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500 iPhone Apps, but why these?
arstechnica.com — Why and how did Apple choose the lucky 552 applications for the App Store's initial launch? Ars speculates on what could have been the deciding factors.
MaGCoL- 822 diggs
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- philipz78, on 07/10/2008, -5/+32Over 500 apps to start with is already an overwhelming set of choices. It would be impossible for all 500 apps to be good.
- timsline, on 07/11/2008, -2/+4So why not just pick 100 great ones?
- rrife, on 07/11/2008, -3/+7Or better yet remove all of the restrictions and let them be distributed however the creator wants.
- MrMongoose, on 07/11/2008, -4/+2rrife:
How is apple supposed to make money if they can't lock you into their proprietary system? - dragon76, on 07/11/2008, -1/+9When an application ***** up or ***** up a system, do you think people contact the creator of the app? No, they contact the machine manufacturer or the operating system manufacturer. This was exactly why Microsoft stopped providing support to OEM purchased versions of their OS as they did in the days of DOS and Win 3.1.
You need to stop thinking of the iPhone in terms of other cell phones (especially since that tactic is bankrupting Motorola) and start thinking about it like PS3 or Wii. I can't just buy randomly internet distributed applications for my Wii or PS3, either and there's not some giant uproar about it.
- LeeSoong, on 07/11/2008, -1/+2Because they were ready, they were well written, and they worked ?
Apple sent reminders out to developers about
deadlines for submitting their apps to the store.
- timsline, on 07/11/2008, -2/+4So why not just pick 100 great ones?
- jimforcy, on 07/10/2008, -22/+14I'm happy to see all the Apple fanboys settle for this moderated store. They seem to settle for anything nowadays.
Prepare for comment down!- gmprunner, on 07/10/2008, -7/+10What's so wrong about a moderated store? Imagine how good a place like, say, myspace could be if it were moderated like this store is...
- EtherGnat, on 07/11/2008, -0/+9Nothing is wrong with a moderated store. The problem is it's the only place to legally get apps, which is a problem. Personally I'd rather have the choice what to install rather than allow a corporation which has conflicting interests to filter what I may use.
Basically you're paying 30% to Apple to tell you what you can't install. Yay! - worminater, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2'Imagine how good a place like, say, myspace could be if it were moderated like this store is...'
only riaa major label bands; anyone with dissenting appeal blocked free will filtered. Sounds like a great place to go.
- EtherGnat, on 07/11/2008, -0/+9Nothing is wrong with a moderated store. The problem is it's the only place to legally get apps, which is a problem. Personally I'd rather have the choice what to install rather than allow a corporation which has conflicting interests to filter what I may use.
- jabberwolf, on 07/11/2008, -8/+7Yes because moderation and control is what we want.
What the hell would we want freedom for? That's just for crazy people!!!
PS- That's also why Myspace is for those that want to do what they wish. Facebook is retard-made-easy
- gmprunner, on 07/10/2008, -7/+10What's so wrong about a moderated store? Imagine how good a place like, say, myspace could be if it were moderated like this store is...
- NobodyYouKnow, on 07/11/2008, -7/+15Still tons of room for innovation. I was expecting a little more thoughtful apps.
Any iPhone devs want to team up for some apps, give me a shout. I have dev money.- megamod, on 07/11/2008, -0/+10?
- deaftly, on 07/11/2008, -0/+9!
- megamod, on 07/11/2008, -0/+9"huh? what was that? did I see something?" *paces around*
*straightens out posture to indicate that I'm not suspcious anymore*
"hmm I must be seeing things"
- megamod, on 07/11/2008, -0/+9"huh? what was that? did I see something?" *paces around*
- texpundit, on 07/11/2008, -0/+8Someone build a ***** puTTy-style SSH app that I can use without having to jailbreak the damned phone.
- wmt9, on 07/11/2008, -0/+3why not just make a terminal app and have ssh.
