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February 24, 2010

We're proud of our app stars!

We're happy to see that 2 of the finest apps of the App Star Awards we organized, as still unreleased are ending up today in the front page of the US App store.

PositionApp (finalist, iTunes getap.ps/PositionApp) and HereFileFile (Winner, iTunes getap.ps/herefilefile) are featured today in the prestigious new and noteworthy section

So, what do you say? Is it worth participating at our App Star Awards? :)

Congrats to them!

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Filed under  //   app star   apps   awards   itunes  

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December 4, 2009

Apple buys Lala, confirms intention to move to the web and marks a first in Apple acquisition history

Apple has acquired web based music service Lala. There are 2 things that are interesting to observe

1. Apple is confirming its intention to move iTunes to the Web. This has already started with iTunes preview released 2 weeks ago
2. What is striking about this acquisition is that, if we're correct, this is the 1st Apple makes in the web consumer space. Traditionally they acquire hardware, or software or web infrastructures service.

Is that the beginning of a new Era for Apple? or just an opportunistic acquisition to preserve iTunes leading position before services like MOG or Spotify really take off?

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Filed under  //   acquisition   apple   itunes   lala   music  

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November 13, 2009

iTunes preview now via your browser. Is a web version of the App Store also coming?

One of the first obvious problem with iTunes is that it is a software and the Store is really painful to browse. It is particularly slow. And obviously Apple does not really enjoy the Google SEO juice.

Remember that Apple recently changed their URL format? well we know why now (well we guess). From today you can browser iTunes music store on the web. by just copy/pasting the song link from iTunes to the your browser. Here is an example.

You can review the description of the album/songs and the ratings. No more need to open iTunes.

We anticipate the exact same thing will happen very soon with the App Store, which is a good news in general, because it is much needed and inevitable

via AppleInsider

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Filed under  //   app store   itunes   preview  

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November 8, 2009

Apple kills the - "none" payment option to prevent non-regional app download [updated]

update: thanks to a comment we discovered there is still a way to get to the NONE payment option. All you have to do actually is start signing out of your local app store, go to the US version of the App Store, download a free app and from there create an account and chose NONE as payment option. It won't show if you create an iTunes account from scratch...(why??)

Apple did not change just the links of the apps in the store.

They also killed the possibility to create an iTunes account in the US app store, if you are not leaving in the US

How? they just took out the payment option "none" [ without the need of a credit card]. You can fake a phone number, or an address. Not a credit card number.

Here is before today

Here is from now

It was a well spread trick used talked about by bloggers and respectable media like wired (is it maybe because of their article??). But you could by choosing the NONE payment option create an account for the US app store and get the free apps on your iPhone (eg the Kindle)

Now this is not possible. 

I don't understand that in an age of digital transfer, the app store becomes so compartmented (except for apps that have a licensing issue)

What do you think? Do you see any more reason why apple did this?

update: in the comments Christine Morris (an Appstar jury member) points to the fact that from now it won't be possible for none US bloggers and app reviewers to redeem codes or try new apps to help developers get visibility. too bad indeed

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Filed under  //   app store   apple   itunes   region  

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September 10, 2009

A little more on the translation: App Store "top grossing" list - culture, localization and... discovery always

Some more details on our first observation...

When Apple launched its "top grossing apps" list yesterday, the same also appeared on the French store. The list was titled "CLASSEMENT APPS LUCRATIVES" (see snapshot below, taken on iTunes 8+).

This morning on iTunes 9, the title is different. It reads "Rentabilité"

Not sure if the translation has been modified server side, or whether it's an iTunes 8 -> 9 difference.

Nevertheless, it shows that the terminology here isn't a trivial affair. First of all, the term "rentabilité" is incorrect (because Apple has no way of knowing if the app in question is turning a profit -- as in "rentable"-- or not). Then the nature of the list is bound to be quite controversial in countries like France where indeed, financial success is rarely seen as socially acceptable (!).

In any case, we're glad to see that the list that we released on August 25 was both ahead of its time, and in line with what Apple has just released. In fact, the community has long been asking for such a ranking; we're wondering if it's the pressure from the community or the fact that we let the cat out that prompted Apple to finally release this list.

The debate continues as the quest for the ultimate discovery system carries on. End users want 1 click solutions, analysts want all the data, power users and hackers want to understand and not be hindered by deadlocks. We're with you on all fronts, and we know that Apple is too albeit with their super top secret master plan.

Here's a note to our French readers, to avoid losing anyone in translation:
Si vous cherchez à faire du chiffre d'affaire ("gross revenue"), mais peut-être surtout dégager le moindre bénéfice ("profit") c-a-d d'en faire une affaire rentable, alors n'oubliez pas de lire ce billet et de choisir le bon prix pour votre app! [GOOGLE TRANSLATION HERE]

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Filed under  //   apple   itunes  

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September 10, 2009

[itunes 9 ] in French "Top Grossing" has been translated "Profitability". Wrong...

We all know the difference between Revenue and Profit. right? via flickr.com

 

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Filed under  //   apple   itunes   ranking   translation  

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