App Store (iOS)

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App Store is a digital distribution platform developed and maintained by Apple Inc. for mobile applications on its iOS operating system. This store allows users to browse and download apps developed with Apple's iOS software development tool. The app can be downloaded on an iPhone smartphone, an iPod Touch handheld computer, or an iPad tablet computer, and some can be transferred to Apple Watch or Apple TV's 4th or later generation watch as iPhone app extensions.

The App Store opened on July 10, 2008, with 500 initial apps available. By 2017, this store has more than 2.1 million apps.

Developers have several options for monetizing their apps, from free, free with in-app purchases, and paid. However, the App Store has been criticized for its lackluster development environment, prompting the company in June 2016 to announce "new focus and energy" in the store. Major changes introduced in the following months include ads in search results, new app subscription models, and developer ability to respond to customer reviews. In addition, Apple started the process of removing old applications that were not working properly or that did not follow the current app guidelines, with the app research firm noticing a significant amount of app removals from the store. In addition, with the release of iOS 11 in September 2017, the App Store received a complete design overhaul, bringing greater focus on editorial content and daily highlights, and stylish designs for some of Apple's built-in iOS apps.

Since its release in 2008, the App Store has generated over $ 70 billion in revenue for developers.

Video App Store (iOS)

History

The iPhone Applications Store opened on July 10, 2008. On July 11, iPhone 3G was released and comes pre-loaded with support for the App Store.

After Apple App Store's success and the launch of similar services by its competitors, the term "app store" has been adopted to refer to similar services for mobile devices. However, Apple applied for a US trademark on the term "App Store" in 2008, which was approved temporarily in early 2011. In June 2011, US District Judge Phyllis Hamilton, who led Apple's case against Amazon, said it would "possibly" reject Apple to stop Amazon using the name "App Store". In July, Apple denied an early court order against the Amazon Appstore by a federal judge.

The term app has become a popular keyword; in January 2011, the app was awarded the "Word of the Year" 2010 award by the American Dialect Society. "App" has been used as an abbreviation for "apps" since at least the mid-1990s, and in product names since at least 2006, for example named Google Apps.

Apple announced the Mac App Store, a similar application distribution platform for its personal computer operating system macOS, in October 2010, with an official launch taking place in January 2011 with the release of the "Snow Leopard" update 10.6.6.

In February 2013, Apple told developers that they could start using appstore.com for links to their apps. In June at its developer conference, Apple announced the upcoming "Kids" section of the App Store, a new section featuring apps categorized by age range, and this section was launched simultaneously with the iOS 7 launch in September 2013.

In November 2014, due to pressure from the European Commission, Apple updated the App Store so that all apps that did not have a fee for download were labeled "Get" instead of "Free" before, due to the many "free" inclusions of paid apps for in-app purchases.

In January 2017, the report raised documentation for a new beta for the soon-to-be released iOS 10.3 release, which will let developers respond to customer reviews on the App Store, marking a significant change from the previous limit, which prevents developers from communicating with users. This functionality was officially activated on March 27, 2017 when iOS 10.3 was released to users. Further details are also released about reviews for users, including that they will be able to rate and review apps in the app itself rather than being redirected to the App Store, and that they can mark other user reviews as "Helpful" or "Unbeneficial". Apple publishes documents that describe appropriate ways to respond to developers, including timely, clear and concise, prioritize certain form of reviews (low star ratings, specific countries or recent reviews) through filtering on iTunes Connect, and developer responses through the approval process before being published. Developers are also prohibited from manipulating or providing feedback incentives. Developer responses are listed on the App Store as a line below their respective user reviews, and users receive notifications/emails for responses from related developers, with the option to update their review.

In March 2017, App Store shipments containing pricing details, such as "free", in the name began to be rejected. Previous developers have been advised in the developer guide on the iTunes Connect and App Store review page that they should refrain from training, even if the app is still approved. Starting in March, some (though not all) apps with "free" in their titles are denied.

