In November 2009, Apple launched a feature dubbed iTunes Preview, which essentially enabled people to see what music is available on iTunes from their Web browser without the need to fire up – or install – the desktop software program.

At the time, you weren’t able to actually listen to a sample of music tracks from your browser, but that changed earlier this year when Web-based audio previews were quietly added (paving the way for the imminent roll-out of iTunes.com).

This morning, Apple activated the iTunes Preview feature for iPhone / iPod Touch applications in addition.

To see this for yourself, open any direct link to an iPhone app (example) in your favorite Web browser.

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.

Simultaneously, iTunes will be opened and you’ll be directed to the app’s detail page in the App Store.

All in all, this is a logical move for Apple to make: the prior way links to iPhone apps were handled wasn’t particularly user-friendly. You still get the option to confirm that you want to open iTunes or do nothing when you click a link to download or purchase apps, but at least now you’ll also get a nice overview of what an app is all about and how other users are liking it.

Next up: iTunes Preview for video content?

(Hat tip to Gerry Cardinal III)

Crunchbase

• ITUNES
• APPLE

Product: iTunes

Company Apple

iTunes, Apple’s digital media player application, was introduced in January 2001. The application allows you to organize and play your digital music and podcast files. iTunes is available as a free download for Mac OS X, Windows Vista and Windows XP. iTunes is able to interface on the iPod digital media player and on Apple’s mobile device, the iPhone

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Company: Apple

Website: apple.com

Launch Date: January 4, 1976

IPO: February 11, 1980, NASDAQ:AAPL

Started by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple has expanded from computers to consumer electronics over the last 30 years, officially changing their name from Apple Computer, Inc. to Apple, Inc. in January 2007. Among the key offerings from Apple’s product line are: Pro line laptops (MacBook Pro) and desktops (Mac Pro), consumer line laptops (MacBook) and desktops (iMac), servers (Xserve), Apple TV, the Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server operating systems, the iPod (offered with...

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