Apple warns iOS app makers not to use ranking services, or risk losing their developer license.
App Store
In-app purchases to lead app market revenue by 2015
Steve Peterson for Industrygamers: Market research firm IHS iSuppli is projecting that in-app purchases will account for 64% of total app market revenue by 2015, up from 39% in 2011. These percentages reflect the total from both iOS and Android … Continued
In defense of Atari
Technologizer: I’m all in favor of developers drawing upon old games for inspiration, improving them and turning them into entirely new ideas. And I like fan-made homages when they expand significantly on the original and–this is important–are not sold for … Continued
Apple’s Mac App Store tops 100 million downloads
Apple today announced that over 100 million apps have been downloaded from the Mac App Store in less than one year. With thousands of free and paid apps, the Mac App Store brings the App Store experience to the Mac so you can find great new apps, buy them using your iTunes account, and download and install them in just one step. Apple revolutionized the app industry with the App Store, which now has more than 500,000 apps and where customers have downloaded more than 18 billion apps and continue to download more than 1 billion apps per month.
Wow!
Tap Fish maker responds to Daily Show piece
Last week Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” broadcast a segment on an iOS game called Tap Fish. They pitted the developer against a parent whose children ran up huge charges purchasing virtual goods inside the app. Now … Continued
Daily Show takes on iOS game in-app purchases
In-app purchases in iOS games have been the subject of media scrutiny, since children often play them and there have been cases where kids have spent huge amounts of their parents’ money to get virtual in-game goods. Apple has put … Continued
Apple, Google skip ESRB mobile app ratings
Apple and Google are sitting out an opportunity to work with the ESRB for its new mobile apps rating system.
∞ Apple allows subscriptions for iOS games
Apple is introducing a subscription model to games, if a recent Big Fish Games release is any indication.
∞ Apple takes in up to 90% of money spent on mobile apps
Apple controls about 85-90 percent of the money spent on mobile applications, according to a research note from an analyst on Monday. In the note to clients, Piper Jaffray Senior Research Analyst, Gene Munster said he believes Google’s Android Market … Continued
∞ JBL offers portable iOS speaker system with Bluetooth
JBL has taken the wraps off their OnBeat Extreme, a new portable dock for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch with support for Bluetooth wireless connectivity. It’s priced at $599. The OnBeat Extreme has dual bass drivers and tweeters, and … Continued
∞ Time Command Mini alarm clock works with iOS devices
The Time Command Mini is a compact alarm clock designed especially for iOS devices; an app enhances its use.
∞ In-app purchase revenue growing
Chris Herbert for MacStories: Freemium apps (free to download, but require an in-app purchase to expand the app) are growing particularly faster in the in-app purchasing paradise. Free app downloads have increased by 34% since 2010 while paid downloads only … Continued
∞ Anonymous developer suggests protest against Apple, Google
Apple and Google are dragging their feet to assist with the Macrosolve and Lodsys patent bullying of small businesses, entrepeneurs, and developers. Without Apple’s and Google’s assistance, the app development community is vulnerable to the strategic attacks made by these … Continued
∞ Apple, Starbucks launch 'Pick of the Week'
Apple and Starbucks on Tuesday relaunched the partnership that saw the companies bring “Song of the Week” to customers. However, this new program is even bigger. Dubbed “Pick of the Week,” the new program will include all types of content … Continued
∞ RIM: Mac users not wanted
BlackBerry App World: This web page uses ActiveX controls that work only in Microsoft Internet Explorer. To ensure that BlackBerry App World is correctly downloaded to your BlackBerry, this site is not designed to work with any other Internet browsers. … Continued
∞ Salesforce CEO gifts App Store trademark to Jobs
TNW: Benioff liked the name so much that he trademarked the term and bought the domain. It was only when Apple (and Jobs) introduced the App Store on the iPhone that the Salesforce chief decided he needed to something about … Continued
∞ Google Books exits App Store; Kobo, WSJ pull web links
Wall Street Journal: “In a pair of moves that suggest Apple Inc. is enforcing rules for selling content on its devices, Kobo Inc., the Canadian e-book retailer, and The Wall Street Journal said Sunday they will no longer sell content … Continued
∞ Apple launches Business App Store for volume purchases
Apple on Wednesday launched its B2B App Store, allowing businesses to make volume purchases of apps.
∞ Developers remove apps from US store, fearing patent lawsuits
Charles Arthur writing for The Guardian: App developers are withdrawing their products for sale from the US versions of Apple’s App Store and Google’s Android Market for fear of being sued by companies which own software patents – just as … Continued
∞ Apple offers App Store Volume Purchasing for Business
Finally recognizing the iPad and iPhone as important business tools, Apple has started a new volume purchasing program for businesses.
∞ Apple's App Store downloads expected to climb 61% in 2011
Apple’s iOS App Store has been a huge success for the company and recent analysis suggest that trend will only grow in 2011.
∞ App Store tops 15 billion downloads, $2.5 billion paid to devs
Apple on Thursday announced a milestone for the App Store: more than 15 billion apps have been download from the App Store.
∞ iTunes Festival London 2011 is live
Apple’s iTunes Festival is underway in London. You can watch the concerts using an app Apple released on the App Store. Here’s some info I posted on the event on June 21:
∞ Apple hits 'stumbling block' in Amazon App Store lawsuit
The judge hearing Apple’s lawsuit against Amazon over the use of the term “App Store” has indicated that Apple may face some hurdles.
∞ Report: 500,000 apps approved on Apple's App Store
It wasn’t that long ago that Apple first opened the doors to the App Store and now the company has reportedly surpassed 500,000 approved apps.
That figure comes from a group of companies that have been involved in the app business since it launched: 148Apps, a mobile app blog; Chomp, an app search engine; and Chillingo, a game developer.
∞ Developers 'extremely grateful' for Apple's letter to Lodsys
There is no doubt iOS developers are breathing a little easier today after Apple’s letter to patent holding company Lodsys.
“It’s been the longest ten days that I can remember,” PCalc developer James Thomson, told The Loop. “When I got the original FedEx parcel, I honestly thought somebody had sent me a present. To say I was surprised by the contents would be an understatement.”
Ken Landau, CEO of MobileAge agrees. “There is certainly a feeling of relief, he said.
∞ Amazon responds to Apple's App Store lawsuit
Amazon on Tuesday responded to Apple’s trademark lawsuit filed last month.
Amazon called the lawsuit baseless and said “App Store” was a generic term, reports Mac Rumors. Not surprisingly, Amazon has asked the court to throw out the lawsuit, which would allow them to use the App Store term.
∞ Windows App Store screenshots leaked
It’s hard to keep secrets these days. The design of Microsoft’s new Windows App Store is the latest project to be leaked on the Web.
TechCrunch posted supposed screenshots of the company’s Windows App Store that leaked onto the Web. The screenshots are not verified, but if they are real, it certainly shows some more copying of Apple.
It may also explain why Microsoft is fighting Apple so hard to make sure the term “App Store” remains generic.
∞ Apple, Microsoft hire linguists to battle 'App Store' trademark
The battle over Apple’s App Store trademark application is getting down to the nitty gritty as the two companies hire linguists to help them in the fight.
∞ Apple's protected App Store doesn't look so bad now
Apple took a lot of criticism for its App Store policies over the last couple of years, but considering what’s happening on those “open” stores, I’m pretty happy with what Apple has done.