iTunes App Store sprouts 'Hall of Fame'
Criteria for inclusion? Unknown
Apple has added a new section to its iOS-centric iTunes App Store: a Hall of Fame.
Exactly how apps are selected for inclusion in the HoF hasn't been made clear, though MacStories got their hands on an Apple promo for the new section which says: "More than two years since launch, we're many apps wiser. Presenting the very best of the best."
No, Angry Birds isn't ranked number one — the 50 Hall of Famers are listed alphabetically
In the new HoF reside such "classics" as Angry Birds, Evernote, Hipstamatic, and Ocarina, along with more-arguable inclusions such as Epicurious.
Today's HoF inauguration comes on the same day that Fortune weighed in on the ongoing argument over whether the iTunes App Store has passed 300,000 apps.
They say "No," by the way.
The exact number may be of interest to those following the Android-Apple arm-wrestling match, but for the vast majority of us, the difference between 299,999 and 300,000 is a wee bit esoteric — but no matter what the exact number may be, any help is navigating the vast morass of App Store apps, however subjective it may be, is welcome.
And before you ask, today's iPhone fart-app tally is 814. ®
Bootnote
We can't help but wonder if Jeff Scott of 148Apps fame will get a "cease and desist" letter from Apple's legal department, suggesting that he take down his own App Hall of Fame website. Or, for that matter, possibly Scott's lawyer will have a talk with Apple. After all, Scott's site is labled: "The App Hall of Fame is curated by and © Copyright 2010 148Apps".
COMMENTS
So it's now official
The app store is a dump. You need somebody to pick up the useful bits from the garbage.
It would be interesting to know...
... whether Angry Birds produces more average revenue per user on Android (where it's free but includes adverts, albeit very unobtrusively) or iOS (59p, no adverts).
There's lies, damn lies and then there's App Store ratings!
If the hall of fame is anything like the way Apple rates apps in the app-store in general then it will contain susprises that nobody can fathom...
... e.g. 'Phone Tracker Spy Pro' is on #13 in the 'Top-25' app-store apps (was #10 at the end of last week). This presumably is due to the large number of downloads of this (non-free) app?
However, the * rating is currently 3 out of 5 (was 4.5 out of 5 last week). This is totally misleading as almost all of the 1000+ user ratings give the app one or zero stars and all are contain negative comments about a fake/joke app this is mis-sold as the app description ends "It works - Guaranteed!" - and nowhere does it admit to being a fake/joke app.
Apple appears happy to take their share of the £0.59 purchase cost everytime some (dumb/trusting) user downloads this horrendous app.
So how does Apple's Top-25 and * star rating work? I suspect an app is awarded the max 5 stars for every download, and this is only reduced if the purchases chooses to rate it afterwards. VERY MISLEADING. Naughty Apple!
Forget fart apps
I just downloaded Angry Birds onto my Desire and it's EATING MY SOUL. Can't.....stop.....playing....
Fart apps
There should be an app that tells you how many fart apps there are. And which makes the appropriate noise when a new one gets added.