In October 2016, in an effort to improve the ease of app discovery, Apple launched the ability for developers to buy advertising spots on the App Store for users in the United States. Ads, displayed at the top of search results, are based on relevant keywords, and are not used to create profiles on users. Apple expanded search ads to the UK, Australia and New Zealand in April 2017, along with more configurable ad arrangements for developers. Search ads expanded to Canada, Mexico and Switzerland in October 2017. In December 2017, Apple changed its search advertising program to offer two different versions; "Basic Ads Find" is an install-per-click program intended for smaller developers, where they only pay when users actually install their app. Basic Search Ads also have an easier setup process and a limited monthly budget. "Advanced Search Ads" is the new name given to the old method, where the developer has to pay each time a user taps their app in search results, along with an unlimited monthly budget. At launch, the Basic program is only available in the US, with expected international launch "around next year".

Apple also offers iTunes Affiliate Program, which lets people refer other people to other iTunes apps and content, along with in-app purchases, for a percentage of sales. Commission rates for in-app purchases were reduced from 7% to 2.5% in May 2017, while affiliate rates for paid apps, music, movies, books and TV shows remained at 7%.

The App Store received a major design overhaul with the iOS 11 launch. The new design featured a greater focus on editorial content and daily highlights, and introduced a "cleaner and more consistent and colorful look" similar to some of Apple's innate iOS apps.

Prior to September 2017, Apple offered a way for users to manage their iOS app purchases through iTunes computer software. In September, iTunes version 12.7 was released, removing the App Store part in the process. However, the following month, iTunes 12.6.3 was also released, maintaining the App Store, with 9to5Mac noting that the secondary release was positioned by Apple as "required for some businesses deploying internal apps".

In December 2017, Apple announced that developers can offer apps for pre-order, allowing them to make apps visible in the store between 2-90 days before release.

On January 4, 2018, Apple announced that the App Store had a record-breaking holiday season according to a new press release. During the week starting on Christmas Eve, the number of registered subscribers made an App Store purchase, spending more than $ 890 million in the seven-day period. On New Year's Day 2018 alone, customers buy $ 300 million.

Maps App Store (iOS)

Development and monetization

iOS SDK

The iOS SDK (Software Development Kit) allows mobile app development on iOS.

When initially developing an iPhone before it was launched in 2007, Apple CEO Steve Jobs did not intend to let third-party developers build native apps for iOS, instead directing them to create web apps for the Safari web browser. However, a reaction from developers prompted the company to reconsider, with Jobs announcing in October 2007 that Apple would have software development tools available to developers in February 2008. The SDK was released on March 6, 2008.

SDK is a free download for Mac personal computer users. This is not available for Microsoft Windows PCs. The SDK contains sets that give developers access to various functions and services of iOS devices, such as hardware and software attributes. It also contains an iPhone simulator to mimic the look and feel of the device on the computer while developing. New version of SDK accompanies the new iOS version. To test apps, get technical support, and distribute apps through the App Store, developers must subscribe to the Apple Developer Program.

Combined with Xcode, the iOS SDK helps developers write iOS apps using officially supported programming languages, including Swift and Objective-C. Other companies have also created tools that allow the development of native iOS apps using their own programming languages.

Monetization

To publish apps on the App Store, developers must pay a $ 99 annual fee for access to the Apple Developer Program. Apple has announced that, in the United States by 2018, it will waive fees for nonprofit organizations and governments.

Developers have several options to monetize their apps. "Free Model" allows free apps, increasing the likelihood of engagement. The "Freemium Model" makes free app downloads, but users are offered optional additional features in applications that require payment. "Subscription Model" allows continuous monetization through renewable transactions. The "Paid Model" makes the app a paid download and does not offer any additional features. "Paymium model" allows paid app downloads and paid in-app content.

