Apple Adds Mysterious “Catalogs” Section To App Store On Eve Of iPad 3 Event

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Apple has silently added a new section to the App Store called “Catalogs.” On the eve of the iPad 3 announcement, the section seems to have launched prematurely, as it’s not yet visible with the rest of the App Store’s categories. You can only find it by visiting this direct link, and there are no apps available to download in the iTunes directory.

Once such app that has been placed under the new category is Catalog Spree, a free iPad app that offers digital catalogs from popular retail stores. The app was previously listed under the “Lifestyle” section of the App Store. The CEO of Catalog Spree, Joaquin Ruiz, said “Adding an app category is not something that Apple does lightly and we believe Apple’s decision reflects the importance of this usecase in the Apple App Store ecosystem.”

Some sites believe this new App Store category could indicate Apple’s plan to push interactive catalogs for the third-gen iPad’s high-quality Retina display. The company’s digital textbooks initiative was kicked off in New York City a couple months ago, and a Retina display-equipped iPad would be perfect for viewing such content, including catalogs.

It sounds like a lot of things are possible for tomorrow’s event, so stay tuned for breaking coverage all day. Apple’s keynote begins at 10 AM PST.

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