The Full Wiki

App Store: Wikis
  
  
  

Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles.

Did you know ...


More interesting facts on App Store

Include this on your site/blog:

Encyclopedia

Updated live from Wikipedia, last check: May 29, 2012 21:46 UTC (39 seconds ago)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the Apple App Store. For other similar services, see List of digital distribution platforms for mobile devices.
App Store
AppStore icon.png
Apple Store.jpg
Developer(s) Apple Inc.
Initial release July 10, 2008
Operating system iPhone OS, Mac OS X
Type Software update/Digital distribution
License Proprietary
Website http://www.apple.com/iphone/appstore

The App Store is a service for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad created by Apple Inc. which allows users to browse and download applications from the iTunes Store that were developed with the iPhone SDK and published through Apple. Depending on the application, they are available either for free, or at a cost. The applications can be downloaded directly to target device, or downloaded onto a computer via iTunes. While Apple has stated that they do not expect to profit from the store, it has been predicted by Piper Jaffray that the App Store could create a profitable marketplace with revenue exceeding US$1 billion annually for the company. Apple allows 70% of revenues from the store to instantly go to the seller of the app, and 30% go to Apple.[1] The App Store opened on July 10, 2008 via an update to iTunes. On July 11, the iPhone 3G was launched and came pre-loaded with iPhone OS 2.0 with App Store support; new iPhone OS 2.0 firmware for iPhone and iPod Touch was also made available via iTunes.[2] As of January 15, 2010, there are at least 133,979 third-party applications[3][nb 1] officially available on the App Store, with over 3 billion total downloads.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

After the success of Apple's App Store, and the launch of similar services by its competitors, the term "app store" has been used to refer to any similar service for mobile devices.[11][12][13][14] However, Apple claims "App Store" as a trademark.[15]

The App Store is accessible from the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad via an iPhone OS application by the same name.

Contents

iPhone SDK

App Store on an iPod Touch

The Software Development Kit for iPhone OS was announced at the iPhone Software Roadmap event on March 6, 2008. The SDK allows developers (running Mac OS X 10.5.4 or higher on an Intel Mac) to create applications using Xcode that will natively run on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. A beta version was released after the event and a final version was released in July 2008 alongside the iPhone 3G.[16] This major Roadmap event (coupled with a large distribution program for 3rd-party developers), later became known as the iPhone Developer Program, which currently offers two distribution tracks for 3rd-party developers: Standard, and Enterprise.[17]

Applications distributed through the standard program can be sold exclusively through the iTunes Store on Mac and Windows, or on the App Store on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.[17] Developers who publish their applications on the App Store will receive 70% of sales revenue, and will not have to pay any distribution costs for the application. However, an annual fee is required to use the iPhone SDK and upload applications to the store.[16]

Applications developed through the enterprise program are exclusively for institutional use, which allows for large corporations and government agencies to develop more proprietary applications not for public release.[17]

To run an application on the iPhone, the application needs to be signed. This signed certificate is only granted by Apple after the developer has first developed the software through either the US$99/year Standard package or the US$299/year Enterprise package with the iPhone SDK.[16]

Number of launched applications

On July 10, 2008, Apple CEO Steve Jobs told USA Today that the App Store contained 500 third-party applications for the iPhone and the iPod Touch, 125 of which were free downloads. These third party applications range from business to game applications, entertainment to educational applications, and many more applications available for free or for sale. On July 11, 2008 the store opened, allowing users to buy applications and transfer them to an iPhone or iPod Touch with the iPhone 2.0 software update, which became available through iTunes on the same day. Ten million applications were downloaded the first weekend.[18]

On January 16, 2009, Apple announced on its website that 500 million applications had been downloaded.[19] The billionth application was downloaded on April 23, 2009.[20]

Unlike the apps that come standard on the iPhone (such as the YouTube app, which Apple added through an iPhone OS software upgrade months before the launch of the App Store), apps downloaded from the App Store can be removed by the user at a future date.

