Apple’s App Store gets Catalog Category

Apple added a new Catalogs category to its iTunes-based App Store on Wednesday ahead of its special media event. The Catalogs category groups together store and product catalogs, just as its name suggests.

Apple's new Catalogs App Store categoryApple’s new Catalogs App Store category

The new category is showing up with specific catalog apps, such as those from IKEA, Land’s End, Crutchfield, and L.L.Bean, but isn’t appearing as an independent category yet. Presumably Apple will update the App Store soon to show catalogs along side other categories like business, education, and games.

The timing of the new category addition could be an indication that Apple has some new catalog-related features in store for iPad apps since the company will be hosting a special media event later this morning where it is expected to introduce a new version if its multimedia tablet. Apple could also, however, be updating the App Store for other reasons and decided to add in the catalogs category at the same time.

The Mac Observer will be covering Apple’s media event on location this morning, so be sure to check in for any product announcements the company has in store for us.