Intel unveils app store; shows off monster LG smartphone

As Las Vegas gadget show CES wound up at the end of last week, Intel announced that it too would be going after a slice of the app store action.

Intel president and CEO Paul Otellini unveiled a beta version of the Intel AppUp center, targeted at netbook devices. The storefront is being supported by devices manufacturers Acer, Asus, Dell and Samsung and will support Intel-based devices, which will presumably run on Intel’s homebrew Linux-based operating system, Moblin, unless the company starts supporting Android on the Atom that is.

Otellini was also showing off the LG GW990 smartphone, based on ‘Moorestown,’ Intel’s next-generation platform for handhelds and smartphones. The GW990 is based on Moblin and boasts a sizeable 4.8” display, making it a little more than pocket sized. With a touchscreen, five megapixel camera, 16GB of storage, HD video, wifi and HSDPA, the device may give a glimpse of mobile form factors to come.

“Computing is no longer confined to your computer – it’s everywhere,” Otellini said. “Advances in connectivity, intuitive user interfaces, immersive content and computer chip performance have allowed computing to move into new areas. Computing moving into all manner of devices and experiences all around us improves our personal productivity and enjoyment.” Examples cited by Otellini include infotainment systems for cars, digital interactive signs, shopping kiosks and medical devices.