Milestones

Date Available apps Downloads to date
July 11, 2008[21] 500 0
July 14, 2008[18] 800 10,000,000
September 9, 2008[22] 3,000 100,000,000
October 22, 2008[23] 7,500 200,000,000
December 5, 2008[citation needed] 10,000 300,000,000
January 16, 2009[19] 15,000 500,000,000
March 17, 2009[citation needed] 25,000 800,000,000
April 23, 2009[20] 35,000 1,000,000,000
June 8, 2009[24] 50,000 1,000,000,000+
July 11, 2009[citation needed] 55,000 1,000,000,000+
July 14, 2009[25] 65,000 1,500,000,000
September 9, 2009 75,000 1,800,000,000
September 28, 2009[4][5] 85,000 2,000,000,000+
November 4, 2009[6][7] 100,000 2,000,000,000+
January 5, 2010[26][27] 100,000+ 3,000,000,000+
January 27, 2010[28] 140,000+ 3,000,000,000+

1 Billionth App Countdown

Apple posted a countdown to 1 billion app downloads from the App Store on the company website, along with a competition to celebrate the download of the billionth app.

Application ratings

Apple rates applications worldwide based on their content, and determines what age group each is appropriate for. According to the iPhone OS 3.0 launch event, the iPhone will allow blocking of objectionable apps in the iPhone's settings. The following are the ratings that Apple has detailed:

Rating Description
4+ Contains no objectionable material.
9+ May contain mild or infrequent occurrences of cartoon, fantasy or realistic violence, and infrequent or mild mature, suggestive, or horror-themed content which may not be suitable for children under the age of 9.
12+ May also contain infrequent mild language, frequent or intense cartoon, fantasy or realistic violence, and mild or infrequent mature or suggestive themes, and simulated gambling which may not be suitable for children under the age of 12.
17+ May also contain frequent and intense mature, horror, and suggestive themes; plus sexual content, nudity, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs which may not be suitable for children under the age of 17. Consumers must be at least 17 years old to purchase apps with this rating. Whenever an app of this rating is requested for download, a message will appear, verifying if a user is 17 or older, and asking to confirm the purchase for this reason. Apple rates all applications with a web browser 17+, due to content accessible on the internet. For this reason, certain applications with little or no objectionable content, such as Facebook, have a 17+ rating.

Controversies

Applications are subject to approval by Apple, as outlined in the SDK agreement, for basic reliability testing and other analysis. The rejection of applications has been subject to much discussion in the press. A particular example, documented in the agreement itself, is that applications must not duplicate the functions of the iPhone itself, for example by providing an email interface,[29] or having the same elements as the built in SMS app [30] however applications have also been rejected for duplicating the functionality of iTunes.[31] Applications may be rejected if they are of only "limited utility".[32] Some reports indicate that toolbars must be placed at the bottom of the screen, and the vibration function should only be used for alerts.[33] Applications may still be distributed "ad-hoc" if they are rejected, by the author manually submitting a request to Apple to license the application to individual iPhones,[34] although Apple may withdraw the ability for authors to do this at a later date.[35] NDA restrictions have always forbidden developers from publishing the content of their rejection notices, but Apple has now started labeling their rejection letters with Non-Disclosure (NDA) warning THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MESSAGE IS UNDER NON-DISCLOSURE.[36] Apple later changed the NDA citing that "it has created too much of a burden on developers"[37] but they did not reverse the decision to forbid publication of rejection notices.[38] Some applications are not available outside the US App Store at the request of the developer.[39]

I Am Rich

Main article: I Am Rich

In August 2008, an application known as I Am Rich was released in the store, "a work of art with no hidden function at all", with its only purpose being to show other people that they were able to afford it, as it cost US$999.99, €799,99, and UK£599.99.[40] The application was removed from the App Store the day following its release, on August 6, 2008 (2008-08-06).[41] Eight people had allegedly bought it before it was pulled.[42]

Baby Shaker

In April 2009, a controversial game called Baby Shaker was approved for the App Store then later removed due to complaints. The game allowed the user to shake their phone until an image of a cartoon baby on the screen died.[43]

Newspapers & Eucalyptus

In May 2009, Apple rejected the first version of 'Newspapers', an iPhone app that let users read content from 50+ newspapers around the world, including the New York Times, France's Le Monde, and the United Kingdom tabloid The Sun. The app was rejected because the topless "Page 3" girls daily features were described as "obscene". A second version of the application was submitted, removing access to The Sun, and adding a price tag of £0.59. The app was made available in the summer, after the release of the iPhone 3.0 software.[44][45] Another application, of similar nature to 'Newspapers', called 'Eucalyptus' allowed users to download e-books to their iPhone, though was censored by Apple because one of the e-books that could have been downloaded was the Kama Sutra. The ban has since been lifted.[46]

