Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: smartphone, app, store | Themes: Smartphones
7. iTunes App Store: Devices
When we consider hardware in the future success of an App Store, it’s tough to bet against Apple. Although Google could potentially offer a slew of devices and possibly beat Apple’s App Store out of sheer quantity and RIM is still a wildly successful brand, it’s undeniable that Apple controls the greatest mindshare today and its products are regularly heralded as some of the best in the business.
Currently, well over 10 million iPhones have been sold since its inception. On top of that, Apple’s hallmark multimedia device, the iPod Touch, has millions of units in the wild as well, which has created a veritable treasure trove of value for the company. The App Store is popular and successful enough with the iPhone, but when one considers that the iPod Touch is also able to host iPhone apps and the iPod’s success has yet to slow down, Apple has created a formidable hardware lineup that could easily beat all competitors.
I should also note that with each iteration of the iPhone that the devices will continue to support the App Store, which means legacy users will still use the market. This is a testament to the same business model Apple employed with its iTunes Store, which has proven to be the world’s most popular music retailer.
One of the main issues Apple now faces is that AT&T is the exclusive carrier for the iPhone in the United States. That said, numerous reports suggest the company will break out of it
s exclusivity contract with the carrier soon and that the iPhone will be made available by more carriers domestically.
Over the next few years, Apple will continue to update the iPhone and iPod Touch, which means more devices will hit store shelves that are capable of working with the App Store. It’s also likely that other important Apple products will work with the App Store, creating a full product ecosystem that will revolve around iTunes and its App Store. In other words, if Apple plays its cards well, its competitors may find it impossible to compete.
Devices score: 4/5
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I believe the most successful application store would be the Internet. It's been allowing you to download things for a good many years for your PC, your laptop, your phone, your PDA, your GPS, etc. These app stores are just proprietary and stealing people's money.
How is it fair to rate an online app store suchas RIM's that is Developer driven, when the only App-capable handset has been out for a matter of weeks, vs how many Iphones have been in existence as well as Ipod Touches?
Of course if a company developes an official app store after delivering millions of handsets, it will takeoff better than started an app store soon as you start handset sales.
Not like I give a damn about RIM's though. Just saying
Interesting how you are quoting numbers from October. Since then, all have video/music players. Stores are now online that provide much improved applications for the G1. They are very promising. There in lies the secret to the G1. It allows for developers to compete. The G1 is basically a small linux pc in your hand. The Iphone and Rim products are Mac and Windows mini PC's, but locked. Their app stores perform better simply by controlling the app sources and charging for most of them. A built in monopoly, if you will. G1 is truly open. With some basic knowledge of Linux / Android, anyone can write a program. It is very much a phone for the I.T. professional/hacker/enthusiast. Telnet, wifi tracking, war driving, server access,email, port scannning and network trouble shooting are just the tip of the iceberg. The ability to add or exchange memory without buying a new phone is huge.The usb function of the G1 is understated. The Windows OS can be mounted by the G1 allowing the exchange of files. Great for back up, mp3files and the like. The G1 could be used to restore and fix a hard drive with a simple user app that allows line commands. The Iphone is a great product and very user friendly. The typical Iphone user doesn't understand half the features and isnt aware of the true potential of the Iphone. They just want it to do the things they need it for. Makes perfect sense. The real mystery is the lack of Flash player availability for all of these devices. Iphone and RIM won't allow it. G1 will. Adobe wants to. The browsers are crippled without it! The market is wide open for these products. They are changing the world.
I'm sorry but this is ridiculous. As Claimintru pointed out, the Blackberry has only been on the market for a month. If you wanted to do a comparison, it should have been everyone's standings in their first month. To give such dismal scores as 1 and 2 for simply not being on the market as long as the others is wildly unprofessional. Also, when you mention "By that logic, some might say that Google and RIM are on the same level since they both offer just one device that’s capable of working with their respective stores", what other way is there to look at it? The G1 doesn't automatically get a leg up for any reason. Last I checked, 1 was equal to 1. The iPhone barely gets a leg up, but the iPod touch should be included as you correctly did. However, in defense of the G1 and the Storm, both are newcomers compared to how long Apple has been creating devices to work with their applications.
Maybe another question to ask is :
"Can your app store knockoffs beat my app store knockoffs".
Our knock off, like several others, aims to make it easier for people for find apps for their iPhone and iPod Touches. The ecosystems growing up around these new phones is amazing. Hopefully, all together we can serve the users better and help the developers of these apps make a good living.
iphone/itouch app store?
it's is a mess. When it first come out, it's just a bunch of random apps in a few categories order by name and there is no option to sort by other way.
yes, there is basic keyward search and top 25 free and paid apps...
but that's about it. user review...just like amazon...nothing new here
What's so good about the store? I don't get it.
iphone/itouch apps store is successful all because of the good apps on it. The store front is a mess...and there are so many bad apps...
it's getting longer and longer to scroll through all the junk everyday.
They should sub category all the apps so we seach by app function keyword rather just by name.