Apple Launches '1 Billion App Countdown' Promotion [Archive] - Page 2

maestro55

Apr 17, 2009, 07:38 PM

... okay. So?

I think it is amazing how fast this thing as kicked off and the amount of people that are using it. A Billion downloads since the introduction of the app store, is is it just me or is that indeed something to care about and celebrate?

imaketouchtheme

Apr 17, 2009, 07:44 PM

If only that timer was going along with how many apps are actually being downloaded, and not just a flash animation of the average downloads accumulated over the past month, then it would be very cool indeed.

Tosser

Apr 17, 2009, 07:44 PM

I think it is amazing how fast this thing as kicked off and the amount of people that are using it. A Billion downloads since the introduction of the app store, is is it just me or is that indeed something to care about and celebrate?

Personally, I don't think it's anything to care about, and what's to celebrate? I mean, I can understand the company celebrating, but why should anyone else?
Should we celebrate that McDonald's has sold god-knows-how-many billion Big Macs too? Or that Ikea has shipped it's 15-billionth flat-pack?

imaketouchtheme

Apr 17, 2009, 07:45 PM

Personally, I don't think it's anything to care about, and what's to celebrate? I mean, I can understand the company celebrating, but why should anyone else?
Should we celebrate that McDonald's has sold god-knows-how-many billion Big Macs too? Or that Ikea has shipped it's 15-billionth flat-pack?

But....Big Macs kill people, and iPhone apps save people. :)

Tosser

Apr 17, 2009, 07:46 PM

But....Big Macs kill people, and iPhone apps save people. :)

Er, I hope you're kidding.

maestro55

Apr 17, 2009, 08:03 PM

Personally, I don't think it's anything to care about, and what's to celebrate? I mean, I can understand the company celebrating, but why should anyone else?
Should we celebrate that McDonald's has sold god-knows-how-many billion Big Macs too? Or that Ikea has shipped it's 15-billionth flat-pack?

How long has it taken McDonald's to sell those Big Macs or for Ikea to sell it's "15-billionth flat-pack"? What other mobile app store has sold nearly a billion apps in such a short time frame?

epyfa

Apr 17, 2009, 08:06 PM

Tosser

Apr 17, 2009, 08:09 PM

How long has it taken McDonald's to sell those Big Macs or for Ikea to sell it's "15-billionth flat-pack"? What other mobile app store has sold nearly a billion apps in such a short time frame?

That really doesn't matter. Those examples are known as "examples" to show that it's ridiculous to "celebrate" something that means nothing to you as a consumer. Now, if you're a shareholder, fine, but what does it matter to you as a consumer? Well, it matters as little as it matters how many flatpacks Ikea has shipped, and how many Big Macs McDonald's have sold.

Well, it should matter as little as those things. Unless you figure that it's cool to be part of the masses and see that as a goal in itself.

maestro55

Apr 17, 2009, 08:13 PM

That really doesn't matter. Those examples are known as "examples" to show that it's ridiculous to "celebrate" something that means nothing to you as a consumer. Now, if you're a shareholder, fine, but what does it matter to you as a consumer? Well, it matters as little as it matters how many flatpacks Ikea has shipped, and how many Big Macs McDonald's have sold.

Well, it should matter as little as those things. Unless you figure that it's cool to be part of the masses and see that as a goal in itself.

I have to admit, I am an Apple fanboy. I drank the kool-aid years ago and I bleed six colors. So yes, I celebrate when Apple does amazing things. And I think selling that many apps since the opening of the App store is something to celebrate.

Off to check out more Apps in the app store.