Nine Inch Nails

Also in May 2009, Trent Reznor of the rock band Nine Inch Nails announced, via his Twitter account, that Apple had rejected an update to the Nine Inch Nails application due to "objectionable content".[47] The developer posted a message on the Nine Inch Nails discussion boards explaining the situation further: "v1.0 is live. v1.0.3 got rejected due to content yet the app has no content in it. This was mainly a stability release to fix the bug that crashes the app for international users. The bug was fixed 24 hours after 1.0 went live and we have been waiting for apple to approve it ever since. Meanwhile the app continues to get a growing number of 1 star ratings from international users understandably frustrated by the bug. "But looks like our hands are tied".[48] Apple later permitted the update.[49]

Google Voice

Google Voice-compatible applications have been removed from the App Store. The FCC is investigating this incident as a possible example of anticompetitive behavior from Apple and possibly AT&T.[50] Google developed their own app while Apple says that they are further reviewing it.[51] Since then, no word has been heard about Google Voice on iPhone. GV Mobile, a third-party Google Voice app, is available for jailbroken iPhones via Cydia.[52][53]

Similar services for other devices

Main article: List of digital distribution platforms for mobile devices

Following the popularity of the App Store, competitors developed their own software stores. Palm Inc. published an application store similar to the App Store for Palm devices[54] and announced the App Catalog for webOS on the Palm Pre that was released on June 6, 2009. Another platform, Android Market is used in conjunction with OHA's Android operating system. Microsoft has released Windows Marketplace for Mobile, an application store for their Windows Mobile platform.[55] Nokia has released The "Ovi Store"[56] for its S60 and S40 based mobile devices. RIM also launched its application store BlackBerry App World.[57] The Nintendo DSi is able to connect to an online store called the "DSi Shop", along with Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP) being able to connect to PlayStation Store to download games, etc.

Notes

  1. ^ Apple acknowledged a count of 133,979 apps on their App Store when they included a link to an unofficial infographic in their RSS news feed on January 15, 2010.