In-app subscriptions were originally introduced to magazines, newspapers, and music apps in February 2011, giving developers 70% of revenue earned and Apple 30%. Publishers may also sell digital subscriptions through their website, bypassing Apple's fees, but are not allowed to advertise their website alternative through the app itself.

By 2016, several media outlets reported that the app decreased significantly in popularity. Recode writes that "Application booming ends," editorial at TechCrunch states that "The hopeless air surrounding the mobile app ecosystem is very clear and demoralized," and The Verge writes that "the original App Store model of app sales for money or two looks old-fashioned". Issues include consumer "boredom", lack of ability to find apps, and, as stated by reports from 2014, lack of new app downloads among smartphone users.

In an interview with The Verge in June 2016, Phil Schiller, senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing Apple, said Apple has a "new focus and energy" in the App Store, and announced some significant changes, including advertising in search results and new app subscription models. The subscription model sees an established 70/30 revenue share between developers and Apple changing to a new 85/15 revenue share if users continue to subscribe to app developers for a year, and open up the possibility of subscribing to all apps, not just select categories.

App data and insight analysis firm App Annie released a report in October 2016, announcing that China has taken over the United States as Apple's biggest market in App Store revenues. In the third quarter of 2016, Chinese users spent $ 1.7 billion vs. about $ 1.5 billion by American users.

In June 2017, Apple announced that the App Store has generated more than $ 70 billion in revenue for developers since its 2008 launch.

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Number of iOS apps

On July 10, 2008, Apple CEO Steve Jobs told USA Today that the App Store contains 500 third party apps for iPhone and iPod Touch, and 25% is free. Ten million apps downloaded for the first weekend. In September, the number of available apps has increased to 3,000, with over 100 million downloads.

Over the years, the store has surpassed several major milestones, including 50,000, 100,000, 250,000, 500,000, 1 million, and 2 million applications. The Billionth App has been downloaded on April 24, 2009.

Number of iPad apps

The iPad was released in April 2010, with approximately 3,000 apps available. As of July 2011, 16 months after its release, there are over 100,000 apps specifically designed for the device.

Most downloaded apps

Apple publishes a list each year, giving credit to apps with the highest number of downloads in the past year.

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App ratings

Apples rate apps around the world based on their content, and determine which age groups each fit. According to iPhone OS 3.0 launch event, iPhone will allow unpleased application blocking in iPhone settings. Here are the ratings detailed by Apple:

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App approval process

Applications are subject to approval by Apple, as outlined in the SDK agreement, for basic reliability testing and other analysis. Applications may still be distributed "ad-hoc" if rejected, by the author manually sending a request to Apple to license the app to each iPhone, even though Apple may appeal to the author to do this later.

In 2013, Apple uses most of the static analysis for their app review process, which means dynamic code-generating techniques can outperform the review process.

As of June 2017, Apple updated the App Store review guide to determine that app developers will no longer have the ability to use custom requests to encourage users to leave reviews for their apps. With the release of iOS 11 at the end of 2017, Apple will also let developers choose whether to save app reviews when updating apps or to reset them. In addition, other updates to App Store policies allow users for optional "tip" creators, by voluntarily sending them money.

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Controversial app

In November 2012, Girlfriends, dating simulation games, removed because "reference reports for sexual acts and violent pedophiles" are considered inappropriate for Boyfriend Maker's age rating of 4. A revised version called Boyfriend Plus was approved by Apple in April 2013.

As of March 2013, HiddenApps is approved and appears on the App Store. This app provides access to the developer's diagnostic menu, enabling stock apps to be hidden, and enabling the opt-out feature for iAds, an Apple-driven ad-driven system. The app is removed shortly thereafter because it violates the guidelines.

