to your account, since only in this case it will be possible to make purchases. In principle, if you use only the free software section and don’t buy anything or do not plan to purchase, you can do without registering a bank card. But even here you can expect a huge number of pitfalls, which many do not even know about.
What are in-app purchases?
It's all about applications that contain “embedded” in-app purchases. It’s hard to understand what it is at first, because even when you go to a detailed description of certain software using a link containing something like “store / apps / details”, etc., it is often indicated that the installed software product is free, but then, when you try to use all its features or additional tools, it actually turns out that you need to pay for them. In other words, the need to pay for some of its features was initially “sewn” into the installed free program. Here you have the free software!
Note: if desired, in the settings for applications, such purchases can simply be turned off.
It is clear that in this case the card will need to be linked to registration. Immediately pay attention to the interesting fact that in the store you will never find “round” prices. That is, the application cannot cost, for example, 100 rubles - its price will be set at 99 or 99.99 rubles. But the indisputable advantage is that if you bought the application once in the store, then uninstalled it, and after that you try to reinstall it, money will not be deducted from your account again. This also applies to downloading programs and the cloud.
Analogs on the App Store
In general, there are a lot of opportunities, amenities (or inconveniences) in using this service. Despite everything, you can give an example and some similar services of the App Store. Google Play or the same "Store" Windows work on similar principles. They also have their own "chips" and hidden features.
Epilogue
This is a very brief summary of the App Store. What is it, a little understood. It remains to say that it is not always advisable to use only it as the main method for installing software applets. On the Internet today you can find many distributions that can be downloaded or copied to your device, and then installed directly from the installation file, similar to how it is provided for the same Android devices (especially since there are some very interesting developments, the analogues of which are in no official repository).