Apple Updates Online Store With Touch-Friendly Navigation and Search Result Tweaks

Apple today rolled out a few minor tweaks to its online store (via Mac Otakara), making it easier to navigate the store on touchscreen devices such as the iPhone and iPad.

One change involves a new sliding navigation bar for product categories. From the main store page, once users select one of the four main shopping categories (Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod), the navigation bar at the top of category page showing various products and other topics within that category can now be slid back and forth with the touch of a finger. Users on non-touch devices can slide the bar by clicking on arrows at each end.

apple_online_store_nav_bar
A second change involves product search results, which had previously been presented as lists of items. Results are now presented in a grid formatted to allow easy tapping on touch-enabled devices. Users on non-touch devices will also see arrows appearing on either side of each product image allowing them to view all associated product images without having to click through to the product pages.

apple_online_store_search_result_grid
Apple's change should notably improve the user experience on the iPad, where the large screen can take full advantage of the grid-based search results and where Apple does not have a dedicated app for shopping the store. The company's Apple Store app has been iPhone-only since its July 2010 launch, with Apple believed to be refraining from making it a universal app with a native iPad interface under the view that the iPad allows for a full web experience.

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Top Rated Comments

Chupa Chupa Avatar
159 months ago
Seems broken... I navigate to Mac Pro and it still shows me the one from 2010. :D
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleMacFinder Avatar
159 months ago
touch me, touch me
Much better version from Youtube (//www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wX5hbQIyy0) :D

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
needfx Avatar
159 months ago
some people...

do you really find that a touch enabled desktop computer is actually comfortable to use?

hasn't HP already made such products (https://www.google.com/search?q=hp+touch+screen&hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=qeleUfacNoaqPPKYgYgJ&ved=0CEYQsAQ&biw=1311&bih=632) and failed miserably?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
159 months ago
Seems broken... I navigate to Mac Pro and it still shows me the one from 2010. :D

I wondered how long it would take for someone to mention MacPro. :D
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JAT Avatar
159 months ago
The company's Apple Store (http://appshopper.com/lifestyle/apple-store) app has been iPhone-only since its July 2010 launch, with Apple believed to be refraining from making it a universal app with a native iPad interface under the view that the iPad allows for a full web experience.

Silly.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
needfx Avatar
159 months ago
With that attitude the the iPad would have never have come into existence, given the disaster of Windows Tablets. Implementation is everything and just b/c HP doesn't do a good job doesn't mean Apple can't design something that is intuitive and improving upon people's current work flow.
I can agree that an open mind is mandatory for such situations but my arm's muscles will seriously disagree after 30 minutes of continuous use, if not earlier.
So unless the iMac takes a more horizontal approach in the future, I don't see the ergonomics team at cupertino signing off on it.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)