iPhone apps: 1,001 and counting
The number of offerings on the App Store — the venue for independently produced programs that helps distinguish Apple’s smartphone from all others — hit 1,001 on Monday night.
That’s roughly double the number that were available when the store opened just over two weeks ago (on July 11, the same day the iPhone 3G went on sale), and includes popular games like Texas Hold’em and Crash Bandicoot, business tools like Bloomberg News and Salesforce Mobile, and social networking programs like Facebook, MySpace and AIM. Roughly 20% of the apps are free; 90% cost $10 or less. Most also work on the iPod touch.
Many consider this flood of software to be a bigger deal than the phone itself. Among smartphones, only the RIM (RIMM) Blackberry has created a comparable platform for so-called third-party programs (see its application store here), but because the Blackberry lacks a touch screen and accelerometer, its apps don’t compare with the iPhone’s in terms of features and ease of use. [Several readers note that Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows Mobile and the Palm (PALM) OS also provide rich software platforms. You can view their offerings here and here, respectively.]
How you feel about Apple’s App Store seems to depend on what side of the virtual counter you stand.
MG Siegler, speaking for many App Store customers, declared it “simply sublime” in his Venture Beat column and described it as a new paradigm that would transform Apple as a company. “With each passing day I’m finding myself becoming addicted to it in the same way I was once addicted to the iTunes music store.” (link)
On the developer side, however, tempers are becoming increasingly frayed. The programmers who raced to create applications — hoping to be the first in their particular category — complain that Apple isn’t approving their submissions fast enough and that when their apps do get OK’d, they’re not getting promoted on the store’s New, What’s Hot or Staff Favorites sections or updated quickly enough. New versions sit in the queue at Apple for up to a week, leaving users to wrestle with bugs that have already been fixed. “If an update does make it into the store,” writes David Chartier in an Ars Technica article that summarizes the litany of developer complaints, “iTunes isn’t always listing the correct version. NetNewsWire, for example, is actually at version 1.0.7, but the App Store says only 1.0.1.”
But the programmers’ biggest gripe is the gag order imposed by Apple’s so-called NDA (nondisclosure agreement), which prevents developers from talking to the press, to the public and even among themselves about their programs and the SDK (software developers kit) they use to write them.
This can have real repercussions. Erica Sadun, author of “The iPhone Developers Cookbook,” (Addison-Wesley), has had to delay publication rather than risk running afoul of Apple’s legal team. “[My publisher has] advance orders,” she told Ars Technica, “they have commitments.”
A “very polite petition” asking Apple to lift the NDA had drawn a couple hundred signatures as of Monday night. By then, a Web site called “[expletive deleted] NDA,” which keeps track of every time that phrase is uttered on Twitter, had collected 15,000 hits.
On Sunday, July 13, Apple (AAPL) issued a press release announcing that 10 million apps had been downloaded from the App Store in its first three days; by July 21, that number had risen to 25 million.
“The App Store is a grand slam,” said Steve Jobs. “Developers have created some extraordinary applications, and the App Store can wirelessly deliver them to every iPhone and iPod touch user instantly.”
Apple has not yet marked the 1,000 application milestone — or responded publicly to the developer complaints.
red@yahoo says…Sell a phone, but naught when service is…silent. How many subscribe…just to get a taste, when…talent is so costly? Well, go to the well. And the Archer bowed, quivered, and the girl said…I want child, payable as of…Right Now. And, Ajax pulled out. Says…This is a wine dark sea…Baby and Hector says…The Boy is his. He’s a Greek. Maybe…you’ll have twins and we’ll use them or may be…naught. You have a fine ass, Hector said, overhearing the conversation….from afar. The ESPN reporter asked…if they could get a shot. Gave him a shield and a short sword. Told me, misguided, mistaken. Said, go make your own shots and arrows, then. He said, fine.
Nice summary of the Ars article… Readers might be better of reading the article there from it’s original writers.
ex ped: Did the Ars Technica piece, which I linked to — twice — have the fact that there were 1,001 iPhone applications on the App Store?
I have the facebook app running on both my Blackberry 8830 and iPhone. There is no comparison - the Blackberry version is in the stone ages compared to the iPhone. Also, I can run salesforce on my iPhone but not on my blackBerry.
outside of US, Symbian has large audience and some really interesting apps. My Nokia phone can act as remote for my PC (i can type on pc just as I’m typing right now) move cursor and do whatever I want…My personal experience (and it could be wrong) suggests that it is far more easier to get apps for Symbian than it is for WinMo.
I walked into my local Apple store at 9:30 last Saturday morning. There was nobody in line and 25 iPhones on the shelf (a mix of all 3 types). I walked out 10 minutes later with a black 16GB.