In April 2013, Apple removed AppGratis, a successful app store market that promotes paid apps by offering one free every day. Apple says All Items of Digital that the app violates two clauses of its developer agreement, including "Apps that display Apps other than your own for purchases or promotions in a similar or confusing manner with the App Store will be denied" and "Applications can not use Push Notifications to send advertisements, promotions or direct marketing of any kind ". Apple, however, told developers that they were "welcome to resend" after changing the app, although there was "not much hope that it could survive in terms of the current incarnation".

In November 2014, Apple removed MassRoots marijuana social networking apps, arguing that it "encourages [excessive alcohol consumption] or illegal substances." In February 2015, MassRoots was reintroduced to the store after Apple changed its implementation guidelines to allow social applications of marijuana in 23 states where legal.

In September 2015, it was found that "hundreds" of applications submitted and approved on the App Store use XcodeGhost, a malicious version of Xcode development software. The issue prompted Apple to remove infected apps from the store and issued a statement that it "works with developers to make sure they are using the right Xcode version". A security company then published a list of infected apps, including the only-Chinese version of Angry Birds 2, CamCard, Lifesmart, TinyDeal.com, and WeChat. As a result, Apple states that it will make Xcode faster to download in certain regions outside the United States, and contact all developers to make sure they only download codes from the Mac App Store or Apple website, and provide code signatures for developers to test if they are running a corrupted Xcode version.

In June 2017, fraudulent trends are found in stores, where developers create apps built on services that do not exist, attach an in-app purchase subscription to the opening dialog, and then buy an App store search ad space to get apps to higher rankings. In one instance, an application named "Mobile phone protection: Clean & Security VPN" will require a payment of $ 99.99 for a subscription seven days after a short test. Apple has not responded to this problem.

Additionally, Apple has removed the software licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) from the App Store, because of the text in the Apple Terms of Service agreement which enforces digital rights management and ownership law provisions that do not comply with the GPL provisions.

Removal of large-scale applications

On September 1, 2016, Apple announced that from September 7th, it will remove old apps that are not working as intended or that do not follow the current review guidelines. Developers will be alerted and given 30 days to update their apps, but apps that crash at startup will soon be deleted. In addition, the names of apps registered by the developer may not exceed 50 characters, in an attempt to stop the developer from entering long descriptions or irrelevant terms in the app names to improve the app's ranking in App Store search results. App Sensor Tower intelligence firm revealed in November 2016 that Apple, as promised from the September announcement about the removal of the old app, has removed 47,300 apps from the App Store in October 2016, an increase of 238 percent from the previous average number of monthly app removals.

As of June 2017, TechCrunch reports that Apple has changed its app removal focus on apps that copy functions from other popular apps. A cited example includes "if a popular game like Flappy Bird or Red Ball hits the chart, there will be hundreds or thousands of clones in a few weeks trying to capitalize on the initial wave of popularity". The report also notes the removal of music apps that serve pirated tracks. The publication writes that, since the removal of early September applications began, Apple has removed "several hundred thousand" apps.

In December 2017, a new report from TechCrunch stated that Apple has begun imposing new restrictions on the use of "commercialized templates or app creation services". Originally introduced as part of Apple's 2017 developer conference, the new App Store guidelines allow companies to ban apps using commercial app templates or services. This affects many small businesses, with the TechCrunch ' report stating that "local retailers, restaurants, small fitness studios, nonprofits, churches and other organizations" benefit from using templates or service apps because of minimal cost. Developers have received a notification from Apple with a January 1, 2018 deadline to change their respective applications. The news caught the attention of Congress, with Congressman Ted Lieu writing a letter to Apple in early December, asking them to reconsider, writing that "It is my understanding that many small businesses, research organizations and religious institutions rely on template applications. has no resources to develop in-house applications ", and that new rules are thrown" too wide net ", in particular" undo apps from legitimate and legitimate developers that pose no threat to the integrity of the App Store ". In addition, tighter enforcement news leads to significant criticism from enterprise application development; one company told TechCrunch that they chose to shut down his business following the news, saying that "The 4.2.6 [rule enforcement] was only the last drop that made us move a little faster with that decision. [to close] "and another company told the publication that" There is no way in June [when the guidelines change] that we will say, 'it will target our app'... Apple has told us that you '"It's being targeted from a corner quality view. So being hit now under a spam umbrella shocks every quality developer out there and all good actors. "Furthermore, the company last stated that" there's just so much you can do with apps that do the same utility - ordering food. "The third company said that "Rule 4.2.6 is a concrete illustration of Apple's dominant position hazard", and the fourth one says that "They have removed virtually the entire industry. Not just DIY tools like AppMakr, but also the development of suites like Titanium. "By the end of the year, Apple updated its guidelines to clarify that companies and organizations were allowed to use template apps, but only so long as they instantly publish their own apps; commercial applications to publish applications for each client.

