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Apple Expands Browser-Based 'iTunes Preview' Functionality to Include App Store
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I would not be surprised if the iPad itself drove this feature, since the larger browser viewing area it offers would make such a feature more effective.
You'll notice that instead of only throwing up a dialog box prompting you to confirm that you wish to launch iTunes on your desktop, you'll see a nice page with the app logo, price, description, screenshots, rating, reviews and more in a new window or tab.
I must be missing something. I am always taken to iTunes I have never seen a dialog box.
I must be missing something. I am always taken to iTunes I have never seen a dialog box.
Same here about not wanting the webpage to open iTunes on its own.
But, what I think is really wrong w/ the iTunes website is that it doesn't have the iTunes Store front page (that I can find). Where can you find what's new, what's hot, browse by category? I can't even do a search and find Labyrinth, a game I have on my iPod.
Seems like only a select few items are available on the website?
But, what I think is really wrong w/ the iTunes website is that it doesn't have the iTunes Store front page (that I can find). Where can you find what's new, what's hot, browse by category? I can't even do a search and find Labyrinth, a game I have on my iPod.
Seems like only a select few items are available on the website?
Opening the link (preview page) in a new tab does not launch iTunes as far as I can tell..
What is the technology behind this feature? Could anyone tell me?
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Standard web browser material.
Brilliant! I never liked how an app link first launched a blank Safari page and then opened iTunes, when all I wanted was a little info about the game. This new implementation is a much more elegant solution.
This means that we can find App Store applications and the comments about them using conventional search engines.
I will still use AppShopper to find apps by category but finding the Apple pages thru Google will be handy too.
I will still use AppShopper to find apps by category but finding the Apple pages thru Google will be handy too.
Not true, at least not in Safari.
I, too, would like to see some way (be it from Apple, or a 3rd party add-on) to prevent iTunes from launching automatically from these pages. Let the user decide to click, if s/he wants to launch iTunes, as it's not "necessary" any longer, just to read info/see screenshots.
The App Store and the (relative) ease with which you can search for apps OFF THE PHONE remain one of Apple/iPhone's strengths over Google/Android. The web version of the Android Market is just a small subset of the total market, which is only available on the phone.
One extremely cool feature of Android devices, though, is the use of QR Barcodes to link you straight to a product in the Android Market. If you're reading an app review on the web and would like to get the product, you just open the barcode scanner on the phone, scan the barcode right on your computer screen, click okay, and the Market opens up right to the app's install/buy screen. Apple app reviews have a url that you have to email to then open on the phone or the computer. Not that that's a big hassle, but the Android experience is a bit more seamless.
The QR codes are popping up everywhere - the weather channel is actually popping one up on the TV screen that you can scan to download their Android app. Pretty cool.
I know there are a few QR code scanners on the App Store, but it's not an integrated experience like Android. Apple should tie it in more.
I am on Firefox and iTunes still opens when I open the preview link in a new tab.
The only benefit of this (and it is a good one) is that you can have numerous app preview windows open instead of the single one that is allowed in iTunes.