Tosser

Apr 17, 2009, 08:20 PM

I have to admit, I am an Apple fanboy. I drank the kool-aid years ago and I bleed six colors. So yes, I celebrate when Apple does amazing things. And I think selling that many apps since the opening of the App store is something to celebrate.
Well, admitting to it is the first step :p

Off to check out more Apps in the app store.
Have fun.

shaq95n

Apr 21, 2009, 06:00 PM

:apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple:

Bye Bye Baby

Apr 21, 2009, 06:21 PM

I hope it's me.

sammich

Apr 21, 2009, 06:29 PM

That really doesn't matter. Those examples are known as "examples" to show that it's ridiculous to "celebrate" something that means nothing to you as a consumer. Now, if you're a shareholder, fine, but what does it matter to you as a consumer? Well, it matters as little as it matters how many flatpacks Ikea has shipped, and how many Big Macs McDonald's have sold.

Well, it should matter as little as those things. Unless you figure that it's cool to be part of the masses and see that as a goal in itself.

It only matters because it's a no-cost, at your own leisure way of entering and trying to win a few very cool prizes. It's like something for nothing (I have lots of time, so time isn't something I spent).

Not to jinx myself...so, I WILL NOT win this competition.

Useful sites I've found:
http://eagereyes.org/applications/appstore-billion-apps-live-visualization.html
http://data.eagereyes.org/itms/countdownlog.txt

GGGUUUYYY

Apr 21, 2009, 06:34 PM

9.5 million to go (very roughly)

PeterQC

Apr 21, 2009, 06:48 PM

It REALLY sucks that Quebec resident are left out. Then again in every contest they pretty always left out.

JoshJosh117

Apr 21, 2009, 09:00 PM

What's the current number?

ThE.MeSsEnGeR

Apr 22, 2009, 12:58 AM

What's the current number?

992,155,265 Apps!!!!!
OMG !! Im sooooo Frickin mad that I cant participate coz im in Lebanon!!!:mad::mad::mad:

MegaMillions

Apr 22, 2009, 01:04 AM

It says it... in the official rules (http://www.apple.com/itunes/billion-app-countdown/rules.html), specifically section number 5. At the very top of the page it also says, "A PURCHASE OR DOWNLOAD
OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING." That certainly wouldn't be true if every app download up to 25 per day entered you for a chance to win.

Simple. The average person's reading comprehension is too poor to know any better, so they will drive app downloads in the hopes of increasing their chances of winning. Instead, they are simply playing into Apple's hand of using bloated and meaningless statistics to impress these same people and promote their app store.

The App Store - now with 25,000 apps (only 94% of which are high school CS projects) and over 1 billion downloads (only 800,000,000 of which are deleted after the first day)!

But it also says "Each entrant’s chances of winning are dependent upon the number of eligible entries received."

oTaRu

Apr 22, 2009, 04:11 AM

it's coming!!!!

Porthos38

Apr 22, 2009, 01:47 PM

JoshJosh117

Apr 22, 2009, 01:53 PM

Doctor Q

Apr 22, 2009, 08:10 PM

992,155,265 Apps!!!!!
OMG !! Im sooooo Frickin mad that I cant participate coz im in Lebanon!!!:mad::mad::mad:
How soon can you get here? :)

mickbab

Apr 22, 2009, 11:51 PM

The countdown is whack out.

I open two browsers windows at different times and the number never match up. We might have to keep and (EYE) on the countdown. If I win i'll share the itunes gift card with everyone :). I wish all you good luck on winning the prizes

I see what you mean. I set up 9 windows, and there is almost 5 thousand between the highest and lowest :eek:

What's the deal with "NO PURCHASE OR DOWNLOAD NECESSARY. A PURCHASE OR DOWNLOAD
OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING."????
What does this mean?
So we don't actually get more entries for the more apps we download?

Ivan P

Apr 22, 2009, 11:55 PM

I see what you mean. I set up 9 windows, and there is almost 5 thousand between the highest and lowest :eek:

What's the deal with "NO PURCHASE OR DOWNLOAD NECESSARY. A PURCHASE OR DOWNLOAD
OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING."????
What does this mean?
So we don't actually get more entries for the more apps we download?