References

  1. ^ "Analyst: There’s a great future in iPhone apps", Venture Beat, June 11, 2008.
  2. ^ "Apple Introduces the New iPhone 3G". Apple. 2008-06-09. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/06/09iphone.html. Retrieved 2009-09-16. 
  3. ^ http://gigaom.com/2010/01/12/the-apple-app-store-economy/
  4. ^ a b "Apple’s App Store Downloads Top Two Billion". Apple, Inc.. 2009-09-28. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/09/28appstore.html. Retrieved 2009-09-28. 
  5. ^ a b "Appleinsider.com". Appleinsider. 2009-09-28. http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/09/28/apple_announces_app_store_downloads_top_2_billion.html. Retrieved 2009-09-28. 
  6. ^ a b "Apple Announces Over 100,000 Apps Available on the App Store". Mac Rumors. 2009-11-04. http://www.macrumors.com/2009/11/04/apple-announces-over-100000-apps-available-on-the-app-store/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  7. ^ a b Apple Computer, Inc. (2009-11-04). "Apple Announces Over 100,000 Apps Now Available on the App Store". Apple.com. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/11/04appstore.html. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  8. ^ http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/05/apple-announces-3-billion-app-store-downloads/
  9. ^ http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/01/05appstore.html
  10. ^ "Number of apps available count". Appshopper. 2009-12-16. http://appshopper.com. Retrieved 2009-12-16. 
  11. ^ Carew, Sinead (22 April 2009). "In app store war, BlackBerry, Google hold own". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE53L5DK20090422. Retrieved 23 June 2009. 
  12. ^ Furchgott, Roy (29 May 2009). "Nokia’s App Store Launches With a Hiccup". The New York Times. http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/nokias-app-store-launches-with-a-hiccup/. Retrieved 23 June 2009. 
  13. ^ Ganapati, Priya (4 March 2009). "BlackBerry App Store Gets a Name". Wired. http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/03/blackberry-app/. Retrieved 23 June 2009. 
  14. ^ Shiels, Maggie (2009-07-20). "Technology | Apps 'to be as big as internet'". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8157043.stm. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  15. ^ "Apple files for MacRuby, App Store & Finder trademarks". MacNN. 22 July 2008. http://www.macnn.com/blogs/2008/07/22/apple-files-for-macruby-app-store-finder-trademarks.html. Retrieved 27 Aug 2009. 
  16. ^ a b c Apple, Inc. (2008-03-06). "Apple Announces iPhone 2.0 Software Beta". Apple.com. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/03/06iphone.html. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  17. ^ a b c Apple Inc.. "iPhone Developer Program - Enterprise Distribution". Developer.apple.com. http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/distribute.html. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  18. ^ a b "iPhone App Store Downloads Top 10 Million in First Weekend". Press Release. Apple Inc.. 2008-07-14. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/07/14appstore.html. Retrieved 2008-11-10. 
  19. ^ a b "iPhone App Store breezes past 500 million downloads". The Register. 2009-01-16. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/16/half_billion_iphone_apps/. Retrieved 2009-01-24. 
  20. ^ a b "Apple’s Revolutionary App Store Downloads Top One Billion in Just Nine Months". Apple Inc.. 24 April 2009. http://www.apple.com/ca/press/2009_04/app_store.html. Retrieved 3 May 2009. 
  21. ^ "iPhone 3G on Sale Tomorrow". Press Release. Apple Inc.. 2008-07-10. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/07/10iphone.html. Retrieved 2009-01-17. 
  22. ^ "App Store Downloads Top 100 Million Worldwide". Press Release. Apple Inc.. 2008-09-09. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/09/09appstore.html. Retrieved 2008-11-10. 
  23. ^ "Apple Reports Fourth Quarter Results". Press Release. Apple Inc.. 2008-10-21. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/10/21results.html. Retrieved 2009-01-17. 
  24. ^ "TechCrunch.com". TechCrunch. 2009-06-08. http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/08/40-million-iphones-and-ipod-touches-and-50000-apps/. Retrieved 2009-06-08. 
  25. ^ June, Laura (2009-07-14). "Apple's App Store crosses the 1.5 billion download mark". Engadget. http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/14/apples-app-store-crosses-the-1-5-billion-download-mark/. Retrieved 2009-07-25. 
  26. ^ http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/05/apple-announces-3-billion-app-store-downloads/
  27. ^ http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/01/05appstore.html
  28. ^ http://www.apple.com/ipad/app-store/
  29. ^ Palmer, Robert (2008-09-22). "Apple rejects another app for duplicating functionality". Tuaw.com. http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/22/apple-rejects-another-app-for-duplicating-functionality/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  30. ^ "Syncode - Blog – iTweetReply 1.1 Rejected". Blog.syncode.com.au. http://blog.syncode.com.au/2009/07/21/itweetreply-1-1-rejected/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  31. ^ "Almerica's Blog About Technology and Other Interesting Stuff: Podcaster rejeceted because it duplicates iTunes functionality". Almerica.blogspot.com. 2008-09-11. http://almerica.blogspot.com/2008/09/podcaster-rejeceted-because-it.html. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  32. ^ "MacRumors iPhone Blog: Apple Rejecting Apps Based on 'Limited Utility'". Macrumors.com. 2008-09-04. http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2008/09/04/apple-rejecting-applications-based-on-limited-utility/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  33. ^ Sadun, Erica (2008-08-08). "Dear Auntie TUAW: AppStore Rejection". Tuaw.com. http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/08/dear-auntie-tuaw-appstore-rejection/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  34. ^ Sande, Steven (2008-09-15). "Podcaster app distributed via Ad Hoc after Apple rejection". Tuaw.com. http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/15/podcaster-app-distributed-via-ad-hoc-after-apple-rejection/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  35. ^ Palmer, Robert (2008-09-23). "Podcaster dev can't provision any more licenses". Tuaw.com. http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/23/podcaster-dev-cant-provision-any-more-licenses/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  36. ^ "Apple Extends Non-Disclosure to App Store Rejection Letters". Mac Rumors. 2008-09-23. http://www.macrumors.com/2008/09/23/apple-extends-non-disclosure-to-app-store-rejection-letters/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  37. ^ "Apple Drops iPhone Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA)". Mac Rumors. 2008-10-01. http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/01/apple-drops-iphone-non-disclosure-agreement-nda/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  38. ^ Hansell, Saul (2008-10-01). "A Slice of Glasnost at Apple - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com". Bits.blogs.nytimes.com. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/a-slice-of-glasnost-at-apple/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  39. ^ "Eye-Fi Forums • View topic - Outside US". Forums.eye.fi. http://forums.eye.fi/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=829. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  40. ^ Wagenseil, Paul (August 6, 2008). "'I Am Rich' iPhone Application Retails for $1,000". Fox News (News Corporation). http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,398903,00.html. 
  41. ^ Frommer, Dan (August 6, 2008). "Worthless, $1000 "I Am Rich" iPhone App Disappears (AAPL)". Silicon Alley Insider (Silicon Alley Media). http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/8/worthless-1000-i-am-rich-iphone-app-disappears. 
  42. ^ Milian, Mark (August 7, 2008). "Apple removes $1,000 featureless iPhone application". Los Angeles Times (Tribune Company). http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/08/iphone-i-am-ric.html. 
  43. ^ "Baby Shaker Game Causes Outrage | BBC". BBC News. 2009-04-24. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8015876.stm. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  44. ^ Logged in as click here to log out (2009-05-06). "The Sun's 'obscene' Page 3 girls get iPhone newspaper app banned by Apple | Media | guardian.co.uk". Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2009/may/06/sun-newsinternational. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  45. ^ Sherwood, James (2009-05-05). "Apple bans Page 3 from iPhone app • Register Hardware". Reghardware.co.uk. http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/05/05/the_sun_app_ban/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  46. ^ Logged in as click here to log out. "Apple backtracks over ban on ebook application Eucalyptus | Technology | guardian.co.uk". Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/may/24/iphone-ban-eucalyptus. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  47. ^ trent_reznor. "Trent Reznor (trent_reznor) on Twitter". Twitter.com. http://twitter.com/trent_reznor. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  48. ^ "NIN iPhone app rejection". Forum.nin.com. http://forum.nin.com/bb/read.php?9,651569,651866#msg-651866. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  49. ^ "Apple Allows NIN App Update". Uk.i4u.com. 2009-05-11. http://uk.i4u.com/article24693.html. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  50. ^ Kincaid, Jason (2009-07-31). "FCC Takes On Apple And AT&T Over Google Voice Rejection". Techcrunch.com. http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/31/fcc-takes-on-apple-and-att-over-google-voice-rejection/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  51. ^ http://www.apple.com/hotnews/apple-answers-fcc-questions/
  52. ^ http://modmyi.com/forums/iphone-news/678991-gv-mobile-now-cydia-modmyi-repo.html
  53. ^ http://lifehacker.com/5324596/gv-mobile-available-for-free-on-cydia
  54. ^ "The Palm Software Store has gone mobile". Appstore.pocketgear.com. 2009-01-31. http://appstore.pocketgear.com/palm/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  55. ^ "Microsoft Reveals New Windows Phones With Marketplace and My Phone Services". Press Release. Microsoft. 2009-02-16. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/feb09/02-16MWCPR.mspx. Retrieved 2009-02-27. 
  56. ^ "Ovi Store". Store.ovi.com. http://store.ovi.com/. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 
  57. ^ "RIM store crowned BlackBerry App World". CNet. 2009-03-04. http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10188400-1.html. Retrieved 2009-03-08. 

