Filed under: Software, Developer, iPhone
The iPhone App Store
Today, Steve Jobs announced the App Store to go along with all of the SDK fun that's soon to begin. Available in the iPhone 2.0 software update, the App Store will allow for easy navigation of both paid and free apps; Featured, Just Added, Staff Favorites, Most Popular ... it's basically an iPhone version of Apple Downloads. You'll be able to search, tap and download applications wirelessly to your iPhone (and iPod touch for a nominal fee) via WiFi or cellular. You'll also be able to install apps via iTunes.
Developers will be able to sell their apps in the App Store, and can set their own price. They'll receive a monthly payment of 70% of sales, with 30% going to Apple for their credit card, hosting and marketing services. There are no additional costs for listing apps, after the $99 setup fee.
Quite predictably excluded from listing in the App Store are pornography and malicious applications. I have absolutely no witty comment to make about that. It's common sense.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Keith said 3:15PM on 3-06-2008
First thing I thought of when I saw App Store, was App Tap. Anyone else? Sounds like a clone with all the same features.
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mingistech said 3:20PM on 3-06-2008
My fear was that Apple would have us manage our apps through iTunes on our desktop machines. I've very pleased that they decided to make it over-the-air like Installer.app
Having the ability to install new apps out in the field is a huge leap over what is offered on those WinMobile Phones.
I'm very excited to get my hands on the App Store. :)
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zinc said 3:20PM on 3-06-2008
does anybody have a direct link for the download?
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mingistech said 3:24PM on 3-06-2008
http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/
Taylor said 3:28PM on 3-06-2008
Nominal fee? I knew it was too good to be true for Touch users. Always is.
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ogvor said 4:41PM on 3-06-2008
This "nominal fee" stuff is bull crap. I can understand charging for the enterprise stuff, but to get access to a store were we buy stuff and earn Apple some profit is just ridiculous. At least thats how I understand it, maybe they just mean that the Apps will cost money (no suprise), but it sure sounds like they want to charge Touch users just for the privelidge.
Dan Woods said 6:20PM on 3-06-2008
iPod Touch Users are not paying Apple/AT&T tens of dollars a Month for free software updates.
Unless you have AppleCare on your iPod Touch, I can't see why you would expect Free Software Updates; If you do have AppleCare on your iPod Touch I wouldn't expect you to have to pay for point updates (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc) but you would have to pay for a new version (2.0, 3.0, etc).
Taylor said 6:51PM on 3-06-2008
But i get free updates for all my other Mac hardware.
brian said 12:32AM on 3-07-2008
But you don't get new features. Other than absolutely trivial things like heirarchical dock menus and turning off menu bar transparency, is there anything 10.5.2 gives you that 10.5 doesn't? What features does 10.4.11 have that 10.4.0 doesn't? None. They aren't allowed to give away new features. Halfway down this page is a bit of an explaination.
http://daringfireball.net/2008/01/keynote_roundup
You can easily google for more.
Allister said 1:16AM on 3-07-2008
OK, so I can kind of understand the "(and iPod touch for a nominal fee)" in the sense that iPhone owners are (in theory!) paying AT&T who are paying Apple. But where I am I DON'T HAVE THAT CHOICE! How can it be a "differentiator" when in MOST COUNTRIES in the world there is only one choice of device!!! I paid the $20 to get the additional apps with 1.1.3 but if they're going to charge for EVERYTHING it is going to get old real quick. Make it so I can buy and legitimately operate an iPhone in NZ and I will shut up.
Taylor said 12:15PM on 3-08-2008
I see your point. Just disgruntled about it. I will pay for the update, I'm sure.
zinc said 3:28PM on 3-06-2008
that doesnt work. maybe i should wait a while so it wont be as congested
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artifex said 3:30PM on 3-06-2008
I'd have thought 90/10 or even 80/20. Imagine making a killer app, that sells hundreds of thousands of copies, and Apple gets 30%, just for running the store.
Also, will they let you "sell" your app through the store for $0?
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blinkcowz182 said 3:37PM on 3-06-2008
Yes they will.
Bender Bending Rodriguez said 3:42PM on 3-06-2008
There seems to be some ambiguity. Is that one setup fee per company and as many apps you want for $99 -or- one app per $99.
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matthew said 3:57PM on 3-06-2008
I'm pretty sure it's $99 per company, period. It's just the regular ADC membership fee I think.
Tired_ said 4:03PM on 3-06-2008
Hmm. They've decreed that no malicious programs are to be run on this platform. The 'ask nicely' approach...please don't write evil code, here's all the tools. Let's see how this works; I honestly think the only reason iPhone hasn't been seriously targetted by malware purveyors is that, up till this, only users who had gone to the trouble of jailbreaking could be infected. The sky's the limit, now.
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Jesper said 4:35PM on 3-06-2008
WTF is up with getting us iPot users to pay for everything, no matter how good this is, I'm turning to Cydia/Installer
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FoundInTheFlood said 5:07PM on 3-06-2008
there will be no such things as the gameboy emulator so i hope the hacking community will stay alive, especially zodttd.
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darngooddesign said 7:29PM on 3-06-2008
And you know this how? No one thought there would be free apps either.
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