THe primary reason developers want that NDA gag removed is so they can communicate with each other via a wiki or BBS. There are alot of developers who are having thier first experiences developing to an Apple SDK. I can understand how frustrating it would be, trying to remedy a bug in the software and not having a developer community to reach out to for help. Apple would be wise to create its own closed door community for all iphone developers. Then the ruckus about the NDA would surely die down.
As a user, I don’t give a toss about developer issues. All I know is that the app store works, the apps are great and its easy as cake. Try that with Windows Mobile 6.0. Two days into the iPhone, I tossed by HTC and will NEVER go back.
These developer’s [SIC] should listen to themselves speak. The App Store has been open for all of two weeks; NetNewsWire has released 7 patches in those two weeks (version 1.0.7); and they are complaining that the App Store can’t keep up. Sounds more like NetNewsWire can’t get it right. I hope NetNewsWire isn’t the developer complaining that they’re not a Staff Favorite. With a mean time between releases of 48 hours, this sounds more like version 0.0.7 than version 1.0.7
I think you’re missing the point. Because developers aren’t allowed to talk to anyone, and because there weren’t any phones available to test on before general release, they weren’t able to test the software properly. Hence the bugs, and hence the necessity for frequent updates.
Apple 2.0, Mac hater news from outside the reality distortion field where Microsoft is our god. Where no matter what Apple does, we will find some way to make it ugly.
ex ped: Microsoft is our what?
> In my opinion, the iPhone is the best Smartphone I have ever seen
The iPhone is the best handheld computing/telecommunication/Internet device. Period.
iPod redux. Exponentially.
Elmer, you’re slacking. Ya’ gotta find a negative in here somewhere.
The BlackBerry applications must be 10X better than the ones for the iPhone. It appears all their apps have five-star ratings.
These developer’s should listen to themselves speak. The App Store has been open for all of two weeks; NetNewsWire has released 7 patches in those two weeks (version 1.0.7); and they are complaining that the App Store can’t keep up. Sounds more like NetNewsWire can’t get it right. I hope NetNewsWire isn’t the developer complaining that they’re not a Staff Favorite. With a mean time between releases of 48 hours, this sounds more like version 0.0.7 than version 1.0.7
Maybe now that the there are 1,001 offerings on the App Store, Apple will finally implement Cut and Delete. They can use those functions to trim the weeds and take out the trash.
There are some differences between Apple’s App store and the others.
1. Totally centralized and accessible from your computer and iPhone. Organization on iTunes is second to none. Why do all the other stores use a browser instead of an iTunes-like storefront?
2. Rather generous split of 70/30 on the cost between developers and Apple.
3. Excellent and free developers tools
4. Cheap developers program
5. If you know OS X, you already know most of the iPhone OSX, conversely, if you learn the iPhone SDK, developing for OS X will be very similar.
Yes, there are teething problems but in one year when Apple has 40 million users (as opposed to RIM’s 15 million, for example) everyone else will be sucking Apple’s exhaust.
PED Thanks for posting the links for the other devices, from pathetic web sites and outrageous pricing these platforms have a lot of catching up to do. Apple has hit it out of the park with the App store.
I didn’t have any problem buying one. I went to Short Hills Mall in NJ last Saturday at around 7:30 am, I was the 9th in line and teh store opened up at 8:00 am. By 9:30 am, I am already home playing with my IPhone.
@ Gwen
You say:
“What about the windows mobile platform and the windows mobile marketplace? Both existed long before so nothing new or distinguished here.”
I agree that WinMobile was missed (along with Palm) but wheter App Store is anything new or not is debatable, but distinguished? I think most people will say it is indeed distinguished from anything else out there.
The failure of Mr Elmer-DeWitt to include these two platforms is a testament to his firm grasp of the market about which he writes.
The “captive” press has pushed every moan and gripe from the small minority that have had issues, and hugely blown out of proportion the issue of Jobs’ health, all in a vain attempt to pull this stock down.
Well, they got it down to 150. BFD. That makes it a huge BUYING opportunity for the rest of us, those of us with enough wits about us to hold this stock for a couple of years at least.
Rest assured, when the stock “tops out” again, these same players will pull out all the stops to crash it once more.
Now, you can be part of the herd that these sharks stampede, or you can buy your stock and HOLD it, thus thwarting them, and strengthening the stock in the long run.
But this stock is headed up, way up (and the sharks know it and count on it!), and the App Store is part of the reason why. The other part is that Apple has finally figured out what they are: a hardware company. And as a hardware company, the name of the game is to get potential customers to look at your product line.
They’re going to need to build more Apple storefronts - a LOT more storefronts.
