Apple's skipping the CES party but that does not stop it from creating waves, while competitors are launching tablets and phones, Apple has softly opened its much awaited Mac App Store.

Apple's attempt to create an Ios like ecosystem around its Mac OS X opened with 1,000 paid and free apps. It also listed its own in-house apps like iMovie, iPhoto and GarageBand.

To download the apps the users have to download the Mac OS X 10.6.6 or visit www.apple.com/mac/app-store. Currently the store is only available for Snow Leopard users.

While the world is going bonkers over devices such as tablets and smartphones, as punctuated by a flurry of device launched at CES, Apple is focusing on apps for devices running Mac OS X like its recently launched MacBook Air models.

Apple is attempting to recreate the magic that surrounds its iOS devices iPad and iPhone - which boasts about 300,000 apps, now around its Mac OS X devices, as it tries to capture mindshare for the erstwhile platform. Apple knows that its not merely the device but the quality of apps that a device supports that makes a device successful.

Apple is thus following a reverse trend by loaning success elements from its iOS strategy for its Mac OS X devices, unlike its earlier strategy to migrate Mac OS X elements to other devices like iPod. Thus, its Mac App Store is reflective of this new direction.

The Mac App Store experience is touted to be similar to its App Store when it was announced in October. Like on iPad, you purchase apps using your iTunes account and they download and install in just one step. App updates are delivered directly through the Mac App Store. it had said.

Apple also gave a sneak-peek of its Mac OS X at the Back to the Mac event. Apple CEO Steve Jobs stated Lion brings many of the best ideas from iPad back to the Mac, plus some fresh new ones like Mission Control that Mac users will really like.

Thus, the flow seems to indicate that its iOS features are merging into Mac OS X, which will create a unified experience for users. Currently many users do not migrate to Mac OS X as they find switching from Windows OS to Mac OS X difficult. This strategy enables users a slow transition from iOS to Mac OS X and keeps the users within its fold.

It's Mac App Store is an attempt to create a unified experience across its devices and OS. However, questions also abound as to whether iOS apps will run on Mac OS X someday.

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