- ProfessorApe, on 07/11/2008, -2/+0@ NobodyYouKnow,
I'm an apprentice User Interface / User Experience designer and I'd love to tackle some UI design for iPhone mobile apps or games. I've already started drafting UI concepts for simpler apps and games. Should you get a project started and you're interested (or any other app developers), I can help get the UI done (final graphics too not just concepts) and tested. My rates are decent (and free if the app will be free or open source). Email me if you'd like to talk about it: aarlof [at] gmail [dot] com.
- streak, on 07/11/2008, -2/+50Where's Terminal? Where's VNC? Games are one thing, but we have to get some work done from time to time, too.
- skeen07, on 07/11/2008, -6/+8***** YEH!! WORK!!!!
- BrainInAJar, on 07/11/2008, -14/+3on your ipod?
dude... get a laptop... - 48days, on 07/11/2008, -1/+20Impossible, and impossible, the SDK is so limited that no apps can function outside of their directory, which means no VNC, no Terminal and no SMBPrefs
- mrtrik, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2I thought Citrix was building/had built a vnc client?
- ricksite, on 07/11/2008, -0/+8I would love terminal. To brainInAJar...I have a laptop. If I had terminal on my iPhone, I wouldn't have to take my laptop on vacation with me. In an emergency, a terminal client on the iPhone would be fine. I also setup the Cisco VPN client on the iPhone. It works great.
- nicc, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1unfortunately, the Juniper VPN client does not work on the iPhone :(
- LeeSoong, on 07/11/2008, -2/+1How about a live webcam video app - is one there ?
- TimFrost, on 07/11/2008, -4/+19I'm still annoyed at the fact the 2.0 firmware isn't available for the touch yet, so I can't even use any of these apps.
- MaGCoL, on 07/11/2008, -2/+15I'm annoyed that we Touch users have to pay for the 2.0 upgrade. I understand Apple's reasoning on that, but I'm going to buy the iPhone eventually and don't see the point buying the new firmware at this point. Would love to start playing with the new apps, they look frigging awesome!
- antiorblkflag9, on 07/11/2008, -1/+7I don't understand Apple's logic. The framework of the two are the same. It's the same BS that we had to pay for the email applications that new touch users got for free. The firmware is out, I think apple's servers are just on fire.
- jermm, on 07/11/2008, -1/+4Apple claims its for anti-trust reasons, same reason you had to pay like $5 for 802.11n in MacBook Pros some time ago. Then again, Steve might just want another 2 gallons of premium gas...
- sexybobo, on 07/11/2008, -0/+4"I think apple's servers are just on fire"
Serves them right for using apple servers. - elipabst, on 07/11/2008, -1/+2Really? I don't understand it. They're charging me an additional $10 for the privilege of adding applications that I have to pay for as well? If it was an antitrust issue, then they could make it available for $0.01 or even a dollar. Microsoft isn't required to charge end-users for service pack upgrades. To be honest though, I'd pay double that if they'd make the damn thing WPA-Enterprise compatible.
- oughterator, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1me too! i really hope its up soon
- fraggle35, on 07/11/2008, -1/+18iPod1,1_2.0_5A345_Restore.ipsw
google is your friend- McHoffa, on 07/11/2008, -0/+125A347 is final
- uwooneeighty, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1i've been using 5A345 all morning - no problems yet, working great. it's up to you if you want to take the plunge though
- MaGCoL, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2"5A347 is final"
Downloaded and now seeding.
- gr33nie, on 07/11/2008, -0/+8Apple definitely did not make it easy for you to get this for free. In no way is this a direct link to it.
http://content.info.apple.com/ProtectedAsset/iPod/ ...- Tomamama, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1Thanks. It seems Apple isn't making this easy to get whether you want to pay for it or not.
- MaGCoL, on 07/11/2008, -2/+15I'm annoyed that we Touch users have to pay for the 2.0 upgrade. I understand Apple's reasoning on that, but I'm going to buy the iPhone eventually and don't see the point buying the new firmware at this point. Would love to start playing with the new apps, they look frigging awesome!
- jabberwolf, on 07/11/2008, -11/+7Because ANY application for the iphone is what Apple wants... even if stupid or useless.
- Chairboy, on 07/11/2008, -2/+7That doesn't make any sense as a response to the question posed above that you're responding to. I understand not R'ing the F'ing A, but not even reading the little blurb your answering? Is there some super powerful new strain of ADHD floating around now?