The way they've phrased everything is confusing. If you read all of the terms and conditions, you'll find that the winner is indeed the person that buys the billionth app or the person that submits that no-purchase-necessary form after the selling of the 999,999,999th app. Entering many times doesn't give you more chance of winning, it just bumps up the number closer to the 1 billion mark so that someone can win.
In other words, they don't randomly draw a name that bought an app during the promotion as the winner. The winner is the person that buys the actual billionth app.

From Apple's terms and conditions:

5 - Sweepstakes ...The prize will be awarded for the entry (either through an app download or through the non-purchase online entry) sent immediately following the download of the 999,999,999th app.

StuddedLeather

Apr 22, 2009, 11:55 PM

BillyBobBongo

Apr 23, 2009, 12:35 AM

The winner is the person that buys the actual billionth app.

That's not what it (the terms) says at all. The competition finishes when the billionth app is downloaded, those that have taken part during the promotion will then go into a sweepstake where the winner will be chosen.

The 'No Purchase or Download' refers to a form that you can fill in to join the competition. My wife filled this is so that she can participate too.

dejo

Apr 23, 2009, 12:39 AM

That's not what it (the terms) says at all.

5 - Sweepstakes ...The prize will be awarded for the entry (either through an app download or through the non-purchase online entry) sent immediately following the download of the 999,999,999th app.
That's exactly what the terms say. How can it be any clearer?

Ivan P

Apr 23, 2009, 12:42 AM

That's not what it (the terms) says at all. The competition finishes when the billionth app is downloaded, those that have taken part during the promotion will then go into a sweepstake where the winner will be chosen.

The 'No Purchase or Download' refers to a form that you can fill in to join the competition. My wife filled this is so that she can participate too.

Read the term that I posted very carefully:

...The prize will be awarded for the entry sent immediately following the download of the 999,999,999th app.

The prize will be given to the person that either purchases an app or submits that No Purchase form immediately after the 999,999,999th app is sold. Please, if you're so insistent that you are right find the part in the T&C that backs you up.

BillyBobBongo

Apr 23, 2009, 02:35 AM

I've read it all again and I'm happy to hold my hand up and say that I was mistaken. I should drink coffee before I post! ;) The text you quoted could be interpreted in either way, but if you read the full text on the site then it does indeed say that the billionth download will win.

What still throws me though is the choice of the word 'sweepstake'. It seems odd to use such a word.

mickbab

Apr 23, 2009, 02:45 AM

Okay so now that we have clarified that it is indeed the one billionth purchase who wins, I have another question.

Limit: Regardless of which method of entry is used to enter the Promotion, only twenty-five (25) entries per person and/or iTunes account and/or email address, per day will be granted.

If it isn't actually an entry/lucky draw system, why do they say this? :confused:

sammich

Apr 23, 2009, 02:49 AM

If it isn't actually an entry/lucky draw system, why do they say this? :confused:

So that the App Store doesn't get endlessly spammed when it gets close to the billionth download. Say you were spamming, and you got it on your 100th download, you don't win. Simple.

Alex Hobbs

Apr 23, 2009, 10:35 AM

Stumbled across this in the source code as hidden, simply unhid it :P

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4610/applead.png

dejo

Apr 23, 2009, 10:41 AM

Stumbled across this in the source code as hidden, simply unhid it :P
Looks like Post 264 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=7500257&postcount=264) already stole your thunder.

Alex Hobbs

Apr 23, 2009, 10:42 AM

Lol, oh well xD Odd how it stops at 999,999,900 and not actually 1 billion before that page shows :P

Might attempt to start downloading soon.

BillyBobBongo

Apr 23, 2009, 02:13 PM

Might attempt to start downloading soon.

It wouldn't surprise me if it's not already happened and the counter is just there now to cause a mad download frenzy in an hour or two....but then I tend to be cynical like that! ;)

cosmokanga2

Apr 23, 2009, 02:38 PM

Looks like a couple of hours is all that remains. wonder what app is going to be the billionth.

smokestack

Apr 23, 2009, 03:13 PM

if i win, it will be one of the free ones....

sammich

Apr 23, 2009, 03:29 PM

It's over. May the best person (me :D) win.

