Intel AppUp: The App Store for Netbooks

By Devin Connors
published

Intel just launched AppUp, an app store for the netbook users.

One of the driving forces behind the success of the iPhone from Apple is the App Store, a magical place where you can find millions of applications that do everything from make your life easier to waste time in between press conferences.

Intel is taking the same approach with netbooks, most of which are powered by its Atom processors. AppUp, which was launched here at CES 2010, has a number of different applications, and more will be added every day. The AppUp software will now be installed on every Atom-equipped netbook, and for those who already have an Eee PC or Wind, you can download the software for Windows or Linux.

A quick trip to AppUp shows you what to expect. Along with the download link, the AppUp front page has links for just a few of the apps that are already available, including Boxee, VEEP, Newsy (guess what that's for), and Yoono, a social networking app.

For the Tom's readers who follow us on a netbook or have one lying around the house, please comment and let us know how AppUp is!

More on CES 2010.

Devin Connors
13 Comments Comment from the forums
  • XD_dued
    Apps are over rated...just get a slightly more powerful netbook and it can run WINDOWS APPS...way more to choose from than even ipod touch app store (and with more useful apps too)
    Reply
  • There's an app-store for Linux called . It has all the apps you want for free. Then there's sourceforge.net for Windoze users. Paid-for software is dead.
    Reply
  • elel
    deb_line____There's an app-store for Linux called . It has all the apps you want for free. Then there's sourceforge.net for Windoze users. Paid-for software is dead.Not dead. Just a second-best option. If you don't check sourceforge first you are doing yourself a disservice.
    Reply
  • christop
    What the point..
    Reply
  • arlandi
    what is the difference between an app for netbook that uses Windows XP as its OS versus regular app for Windows XP???
    the major advantage of using Windows XP Home or 7 Starter or Linux in a Netbook is the freedom to choose not just one vendor in getting your applications. this app store is a huge step backward, imo.
    Reply
  • back_by_demand
    www.download.com

    It's been going since the dawn of time
    Reply
  • cryogenic
    deb_line____... Paid-for software is dead.
    Yes, because all software should be free and developers can go find themselves a job at McDonalds, while coding in their spare time at home, having no life.
    Bright future for developers, I see.

    Free software is part out out civilization, and it will never go away, but not all software will and can be free.
    Reply
  • back_by_demand
    I agree not all software should be free, there is a big difference between simple apps that tell you the weather or do RSS feeds, compared to Photoshop or Office.

    Problem is, for all the simple apps on the Appup store such as the aforementioned weather, RSS, etc etc etc there are a hundred freely available versions that do the same thing at www.download.com or sourceforge or any of the other big freeware sites. The Apple App-store has a closed market as you cannot go elsewhere for Apps, but you are not limited in your choice for a Linux or Windows based netbook.

    I am all for Intel trying to open a new revenue stream, the big question is how are they going to convince people to pay for something that is free everywhere else?

    Reply
  • I think some people here are misunderstanding of what the appup is about. It's like a repository where you have free software (where you can download it for free) and paid software (you download a trial and you paid it later if you want). So, actually searching in the appup is like searching at download.com, sourceforge.net, and so on.

    I don't know how will be the process to publish an application in the appup. Maybe the vendors will have to pay a little feed, but I have no information related to this.
    Reply
  • michaelahess
    "I agree not all software should be free, there is a big difference between simple apps that tell you the weather or do RSS feeds, compared to Photoshop or Office.
    "

    Guess you haven't heard of OpenOffice then? Or Paint.NET?

    There are very complex free software packages if you know where to look. The only app I can't have on my linux box's native is Visio, nothing comes close to what it does, the way it does it. Course MS didn't come up with it, they just bought it, I still have a floppy with the first version of it somewhere...
    Reply