- fudged71, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1ingenious reply
- MacParrot, on 07/11/2008, -1/+2(In Paul Winchell Voice)
Because that's not what Jabbers does best! That's Jay-Ay-Double buh- Er! That spells Jabbers!
- jabberwolf, on 07/11/2008, -5/+2Chair so going off on a tangent while ignoring the question and article would be better?
"Is there some super powerful new strain of ADHD floating around now?"
Look in the mirror!
- Chairboy, on 07/11/2008, -2/+7That doesn't make any sense as a response to the question posed above that you're responding to. I understand not R'ing the F'ing A, but not even reading the little blurb your answering? Is there some super powerful new strain of ADHD floating around now?
- sjmueller, on 07/11/2008, -3/+7How bout they make an application for themselves that will unbrick my brand new got damn 3G iphone. You are "required" to connect to itunes in order to get the phone working, but all you see is timeouts and errors. Now i'm stuck without a cell phone for the last 4 hours, because my old cell company already switched it over.
So i have two effin bricks right now. Useless.- tehjarvis, on 07/11/2008, -1/+2With the 2.0 firmware being released and everyone raping the app store, and so many people buying 3G's and trying to activate right now, it's going to be bogged down for a bit. Be patient.
- zydeco, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2Guess you'll have to sit your got damned ass down and wait. That's the price you pay for being first in line.
- StevesJobs, on 07/11/2008, -8/+5I'm still waiting for COD4 for the iPhone.
- mrgermy, on 07/11/2008, -0/+8In 3D with Dolby surround and haptic feedback. . . hooked up to various parts of your body so you feel like you're getting shot
- xaos12, on 07/11/2008, -2/+2personally i'd rather not feel like i'm getting shot
- cakerun, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1Wimp.
- paulusmaximus, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1Sounds great, but that was 'so' last month in Apple terms. Only Crysis will do now! :D
- CornelisonRC, on 07/11/2008, -12/+1More apps = less work = more obese America = spending more time on the iPhone apps to defer oneself from said harsh reality = more money for Apple.
And thats pretty much how the cookie crumbles.- antiorblkflag9, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1Less work != less exercise/worse eating habits.
- veriix, on 07/11/2008, -0/+34"About 25 percent of the applications are free and almost 6 percent are over $9.99. The vast majority, 70 percent, range in price somewhere between $0.99 and $9.99. Almost 25 percent of the store's offerings are free, as Apple needs something to get the everyday user in the door."
Did they get those statistics from the Department of Redundancy Department?- KingFog, on 07/11/2008, -5/+4And did they use a calculator?
25 + 6 + 70 = 101- texpundit, on 07/11/2008, -0/+4"almost 6 percent"
- EtherGnat, on 07/11/2008, -0/+5"About 25 percent"
"almost 6 percent" - wellyuk, on 07/11/2008, -1/+4It says "About 25 percent" and "almost 6 percent". So "About 25 percent" could easily be 24.5% and "almost 6 percent" could equal 5.5%.
So,
24.5 + 5.5 + 70 = 100
- KingFog, on 07/11/2008, -5/+4And did they use a calculator?
- anillop, on 07/11/2008, -2/+8Wow what a totally uninformative article. To sum up Apple opened the app store and the author wonders why they are offering the application on there. Well thats sure a dig worthy article. Just because it is an article about the new iphone doesn't make it news worthy.
- blackjack75, on 07/11/2008, -0/+19I asked for my key months ago and never received it, negating for me the possiblity to publish any app... I have to say I am bit disgusted when I see some of the chosen people getting away with publishing apps that basically display a white page for 1.99$ while so many foreign developers could not even publish free apps.
- megamod, on 07/11/2008, -1/+8500+ apps isn't really overwhelming when you have apps with the same functionality (e.g. 5 different plain screen/flashlight apps)
- philipz78, on 07/11/2008, -1/+1But the average person still has to sift through them and try them out. Apple really should have selected 1 flashlight app to start with.