Pika

Apr 23, 2009, 03:50 PM

Ready to download a flashlight... :D

benflick

Apr 23, 2009, 03:52 PM

Here it comes.:o

zombitronic

Apr 23, 2009, 03:53 PM

Happy 1 billion!

Pika

Apr 23, 2009, 03:53 PM

YESSS!!! i clicked the 999,995,000th :D

pdjudd

Apr 23, 2009, 03:53 PM

Here it comes.:o
I doubt it was me, but I am still hoping, i just bought an app a minute ago

Alex Hobbs

Apr 23, 2009, 03:53 PM

Just wow.. Both the iTunes download counter and the apple.com website both were sync at 999,950,000ish so I thought it would be a good time to download. Obviously everyone did, within a second or two it was at 1 billion.

Good luck to anyone that got an entry in. Apple.com was still counting up ages after it finished on iTunes :p

nazuk

Apr 23, 2009, 03:54 PM

40,000 to go. Easy peezee.

benflick

Apr 23, 2009, 03:54 PM

Dang, couldn't get a screenie of 999,999,999.:(

tMac85

Apr 23, 2009, 03:55 PM

i watched it rollll over. that was cool!

rhyx

Apr 23, 2009, 03:55 PM

i watched it rollll over. that was cool!

Likewise, I got a free entry in near the end. Figure you are just as likely to win by that as you are downloading.

tMac85

Apr 23, 2009, 03:56 PM

Dang, couldn't get a screenie of 999,999,999.:(

haha i tired too.

mogzieee

Apr 23, 2009, 03:56 PM

i watched it rollll over. that was cool!

As did I! Cool wasn't it! lol

benflick

Apr 23, 2009, 03:57 PM

As did I! Cool wasn't it! lol

Same, kind of a piece of history.
I love iPhone:)

Alex Hobbs

Apr 23, 2009, 03:58 PM

Odd thing was, iTunes said it finished at 42 minutes past, (thats when it said 1 billion). Apple site has said it for only a few minutes, so people that got their entries in whilst apple.com was counting up might not have been counted :(

JoshJosh117

Apr 23, 2009, 04:00 PM

No! I missed it because the counter was off by like 30,000!

Pika

Apr 23, 2009, 04:00 PM

How should i know if i win?

benflick

Apr 23, 2009, 04:01 PM

How should i know if i win?

They will announce the winner within ten days.

pdjudd

Apr 23, 2009, 04:04 PM

They will announce the winner within ten days.

Clarification: The winner will be notified within 3 days - the rest of the world will be informed in 10.

Pika

Apr 23, 2009, 04:06 PM

I just downloaded a flashlight... :o

sammich

Apr 23, 2009, 04:15 PM

My guess is that the billionth download/purchase was before 1pm Cupertino (or 6am Sydney/au) time (based on my speadsheet).

ThE.MeSsEnGeR

Apr 25, 2009, 04:14 AM

Omg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 I Wonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!
I Cant Believe It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I Am Soooooooooooooo Gonnaaaa Buy The Whole Itunes Store!!!!
And I'm Distributing 100$ Gift Codes For Everyone In This Thread!!!!! :d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d

ThE.MeSsEnGeR

Apr 25, 2009, 04:17 AM

P.S. I was just kidding!:o:o

it was a 13-year-old boy from CT.... hope he actually was following the case, and not a one-time app downloader..... hehehehhe.... well... Congrats to him!!! btw... i think the MBP will be too heavy for him!! LOL!!

this is from Apple.com
The one billionth app, Bump created by Bump Technologies, was downloaded by Connor Mulcahey, age 13, of Weston, CT. As the grand prize winner of Apple’s one billion app countdown contest, Connor will receive a $10,000 iTunes gift card, an iPod touch, a Time Capsule and a MacBook Pro.