External links

iPhone OS-based products
Hardware
Software
Apps
Services
Other
See also: Newton (OS, MessagePad)
iPod
Models
Classic (Photo · iPod+HP) · Mini · Shuffle · Nano · Touch
Accessories
Software
Other
Italics indicate discontinued products. See also: iPhone OS-based products.
Apple Inc.
Board of directors
Hardware products
Accessories
Software products
Stores and services
Executives
Acquisitions
Related
Annual revenue: US$42.91 billion (▲32.1% FY 2009) · Employees: 34,300 · Stock symbol: (NASDAQ: AAPL, LSE: ACP, FWB: APC) · Web site: www.apple.com
Digital distribution platforms
Books
Music
Video
Games &
software
Windows
Mac OS
Other platforms
Related

Simple English

The App Store is a store that is run by Apple Inc. where people can buy software known as "apps" for their iPhone or iPod Touch. It opened on July 11, 2008. Over 100,000 apps are available for people to buy. Most apps cost money. Some apps are available for free. It is part of Apple's iTunes Store. Over 2 billion apps have been downloaded. Apps can be created with a software development kit.

Retrieved from "http://yak.rapint.com/wiki/App_Store"







Got something to say? Make a comment.
Your name
Your email address
Message
Please enter the solution to case below
12+12=