- petard, on 07/11/2008, -1/+1Theres a flashlight app? Couldn't you just bookmark a blank web site?
- philipz78, on 07/11/2008, -1/+1But the average person still has to sift through them and try them out. Apple really should have selected 1 flashlight app to start with.
- MorphicMusic, on 07/11/2008, -10/+4zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
- FasmTrout, on 07/11/2008, -1/+1Goodnight, sweet prince.
- MorphicMusic, on 07/11/2008, -1/+1dude the i-phone is a fashion statement, like your purse.
- FasmTrout, on 07/11/2008, -1/+1Goodnight, sweet prince.
- xsecretfiles, on 07/11/2008, -3/+2I don't have the 2.0 software yet, but from the reviews it seems that the Apps I was looking forward the most, are getting horrible reviews
:(
If that's the true, I will Jailbreak my phone- AvidPreatorian, on 07/11/2008, -1/+3do it, we don't care. my iphone is running these apps are running beautifully.
- paulusmaximus, on 07/11/2008, -2/+1Anybody heard about the app store being biased towards American companies? Not that anybody really cares, as long as the quality is good. But according to this article..... :(
- BrainInAJar, on 07/11/2008, -1/+1Anyone know if the dev kit lets you sync your own applications to an iphone or ipod? or just the simulator?
- bigsteve, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1Just the simulator. To run them legitimately on a device, you need a developer certificate ($99.)
Illegitimately, there was a hacked 1.2 (2.0 before it was 2.0, pulled from an early simulator) floating around that had it's app cert cracked. I believe that Apple made all the beta firmwares expire. I never heard any more about it, or if this was something that hackers were working on as a long-term solution or not. Doubt it though.
- bigsteve, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1Just the simulator. To run them legitimately on a device, you need a developer certificate ($99.)
- Lane5slacker, on 07/11/2008, -0/+17I was very disappointed in the majority of the apps on the Store. I've been working hard on an app of my own and, let me tell you, seeing all these half-assed attempts to cash in is just disheartening. I've been working trying to perfect the GUI, with the delicate balance of using the screen wisely without it being clutters. It's harder then it sounds to get that "Apple" feel, but by the looks of it most of these designers didn't even try.
Let's be honest, why the ***** does an app who's sole purpose to to show a video of how to jog exist? Make is a freakin' podcast.- dagamer34, on 07/11/2008, -1/+12Seriously, the lightsaber application is a complete DISGRACE. Especially for developers that didn't even get their dev certs, Apple approving crap like that is a REAL slap in the face. Sigh.
- billygreen23, on 07/11/2008, -0/+5Exactly. It's extremely disappointing to see 90% of the apps are junk. I mean, Cow Toss?? Come on, it's pathetic. I really expected the apps to be of the quality you expect from Apple and the iPhone.
- marke, on 07/13/2008, -0/+1Keep the faith and make it right. I have installed several of those apps, and will soon un-install when those delicately balanced with intuitive GUI apps come along. And if they are useful? Will gladly pay! Won't take long for the good apps to rise to the top.
Lightsaber -- AGREE. Cow Toss.... described exactly as it is/was and with a big wink of humor. Some of us paid more for a 'Pet Rock' in the old days.
- tehjarvis, on 07/11/2008, -0/+12Search for Crash Bandicoot in the app store.
It's not listed under any of the categories for some reason, and it's the best iphone game, by far.- RBrenner14, on 07/11/2008, -0/+7At first I buried you for making this up, but it turns out you're telling the truth. Cool.
- NOFXY, on 07/11/2008, -0/+3At first i buried you for burying him, but then i dug you up just because i've never changed my mind on a bury/digg before. Cool.
- tehjarvis, on 07/11/2008, -0/+5At first I somehow buried myself accidentally trying to bury you for buring him for burying me. Then I changed my mind, and dugg myself up, dugg him down then dugg you up, but then I forgot what I originally thought because it was so complex. My brain feels like it's boiling.
- MadKennyP, on 07/11/2008, -1/+1I was able find it and download it, but it won't download. I got a message stating that Crash Bandicoot is no longer available.
- RBrenner14, on 07/11/2008, -0/+7At first I buried you for making this up, but it turns out you're telling the truth. Cool.
