Apple has redesigned the web interface for its App Store, making it more usable for people who are not using Apple devices. Before this update, users could only view individual app pages they found through a search engine, with no way to browse the store directly from the web. On a Mac, visiting an app’s iOS store page in a browser would automatically open the native App Store application. For those on non-Apple hardware, this process led to a dead end.
The new interface now allows users to browse apps by category and by platform. There are separate sections dedicated to apps for the iPhone, iPad, Watch, and other Apple devices. Although users cannot currently download apps directly from the web, this functionality may be added in the future.
Admittedly, the group of people trying to learn about iOS apps from a non-Apple device, such as a Microsoft computer, is likely small. This change could be particularly useful for app developers or researchers who are working across both the iOS and Google ecosystems.
This redesign also signifies Apple’s continued effort to present itself as a more open ecosystem. For years, governments around the world have filed complaints against the company, accusing it of acting as a monopoly to discourage competition. Any step Apple takes to make its products more accessible outside its own ecosystem is relevant to these ongoing legal battles.