Apple had announced at today’s Back to Mac event that they will launch the App Store for Mac like the iOS App Store in 90 days.

Apple has also announced that it begin accepting app submission from November.

TUAW reports that Apple has just published guidelines for developers of the Mac Developer program.

TUAW reports:

We took the liberty of rounding up some of the most intriguing lines from the document so that those of you who don't have access to the developer portal can get the highlights. According to Apple, your Mac app will be rejected if:

• It is a "beta," "demo", "trial," or "test" version
• It duplicates apps already in the App Store, particularly if there are many of them
• The developer is "spamming" the App Store with many versions of similar apps. You will also be removed from the Developer Program if this occurs.
• It is not packaged and submitted using Apple's packaging technologies included in Xcode – No third party installers are allowed.
• It require license keys or implements its own copy protection
• It spawns processes that continue to run after a user has quit the app without user consent
• It has metadata that mentions the name of any other computer platform
• It uses location-based APIs to control vehicles, aircraft, or other devices (Saying goodbye to my Macbook Air tank project. Sigh.)
• It uses location-based APIs for dispatch, fleet management, or emergency services
• It has misspelled Apple product names in its name (i.e., GPS for Imac, iTunz)
• It looks similar to Apple Products or apps bundled on the Mac, including the Finder, iChat, iTunes, and Dashboard
• Your user interface is "complex or less than very good"
• It changes the native user interface elements or behaviors of Mac OS X (Well, that just wiped out 90% of the best Mac apps in a single, flaming fist punch.)
• It creates a store inside itself for selling or distributing other software (i.e., an audio plug-in store in an audio app)
• Your game portrays realistic images of people or animals being killed or maimed, shot, stabbed, tortured or injured. (Such as Counter Strike, Halo, and pretty much every other good video game ever produced.)
• "Enemies" within the context of your game solely target a specific race, culture, a real government or corporation, or any other real entity. (I wonder if this applies to zombies…)
• It contains user generated content that is frequently pornographic (like "Chat Roulette" apps)

The announcement of the Mac App Store was probably the most surprising news of today’s event. Here are some initial reaction from Mac developers.

Paul Kafasis, CEO of Rogue Amoeba, a developer of Mac audio software commented:

"It's certainly something we're looking at, but the restrictions and guidelines they've published are onerous at best"

Andrew Welch, president of Ambrosia Software, a developer of apps and games for the App Store had this to say:

Ambrosia is certainly interested in the idea of a centralized Mac application store. However the restrictions imposed by Apple on the applications may make it impossible for a number of our applications to be submitted.

At the end of the day, the App Store for Mac gives developers access to over 50 million Mac users with just a few clicks that was not available earlier. The Mac App Store will also make the process of discover, buying, downloading, installing and updating apps dead simple. So we would be surprised if the Mac developers don’t jump on board especially after the huge success of the App Store for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

What do you think about Apple’s review guidelines? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.