- McShr3dd3r, on 07/11/2008, -1/+28Shortcuts to Myspace, Twitter, New York Times are hardly "applications."
- 1jaxstate1, on 07/11/2008, -0/+3As a WM users...I welcome all the iPhone users to the world of useless apps.
- zydeco, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2Now imagine what junk *didn't* make the cut...
- 01110011, on 07/11/2008, -1/+1Unlike the craptastic windows "it's gonna work in the next version" mobile, there might actually be a at least a few worthwhile apps for the iphone. I'm actually looking forward to running apps and being able to answer calls without it crashing my phone each time, more than I'm looking forward to killer apps.
Done every version of CE, now I'm done with CE.
- mockupscaledown, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2An article with "speculates" and "could have" in the headline? Sounds great, I'm ready to believe anything.
- TexasShiv, on 07/11/2008, -1/+2Anyone want to tell me if its worth it to buy Super Monkey Ball? It looks like a ton of fun, and I'm really ***** tired of borrowing my girlfriends BB to play brick breaker when I'm bored
- fantasticjon, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2I bought it and have only played it about 5 minutes. Its very touchy. If you get it, its going to take some getting used to. I would save your $9.99.
- mrtrik, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1I like it. It's got a steep learning curve. It's fun. It'll keep you entertained. There are some gripes... no save game. Meaning you quit before the "world" is finished (a world could be 10 or more levels) then you need to start all over. They require to collect all the bananas for each level to unlock a bonus level - basically you can't die at all. Because there's no way to replay a particular level. So it's not perfect, hopefully they'll tune it with an update. But it definitely is a great game (and probably the best) for the first attempts on the iphone.
I also like Enigmo. That one does save after each level so you can pick up where you left off.
- macsrock888, on 07/11/2008, -0/+1Well I gotta say Vicinity was probably the best accidental $3 I ever spent in a frenzy of mad clicking attempting to get every free app.
- benosmith, on 07/11/2008, -0/+2You know, what I want to know more than why these, is why not alot more people. I've had a finished app for a while, but it hasn't gone up. It hasn't been disapproved, just general silence from apple. My company is quite small, but it is a bit frustrating. Especially because a) we were the first CRM on the iPhone with a customized web app a year ago (and for marketing reasons I would have loved to say the same this year), and b) because the CRM they did put up (SalesForce) is essentially a beta, where there are a bunch of features coming soon, ours is done.
- mgebers, on 07/11/2008, -2/+2They need uTorrent.
Then I'll be happy.- mrtrik, on 07/11/2008, -1/+3really? need to pirate on the go?
I'm sure you'd find something else to complain about.
- mrtrik, on 07/11/2008, -1/+3really? need to pirate on the go?
- fantasticjon, on 07/11/2008, -1/+1Shazam. Get it. Its free and it works amazingly well.
If there is a song playing on the radio, in the background at a restaurant, or wherever, you can use shazam to listen to it and it will tell you what the song is. It is amazing. - mariachi, on 07/11/2008, -2/+1But does it run Crys... ah ***** it.
- mdman, on 07/11/2008, -1/+1Apple does not choose them, its who PAYS the fees since they chipped them.
whoever wants to have an IPhone app, simply pays for the right. Apple is just high priced, fee based systems - Shigglyboo, on 07/11/2008, -3/+1yeah, I think I'll just stick with my old iPhone, OS 1.1.4 and all my awesome FREE apps.
- sibergoth, on 07/12/2008, -1/+0i dont understand why there are NO games at all listed for me.. i'm in Ireland.
also, can't find the google search tool..........
most odd... - kreatre2007, on 07/12/2008, -1/+2Dear ***** christ!!! Give the app store some time. I think this was a very good start.
- Teelar, on 07/12/2008, -0/+1Boy, I love that word "speculation." It's a four-syllable, fancy word for "pulling out of ass."
- illustrick, on 07/12/2008, -1/+1i have the touch, and i download some apps, but it wont let me sync them....i have a jailbroke 1.1.4 32 gig. do i have to reset the firmware to apples for them to work?
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