Apps are just as highly anticipated as other forms of entertainment now, and Apple's newest update to its app stores lets customers call dibs on their favorites before they're even released. An update to the iTunes Connect resources page states that developers can now open up their apps for preorder on all Apple platforms before the program is officially released. This allows developers to see the product page before anyone can download the app, and customers can tap a new "Pre-Order" button to secure their download before it becomes available on the designated release date.

Developers can choose never-before-published apps from their My Apps page to make available for preorder. They must choose an official release date before the preorder page goes live, and that date must be at least two days, but no more than 90 days, in the future. Once the release date is chosen and the app is approved by Apple, the app's page will go live, allowing customers to preorder the program.

Preorders are available for free and paid apps. After preordering an app, you'll be notified of the official release date that the app is available to download. If that preordered app happens to be a paid app, you won't be charged until you download the program.

Developers can change and edit the app while it's up for preorder, but Apple has safeguarded the price for customers: if a developer raises the price of the app before it's officially released, those who preordered it will be charged the lower price. That means you won't be charged $1.99 if you pre-ordered the app when it was listed for 99¢. The only caveat appears to be with in-app purchases: developers can set in-app purchases during the preorder phase, but those won't show up on the app's page in the app store until it's officially released.

App preorders is a relatively small feature, but it's notable considering Apple has only sporadically updated its App Store in the past. The most dramatic change we saw recently was the redesigned iOS App Store that came with the launch of iOS 11 this fall.

The feature is also useful for both developers and customers: developers get a new marketing window, allowing them to promote a new app before it's available and point potential customers to a live page in the App Store. Apple tried this out last year by letting customers preorder Super Mario Run, making it the first app in the App Store to offer preorders. As for customers, they can preorder the apps and games they're most excited for and take comfort in knowing that they won't forget about downloading the program on its release day.