Starbucks, move over!
The I-phone is a great product, but I wont be buying one as long as it is on AT&T. Let me know when the Verizon version gets released.
It is very sad that I can’t easily buy the iPhone. Many of my friends and relatives are also complaining that they can’t buy the iPhone. This problem must be solved.
In my opinion, the iPhone is the best Smartphone I have ever seen. It is convenient, cheap, and cool. And, for just $199 you can enjoy this fantastic device!
25 million apps downloaded as of yesterday
says ipod observer
RIMM and WinMobile may have 3rd party apps. But they haven’t generated such enormous developer interest. Their app distribution is not centralized via something like the wildly popular iTunes store. They’re copying Apple’s App Store model now, of course, but results will resemble those of Zune copycat tactics.
Which is to say that the iPhone and App Store ecosystem really is without peer. The download counts prove the point. Just wait until there are 40 million iPhones in use by the end of 2009. What kind of App download numbers will we see then — and what developer would NOT want to target such an audience?
I just bought a friend’s iPhone for my wife for $100 (he got a 3G) including case and SURE earphones, activated it for $9.99 on AT&Ts “add a line”. Although it wasn’t necessary as we have WIFI most everywhere, I also got her the data plan for $20/mo. I upgraded to 2.0 and have ALL the APPS
available that the 3G has PLUS double the battery life. Thus, if you can get your hands on an original iPhone, you may find it’s a real bargain.
That’s the price you pay for awesomeness in your pocket. I took the morning off work stood in line last Friday to buy two of them (one for my wife). This is the best gadget I have ever owned. I’ve had blackberries and palms and other various smart phones, and none of them come close to how great this device is. It’s truly like having a mini laptop with you at all times. Fantastic!
“the venue for independently produced programs that helps distinguish Apple’s smartphone from all others”
“Many consider this flood of software to be a bigger deal than the phone itself. Among smartphones, only the RIM (RIMM) Blackberry has created a comparable platform for so-called third-party programs (see its application store here)”
What about the windows mobile platform and the windows mobile marketplace? Both existed long before so nothing new or distinguished here.
You can complain all you want. But the iPhone is the best smartphone on the market. It costs money to use a smartphone on the internet. It always cost money and it always will. Convenience and entertainment costs money. If you want to wait for a perfect iPhone, you’ll be waiting forever. The 3G iPhone is the best phone at a low price of $199. It doesn’t get any better than that. Some people just like to complain.
No other competitior will be able to compete against the App Store. There will be more Apps coming. Over 2000 apps by the end 2008. The big question is “How much revenue is the App Store generating and Will there be a must have App such as a blockbuster video game coming out?”
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@ Nick in NYC:
Everything you just wrote is a testament to the strength of the iPhone and App Store as a platform that meets consumer needs while setting new mobile industry standards. A lot of people really want the iPhone — and they’ll do whatever it takes to get it. This phenomenon is going global. It’s a big deal. There’s nothing “too bad” about that if you’re an Apple fan!
“. Among smartphones, only the RIM (RIMM) Blackberry has created a comparable platform for so-called third-party programs”
I don’t think so. This is much more comparable to the thousands of applications developed for the Palm OS. Hundreds of free programs and thousands of other applications from business to games, to dictionaries, and so on. Even epocrates has much more functionality on the Palm and VisualIT’s TUBE interactive transit maps are superb.
And thats different with any other phone how? i had to do that with sprint to get my bb 8830 and i did it again with the iphone. i’ve got mine because i waited in line patiently for 5 FRIGGEN HOURS stop complaining just because people have more diligence than you to get something…..i’ve had friends family even co-workers with money complaining that they can’t get the iphone. its all about where your priorities lye. for me the iphone brings everything together, its my kill all end all device. (till the next one comes out!)
Its too bad that it is so hard to buy one without spending thousands and buying it from someone on Craigslist or EBAY. They are sold out across NYC and of course you have to buy thru AT&T pay a minimum of $80 a month, and pay an ETF to your old cell phone carrier if you are in the middle of a contract.
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Silicon Valley veterans like to joke that Steve Jobs must be surrounded by a reality distortion field; if you get too close to him, you start to believe what he's saying. Thanks to the success of the iPod, the launch of the iPhone and the renewed interest in the Mac, Apple has made believers out of millions of customers - and made a lot of investors rich. But Philip Elmer-DeWitt believes that an ounce of skepticism never hurts when writing about the company. He should know. He's been covering Apple - and watching Steve Jobs operate - since 1982, first for Time Magazine, then for Business 2.0, and now for Fortune.
Soon I will get my iPhone. I am so excited! This is the best smart Phone on the earth. And it has so many great options.