App Store

Infobox Software
name = App Store

developer = Apple Inc.
latest_release_version =
latest_release_date = July 11, 2008 | operating_system = iPhone OS
genre = Software update/Store
license = Proprietary
website = [http://www.apple.com/iphone/appstore/ apple.com/iphone/appstore/]
The App Store is an application for the iPhone and iPod touch 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. They are available to purchase or free, depending on the application. The applications are downloaded directly to iPhone or iPod touch. The App Store is also available within iTunes. Whilst 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 dollars annually for the company. Apple offers 70% to instantly go to the seller of the app, and 30% go to Apple. [ [http://venturebeat.com/2008/06/11/analyst-theres-a-great-future-in-iphone-apps/ "Analyst: There’s a great future in iPhone apps"] , "Venture Beat", June 11 2008.] The App Store opened early in the morning on July 10, 2008 via an update to iTunes. Applications were immediately available for download at that time. However, iPhone and iPod touch software version 2.0 was not yet available through Software Update, making the applications unusable. The iPhone software version 2.0 was released on July 11, 2008, and applications were able to be transferred onto the newly updated devices. As of September 18, 2008, there are 3,465 third-party applications officially available for the iPhone and iPod touch on the App Store.

How applications are built: The SDK

The Software Development Kit for iPhone and iPod touch was announced at the iPhone Software Roadmap event on March 6, 2008. The SDK will allow developers (running Mac OS X 10.5 or higher) to create applications, using Xcode, which will natively run on both the iPhone and iPod touch. A Beta version was released after the event, and a final version was released in July 2008 alongside the iPhone 3G. Applications that developers create will be sold exclusively through the iTunes Store on Mac and Windows, or on the App Store on the iPhone and iPod touch. [ [http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/03/06iphone.html Apple Announces iPhone 2.0 Software Beta] ] Developers will get 70% of sales and will not have to pay any distribution costs for their application other than a US$99 fee to use the SDK on the iPhone and upload applications to the store.

To run applications on the iPhone, the application needs to be signed with a certificate assigned by Apple after the developer has developed the software through the $99/year developer package and official iPhone SDK.

Number of launched applications

On July 10, 2008, Apple CEO Steve Jobs told USA TODAY that the App Store contains 500 third-party applications for the iPhone and the iPod touch, 125 of which are free downloads. These third party applications range from business to game applications, entertainment to educational applications, and many more applications which can either be downloaded for free or can be bought for a specific amount to use the application. As of July 11, 2008, users may buy applications from the App Store, and transfer them to an iPod touch or iPhone which has the iPhone 2.0 software update, which became available through iTunes on the same day. 10 million applications were downloaded the first weekend.

Controversies

I Am Rich

I Am Rich is an application for the Apple iPhone OS, distributed using the App Store. Its only function is to display a glowing red gem on the screen along with a button to switch to the mantra view. In the mantra view, the words

I am rich
I deserv ["sic"] it

I am good,
healthy &
successful

are shown in large text.cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noZcgSTmDA4|title="I Am Rich" Guided Tour|date=August 12, 2008|author=NPomerleau|publisher=YouTube.com]

The application is described as "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, making it a Veblen good. "I Am Rich" was sold on the App Store for $999.99 USD, €799,99 EUR, and £599.99 GBP.cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,398903,00.html|title='I Am Rich' iPhone Application Retails for $1,000|author=Paul Wagenseil|publisher=FOXNews.com|date=August 06, 2008] The application was removed from the App Store on August 6, 2008.cite web|url=http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/8/worthless-1000-i-am-rich-iphone-app-disappears|title=Worthless, $1000 "I Am Rich" iPhone App Disappears (AAPL)|date=August 6, 2008|author=Dan Frommer|publisher=Silicon Alley Insider] During the time the App was available, only eight people bought itcite web|url=http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/8/worthless-1000-i-am-rich-iphone-app-disappears|title=UPDATED: Apple removes $1,000 featureless iPhone application|date=August 7, 2008|author=Milian, Mark|publisher=Los Angeles Times|quote=Eight iPhone owners have joined an elite clan: Their Apple gadget is running a program that cost nearly $1,000. [..] In a follow-up e-mail, Heinrich said he had not yet received his $5,600 check from Apple, which has a policy of paying developers at the end of each calendar month. ] , earning the developer $5,600 USD which Apple has yet to pay..

Application Rejections

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, [http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/22/apple-rejects-another-app-for-duplicating-functionality/] however applications have also been rejected for duplicating the functionality of iTunes. [http://almerica.blogspot.com/2008/09/podcaster-rejeceted-because-it.html] Applications may be rejected if they are of only "limited utility". [http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2008/09/04/apple-rejecting-applications-based-on-limited-utility/] Some reports indicate that toolbars must be placed at the bottom of the screen, and the vibration function should only be used for alerts. [http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/08/dear-auntie-tuaw-appstore-rejection/] Applications may still be distributed "ad-hoc" if they are rejected, by the author manually submitting a request to Apple to licence the application to individual iPhones, [http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/15/podcaster-app-distributed-via-ad-hoc-after-apple-rejection/] although Apple may withdraw the ability for authors to do this at a later date. [http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/23/podcaster-dev-cant-provision-any-more-licenses/] NDA restrictions have always forbid 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". [http://www.macrumors.com/2008/09/23/apple-extends-non-disclosure-to-app-store-rejection-letters/] . Apple later changed the NDA citing that "it has created too much of a burden on developers" [http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/01/apple-drops-iphone-non-disclosure-agreement-nda/ NDA Drop] but they did not reverse the decision to forbid publication of rejection notices. [http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/a-slice-of-glasnost-at-apple/]

References

External links

* [http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewGenre?id=36&mt=8 View the App Store on iTunes]
* [http://www.apple.com/ Apple, Inc. official website]
* [http://developer.apple.com/ Apple, Inc. official developer site]
* [http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/ Apple, Inc. official iPhone developer site]