Intel to shutter AppUp app store

Intel has decided to close AppUp, its app store for Windows PCs.

Chipzilla's used some magnificent language to announce the store's demise, starting the announcement with news that “At Intel, we’re always thinking about the future, which often means making changes today.”

Oooh! The future. That sounds exciting.

Except this future isn't: Intel's next sentence is “ That’s why, on March 11th, 2014, Intel AppUp center will come to a close as we focus on developing new and exciting PC innovations that will continue to shape your world.”

Oooh! Exciting PC innovation! Like what?

In this FAQ about the closure Intel says “the next generation of platform innovation” is on it's mind. As it always is.

The FAQ also promises that personal information sent to AppUp will remain under close guard, that support will continue until June 15th, 2014, and that apps should run forever.

But in case users are ticked off at the service's demise, Chipzilla is “ offering a refund for applications that users have paid for … granted for the actual transaction price … for a limited time: January 28th, 2014 through December 19th, 2014.” And you'll have to apply for the refund, here.

Disturbingly, no updates to apps will be provided once the service closes, so any security SNAFUs will be up to individual apps' developers to resolve.

Intel launched AppUp at CES 2010, but it has clearly struggled to gain much traction in a world awash with app stores: just on the PC that AppUp targeted punters can chose between Microsoft's app store, Google's for Chrome and myriad sources of downloads.

Intel's seldom discussed usage levels for AppUp, but in November 2011 floated a $US100m fund to encourage developers to work on the platform. It seems that effort had little impact. The store seldom generated the kind of buzz that would excite developers, never mind consumers.

All in all, then, not Intel's finest moment. But perhaps a happy one down Redmond way: Windows 8.1 users have one fewer choice for their apps! ®