Apple Store App

Apple's official Apple Store app has been updated to version 3.1 with Apple Pay support. iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 owners can now make "easy one-touch" purchases within the app by using their device's Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

Your device needs to be running iOS 8.1 and have Apple Pay setup to use the Apple Pay option when checking out. iPhone and iPad owners can setup Apple Pay in the Passbook & Apple Pay section of the Settings App. Just select "Add Credit or Debit Card” and use your device's camera to scan your credit card information or manually type it in. iPhone 6 users can also add a credit card to their Apple Pay account via the Passbook app by swiping down and tapping the plus sign, or you can use the card connected to your iTunes account by entering that card's security code.

Apple is offering a free "Holiday Playlist" of eight songs to iPhone owners who use the Apple Store App. All iOS users can download the app for free from the App Store, but the free Holiday Playlist is only available through the iPhone version.

You can download the free playlist by opening the Apple Store App on your iPhone and scrolling down until you see the "Holiday Cheer" tab. Tap the "Download now for free" button and you will be taken to the redeem gift card section of iTunes. Just tap the "Redeem" button on the top right hand of your display and the playlist will automatically download to your phone.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is planning to push the Apple Store application in an effort to sell more hardware through direct Apple sales channels. Cook is disappointed that 80% of all iPhones are sold outside of Apple retails stores, and that only 20% of iOS customers are even aware there is an Apple retail app available. 9to5Mac has learned that Apple plans to redesign the application so it fits "more in line with the user-interface of the App Store, iTunes Store, and iBookstore in iOS 6."

Apple employees are being instructed to install the Apple Store app to any new devices that are sold at any retail location. Apple will also offer free content as part of the push to make people more aware of the app. Cook hopes this new strategy will get more iOS users accustomed to using the largely ignored Apple service.