Censorship by Chinese government

In January 2017, Apple complied with a request from the Chinese government to remove the Chinese version of the New York Times 'Application . This follows government efforts in 2012 to block website 's ' after stories of hidden wealth among family members of Chinese leader Wen Jiabao published. In a statement, an Apple spokeswoman told the media that "we have been informed that this app violates local rules", although it will not specify which rules, and adds that "As a result, the application must be downgraded from China app stores. , the app store will once again offer the New York Times application to download in China ". The following July, it was reported that Apple had begun removing lists in China for apps that circumvent government internet censorship policies and new laws that restrict virtual private network (VPN) services. Apple issued a statement, explaining that the removal of an application is a result of developers not complying with the new law in China requiring government licensing for businesses that offer VPNs, and that "This app remains available in all other markets where they do business." In the next month's earnings call, Cook outlines the latest news, explaining that "We obviously do not want to remove apps, but like we do in other countries, we follow the law wherever we do business." In addition to the VPN service, a number of Internet call apps, including Microsoft's Skype, were also removed from the App Store China in 2017, with Apple saying The New York Times that, similar to VPN apps, local law. Microsoft explained to BBC News that its Skype app has been "temporarily removed" and that it "works to recover apps as soon as possible", although many news outlets are reporting an increase in Chinese government efforts and pressure to crack down on Internet freedom.

Following the appearance of Apple CEO Tim Cook at the China World Internet Conference in December 2017, where Cook stated that Apple and China share the vision of "developing the digital economy for openness and sharing benefits", freedom of speech and human rights activists criticize Cook and the company. Maya Wang at Human Rights Watch told The Washington Post that "Cook's appearance lends credibility to a country that aggressively censures the internet, throws people in prison for being critical of social ills, and is building an artificial intelligence system which monitors everyone and different targets... The version of the virtual world built by the Chinese government is a clear dystopian, and I do not think anyone would want to share in this 'shared future' Apple should speak against it, not support it. "US Senator Patrick Leahy told CNBC that" American technology companies have become the main champions of free expression, but that commitment should not end at our borders... Global leaders in innovation, like Apple, have both opportunities and moral obligations to promote freedom of expression and other human rights in countries that routinely deny these rights. "Cook told Reuters that" My expectations over time are a few things, some of which have been withdrawn, come back. I have great hopes for that and great optimism about it. "However, Jon Russell criticized this way of thinking, writing that" First, Apple is not just removing " some things "out of the reach of China- based users", but rather "several hundred" applications, recognizing that "even those being counted." Furthermore, Russell censors censorship efforts by the Chinese government, including a VPN ban and restrictions on live video applications and messaging and writing that "Apple has little choice but to follow the Beijing line to continue doing business in a lucrative Chinese market, but statements like Cook today are dangerous because they are massively incompatible with the severity of the situation." Florida Senator Marco Rubio also criticized Cook's appearance at the World Internet Conference, described his situation as "this is an example of a company, in my view, so desperate tuk have access to the Chinese market that they are willing to follow the law's state even if the law is contrary to what should be the company's own standards ".

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References

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External links

• Apple Developer Program

Source of the article : Wikipedia