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Welcome to the terrible twos: Happy 2nd Birthday, App Store!

by Michael Rose Jul 10th 2010 at 1:00AM

You could argue that the App Store ages in Internet time (it's like dog years, only slightly faster), so in terms of its mental age it might be closer to a gawky adolescent than a human two-year-old. Nevertheless, as we mark the 2nd anniversary of the launch of the App Store back in July of 2008, in some ways it is remarkably like seeing an individual personality emerge from an immature, unfinished baseline. It may be a personality with a fondness for bathroom humor and some disturbing control-freak tendencies, but it's something.

I could cite superlatives from here until the App Store's next birthday -- over 225,000 apps live in the store, more than 40 thousand unique publishers, over $1 billion in revenue paid out to a crowd of still-enthusiastic developers -- but what it comes down to is this: Apple built a market. Built it, made it run, invited in the innovators and 'the crazy ones' who decided to see what would come of their hard work. Before the App Store, most people didn't associate 'phones' and 'applications' at all, even though there were plenty of apps out there. Now, a would-be smartphone that skips over the app availability question is pretty much dead on arrival.

Happy birthday, App Store; we'll begin our celebration today from the date of the press release announcing 500 launch applications (500!), even though tomorrow (July 11) was the on-sale date of the iPhone 3G with OS 2.0. Congratulations to all the people both inside and outside of Apple who have contributed to making the past two years as lively and exciting as they've been. We can't wait to see what happens next -- even if it is a few months of tantrums and growing pains.

[hat tip to William @ Different District]

Photo by D. Sharon Pruitt | flickr: cc

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You could argue that the App Store ages in Internet time (it's like dog years, only slightly faster), so in terms of its mental age it...
 

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jca488

3 candles!

July 11 2010 at 2:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ObamaPacman

btw someone can't count their candles =p

July 10 2010 at 1:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to ObamaPacman's comment
Michael Rose

One to grow on.

July 11 2010 at 12:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael Rose

"orgasms?" I don't think that means what you think it means.

July 10 2010 at 11:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
imarc

It's the App Stores SECOND birthday/anniversary/whatever-you-call-it.

WHY does the picture show THREE candles?

"Perspiring minds want to know!"
National Spitoon

July 10 2010 at 8:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to imarc's comment
Michael Rose

One to grow on, naturally.

July 10 2010 at 11:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
studio

I remember the very first day! Ah, the excitement! It was really something to behold. The 557 apps they started with seemed like everything. I spent countless hours searching the "new apps" section. I really wish Apple, would bring that back, I hate looking through all the apps when I really only want to see what is NEW! Happy Birthday App Store, I wish you many, many more!

July 10 2010 at 6:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to studio's comment
studio

Happy birthday Dom. May you have many, many more!

July 10 2010 at 6:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
D. Toliver

I didn't know the App Store and I share the same birthday! Wow! If only I had the same income…

July 10 2010 at 4:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to D. Toliver's comment
Michael Rose

Happy birthday Dom!

July 10 2010 at 11:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
R94N

Wow, it's only been 2 years?!

July 10 2010 at 3:05 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
digitalsedition

Its almost hard to imagine that its ONLY been 2 years since the AppStore was created. We've certainly come a LONG way in that amount of time.

July 10 2010 at 2:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iPhone user

Some developers complain about the control Apple exerts in the app approval process. But users should be very thankful for that. Far worse things than fart simulators would make it to iPhones and iPads if they weren't screened.

For example, 20% of the Android Marketplace's apps exhibit some form of malware behavior, from exposing users' private data to making expensive international phone calls without users' knowledge. The real benefit of the app approval process is weeding out malware. Have fun with your "freedom" there, Fandroids.

July 10 2010 at 1:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to iPhone user's comment
NOAH BERKOWITZ

so, the app approval process still is a little strict. "oh, this app is too cool, lets reject it and crush the devs dreams" this is why i don`t want another iOS device.

July 10 2010 at 11:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iPhone user

And two years ago, if TUAW had said that Apple would be selling a 10" tablet, most of us would have replied "But it's been done already and it's, well, meh." What a difference two little years made...

July 10 2010 at 1:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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