Edible Apple

In a bid to further showcase software for the iPhone and iPod Touch, Apple is planning to load up its display of iPhone’s and iPod Touch’s with 25 of the most popular titles from a number of different app categories.

AppleInsider reports:

Specifically, those familiar with the new format say iPod touch demo units will be loaded with the top 25 family-oriented games and the top 25 children’s games… Meanwhile, iPhone demo units will be fed with the some of the store’s most popular non-game applications. As of right now, it appears Apple will pre-load the handsets with the top 25 Travel applications and the top 25 Lifestyle applications.

The moves are the latest from the Cupertino-based company to help drives sales of its multi-touch handhelds by leveraging the high-quality iPhone applications authored by its third party developers. Earlier and ongoing efforts include television commercials that spotlight some of the App Store’s top offerings and giant banners at last month’s Macworld Expo that were peppered with third party app icons.

This is a great move by Apple.  As competing smartphones begin to more closely mirror the user experience of the iPhone, the key differentiator will soon become software, and Apple is already off to a commanding lead in that area.  Whereas most people think of an iPod as a device to play music and movies, highlighting third party applications is a great way to appeal to a larger number of people who might not ordinarily be swayed by a device that can only play music and video content.  AppleInsider has the full scoop over here.

Apple is also planning on highlighting its iLife and iWork software, in addition to completely re-organizing the layout of its stores. ifoAppleStore has more on that story over here.