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Get Rid of the App Store’s “Top” Lists

marco.org

111–120 of 147 posts

Re: Get Rid of the App Store’s “Top” Lists

#112
Both Apple and Google should take app engagement instead of pure downloads as the main metric to base these top lists on. As Marco says, pure downloads becomes a self fulfilling prophecy, easy to game and does not expose you to new interesting apps.

http://blog.mobtest.com/2013/05/app-engagement-is-a-much-bet...

Re: Get Rid of the App Store’s “Top” Lists

#113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm excited for automatic app updates in iOS 7...

I am really unfamiliar with iOS but it blows my mind that this doesn't exist already. It seems like a no-brainer for a feature, especially since Apple basically invented the modern mobile app store.

I'm wary of this. Would like it as an option, but I don't necessarily want my app to change between uses, especially if it's something I need to use quickly. Loading up something with a changed UI, or data changes that need to happen, or whatever, when I wasn't expecting it.... won't make me a happy camper. A notification and ability to trigger the update from in the app would be nice, and having the option of 'auto update' would be nice too. I just don't necessarily want it to be the default with no option to opt out.

Re: Get Rid of the App Store’s “Top” Lists

#114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am really unfamiliar with iOS but it blows my mind that this doesn't exist already. It seems like a no-brainer for a feature, especially since Apple basically invented the modern mobile app store.

I'm wary of this. Would like it as an option, but I don't necessarily want my app to change between uses, especially if it's something I need to use quickly. Loading up something with a changed UI, or data changes that need to happen, or whatever, when I wasn't expecting it.... won't make me a happy camper. A notification and ability to trigger the update from in the app would be nice, and having the option of 'auto…

I think that as developers, we'll need to be very careful to update things incrementally to not jar users. But overall, it should be a win in that just like with a website, the user is always using the latest code. No need to maintain several old versions of web service APIs, which should have a good effect on reducing bugs.

Re: Get Rid of the App Store’s “Top” Lists

#115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that the point is that Google makes money regardless of whether you get an Android or an iPhone. Apple does not.

Google was making more money from iPhone users individually due to higher engagement than Android users.

Is this still true or was that only while Apple were paying for Google Maps?

Re: Get Rid of the App Store’s “Top” Lists

#116
Marco's hit the nail on the head with this one.

During our seed round, we had an angel promise us what we thought was a small fortune (!00k) on the condition that 80% of it be used to pay for chart-boosting apps.

We thought hard about it and even got on a few calls with US companies (recommended to us by others in the community) who said they invoked a variety of "white-hat" techniques (whose vague descriptions sounded quite grey to me...) to guarantee a quick rise in rankings and app store success. These are companies that are operating despite Apple making efforts to stop this gaming of the app store.

Ultimately, we were not comfortable with accepting the term sheet with this clause and we never closed on the deal. I'm thrilled that this happened and I didn't have to give a dime to these sleaze balls.

Creating a system that's based on download count rather than curation at this scale isn't good for Apple and it isn't good for iOS Users. There is awesome stuff coming out of both indie dev shops and bigger development houses alike. Apple would do well to drive users towards software that makes its devices sing than to reward whoever has engineered an insidious viral loop or brought a briefcase of cash down to Boston black hats.

Re: Get Rid of the App Store’s “Top” Lists

#117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I started to formulate a reasoned reply, but honestly forget that: your comment is garbage through and through. Marco sounds like a bitter man about Android, as he always has been, and he has literally NOTHING to say about the platform that is worth listening to.

If you don't have anything nice to say...

This submission includes a completely irrelevant, baseless, nonsensical, troll slur against Google/Android by the perpetual troll Marco Arment (who is absolutely stewing that his anti-Android screeds over the years fell on deaf ears). How this trollbait garbage made it to the top of the front page is a mystery, especially given the hilariously naive, valueless observation Arment is making, which in a nutshell is "I am planning an app and want to imagine a world where only I am advantaged".

Gruber is an Apple fan who is interesting. Arment is never interesting. He is a boring person.

Re: Get Rid of the App Store’s “Top” Lists

#118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google was making more money from iPhone users individually due to higher engagement than Android users.

Is this still true or was that only while Apple were paying for Google Maps?

The gap may not be as wide anymore, but I wouldn't be surprised if it still holds true. Pretty much every traffic stat report I've seen shows iOS users still account for about 75% of all mobile traffic.

Re: Get Rid of the App Store’s “Top” Lists

#119
post #59

Here's an idea: show me the top lists without the apps I already own! Why do I need to see Mountain Lion at the top of the App Store constantly in the #1 position? Just so I can know how little Mac Software gets sold and completely dissuade me from ever considering writing Mac software again? EIGHT of the top 10 apps are Apple apps. Most of which people probably already own (I happen to own all of them). Is this the…

Why does Mountain Lion being at the top mean very little Mac software gets sold? Is it really that surprising that the OS itself is the most popular software on the store?

[deleted]

Re: Get Rid of the App Store’s “Top” Lists

#120

Lists are pointless, all we need is good search. That's why the Web works - search is a solved problem. Search on app stores is archaic and abysmal -- you'd think Google could solve this kind of problem.

Search isn't a solution for discoverability though. A lot of people use those top lists to see "what are the new games that are out?"
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