Intel recently announced their own application store for consumers, specifically the netbook users. Seeing the need for applications optimized for a netbook’s limited computing power and display, Intel created the AppUp Center (www.appup.com) which has apps made specifically for Atom-powered devices.
Right now there are over a hundred of Adobe AIR netbook applications available for free download or purchase. Most of the apps run on Windows XP and/or Windows 7 while some were made for Moblin. To further boost this number, Intel creates the Intel AppUp Developer Program (appdeveloper.intel.com) where interested developers can download resources needed to create market applications for Atom-based devices.
There’s also incentive programs such as the Intel Million Dollar Development fund and the new “On Intel AppUp†ISV identified to help developers tie their applications to the Intel AppUp center.
I’m not sure how this move by Intel will pan out but upon checking the current lineup of apps in their AppUp Center, nothing stands out for me. The most popular free app was a space shooter with 3D graphics and the most popular paid app is a puzzle bubble type of game called Sugar Buzz which sells for $2.99.
Editor’s Note: Every year, for more than 10 years, Intel & HP conducts a 3-day out-of-town media seminar called Synergy. I attended the Bohol leg in 2008 and then the Misibis leg in 2009. This year, they had it in Club Paradise, Palawan and though I cannot personally attend since I’m in Japan, I sent Calvin to cover it for us. This is part of his coverage of Synergy 2010.
Calvin Lo is a special assignments contributor for YugaTech. He’s also the lead tech editor over at PTB and also blogs at Calvin’s Hub. You can follow him on Twitter here. – Yuga
hhmmmm…. getting ready for the future of netbook computing (cloud services) eh??… ^_^