App Store (iOS)

The App Store ( from the English abbreviation for Application = computer program and store = store) is an established from the Californian computer manufacturer Apple in March 2008 Internet sales portal for computer programs that rely solely on iOS mobile devices (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad) running.

The App Store is built on the infrastructure of the iTunes Store. To buy apps and manage the software from the App Store or iTunes is required. App developers can submit it via iTunes Connect, where Apple reserves the right to reject the app after testing.

Apple was the first company to operate an online sales platform for applications for its mobile operating system market with great success. Other companies in the mobile market such as Google, Nokia and Samsung imitated this approach and therefore presents a greater number of such deals exist. The term App Store originally associated only with Apple was therefore tend to be a generic term, which is still legally controversial. So Amazon calls its manufacturer or operating system -wide offering Amazon Appstore and it was sued by Apple.

Since early 2011, Apple also operates the Mac App Store for distribution of software for Mac OS X.

Developing apps for the store

The programs offered in the App Store coming to a large extent not by Apple itself but by third party companies and freelance programmers. Apple has the iOS SDK for free along with the Xcode development environment in which, however, can be used on a Mac. This has been downloaded over 800,000 times. According to Apple, there are over 125,000 active developers (as of September 2009). To publish an app in the App Store for a subscription in the iOS Developer Program is necessary. Apple will examine each application sent in a check and then usually granted approval for the App Store.

The price of the app can be chosen freely by the developer according to given price ranges. Apple reserves which fees in the amount of 30 percent, takes over for payment processing and provides the infrastructure available. For the developer, it is for example no matter how much traffic caused download an app. There is a large selection of free programs, in most cases, these have less functionality than comparable fee-based. The price range for paid programs starts at just under a euro (89 cents), the majority of the programs is in the low single-digit euro range, with a few significant exceptions upwards.

Access

With direct access to the App Store via iPhone, iPad or iPod touch is a direct installation of the application on the device is done, and the program is taken up at the next synchronization with the home computer in the iTunes library. For apps with less than 100 MB, which is the case for the majority of the offer with the exception of many games, is possible with the iPhone directly loading the app over the mobile data network. For larger programs, and the iPod touch in principle, an active Internet connection of the device over a wireless network is needed.

Also on the Media Player iTunes can call the App Store, so the user has the option of using his computer programs for its iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to buy. In this variant, the downloaded apps are first added to the iTunes library to be automatically transferred during the next synchronization to the connected mobile device.

Indicators

Success and sales

Apple made ​​in August 2008 about 1 million U.S. dollars in sales every day through the sale of software from the App Store. At the developer conference WWDC Apple announced in early June 2011 that the App Store, iTunes Store and iBooks Store together ( all of which can be visited with the same Apple ID) now have reached the number of 225 million accounts. In addition, far more than $ 3 billion revenue had been paid to the app developers.

Programs offered

In September 2013, 900,000 different apps were available, and the number continues to grow through new arrivals. For clarity, there are more than 20 categories, including entertainment, finance, games, health and fitness, books, news, social networks and utilities. A search function and the display of various hit lists to facilitate the orientation of the offer as well as ratings (one to five stars) and comments of other users of the programs.

Alternatives

The App Store is the only official way to transfer programs and third-party games on the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Apple thus promises protection from malicious programs ( "malware" ) and half-baked software. Software which does not originate from the app store, can be installed only by a modification of the operating system (so-called jailbreak ). About this installed installation programs, the most widespread is Cydia is an access to other software platforms, especially the so-called app repository, possible.

The proportion of users who have installed such alternative programs is relatively low. According to the study by a private company, the share of such modified iPhones was in August 2009 at about 9 percent, and rising. This is partly because the process of " Jailbreakens " has so far been relatively technically demanding and some computer knowledge required. In addition, the possible danger for less experienced users the meantime serious than less be classified danger touch to move by operator error while the iPhone or iPod into a no longer viable, recoverable only by a recovery state. Another reason for the rather low incidence of the alternatives is the fear that you may void the unit will go out by the jailbreak. In practice, Apple seems however, this relatively accommodating to handle, assuming the device was not manifestly inoperative as the jailbreak itself, this condition alone can not be achieved by jailbreaking - noted in the modem of the iPhone has to be damaged by a illegal Unlock only.

For other operating systems exist with the App Store similar platforms. These include Google Play, Nokia Store, BlackBerry App World, Mac App Store, Samsung Apps, and Windows Phone Store.

Criticism

Apple grants or denies the certification of software for recording on the App Store based on criteria that were not initially disclosed and were often described as arbitrary. This brought the company from both the trade press as well as from ongoing development circles, some severe criticism. Criticized is still that many applications are rejected - pure business interests according to critics - which represent a good or improved alternative to the pre-installed applications from Apple, including WhatsApp, or could affect the business interests of Apple's marketing partners in the mobile sector, specifically AT & T in USA. Meanwhile, Apple has disclosed in the Guidelines for the approval of software. They can be viewed on the Apple developer site.

Control rights abuse of technically oriented Internet news sites ("Apple is growing rotten to the core " - about: Apple is now rotten to the core ) earned the company in July 2009 for the decision, a number of already in the App Store listed Apps by Google withdraw again. The commonly known as the Google Voice programs provide, among other things free SMS and cheap telephony services available and had been partly expected euphoric. They were approved by Apple's senior vice president Phil Schiller personally and were then withdrawn, according to insider sources to direct intervention by AT & T. It was not until 16 months after filing, the Google Voice app in the U.S. App Store has been approved.

Likewise Cartoon Cartoonist Mike Keefe App was initially not approved by Apple for publication in the App Store because they karikiere people in public life. After Keefe was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, and his cartoon app was, however, included in the portfolio of the App Store.

Apple can delete programs on the iPhone that have been downloaded from the App Store. The iPhone automatically makes contact with an Apple server and sends all applications that can be deleted by Apple with remote access.

Apple is located with respect to the App Store with both Amazon and Microsoft in the dispute. Microsoft claims the word "App Store" is too generic, as that one should protect it as a trademark. This is roughly comparable to a bookstore, where you the brand name of " The Book Store " are. On the other hand, Apple complains that the name " Amazon Appstore " the own app store sounds too similar, and Amazon has sued then.

In July 2011, the Stiftung Warentest has the App Store only rated as "sufficient". Were particularly critical of serious flaws in the General Terms and Conditions.

On 23 February 2012 it was announced that the six largest suppliers of app stores, including Apple, have agreed on a privacy - cooperation. Apps should therefore no longer allowed to collect data in an uncontrolled manner.

In August 2012, Federal Association has filed a lawsuit against Apple from the Consumer because it was not responding to several warnings. It accused the company, among other things, specifically to guide customers through interminable Terms astray.