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Well actually I do!

It's all well and good to accept statistics that are offered to you but you should also do yourself the credit to question those statistics and what they truly mean.

Most of us have better things to do, you know, the thing called life. It's summertime, go out and do something in the sun instead of questioning some really meaningless stats. Go hug your girlfriend or something.
 
So I guess I shouldn't be trusting them when they report 40 million iPhones or touches being sold or 29 billion in the bank, someone report Apple, they are commiting securities fraud.

Don't make up fake arguments, please. No one's talking about those figures.

There's a big difference between Apple stating an actual physical item count, versus stating software download numbers that could include updates, for instance, or even reloads of the same app.

Or in the case of their developer figures, obviously including tens of thousands of non-developer downloads, plus non-active developers. How many real and active developers are there? Probably less than a third of the "developer" number Apple puts out.

Apple isn't alone in this, of course. Android also reports raw SDK download numbers.

The point is, if someone is going to be impressed by numbers, they should at least think about their validity.
 
So I guess I shouldn't be trusting them when they report 40 million iPhones or touches being sold or 29 billion in the bank, someone report Apple, they are commiting securities fraud.

Reporting earnings is a different matter since its closely regulated, this is just a statistic for the number of downloads which they will warp however they like.
 
Most of us have better things to do, you know, the thing called life. It's summertime, go out and do something in the sun instead of questioning some really meaningless stats. Go hug your girlfriend or something.

Well forgive me for trying to discuss my opinion on a forum rather than whooping and cheering because Apple say I should.
 
Don't make up fake arguments, please. No one's talking about those figures.

There's a big difference between Apple stating an actual physical item count, versus stating software download numbers that could include updates, for instance, or even reloads of the same app.

Or in the case of their developer figures, obviously including tens of thousands of non-developer downloads, plus non-active developers. How many real and active developers are there? Probably less than a third of the "developer" number Apple puts out.

Apple isn't alone in this, of course. Android also reports raw SDK download numbers.

The point is, if someone is going to be impressed by numbers, they should at least think about their validity.
Fake arguments, don't make me laugh. If we shouldn't trust the amount of apps downloaded, why should we trust anything else from Apple. Why should we trust them when they talk about the number of developers they have, the number of apps, number of iPhones sold, number of Macs, number of iPods, number of safari downloads? Or do you pick which numbers to believe when it suits your arguments.
 
Reporting earnings is a different matter since its closely regulated, this is just a statistic for the number of downloads which they will warp however they like.

Why should we believe anything Apple says? If they can lie about this, why can't they lie about eveything else. For all we know the numbr of iPhones sold could be including those that you get when you retun a defective one, what about refurbs?
 
About 50 of those downloads came from me only to realize that the apps were crap and I deleted them. Oh how statistics can be skewed to present in a certain fashion. Maybe they should do an analysis of what people downloaded and actually kept but then that probably wouldn't be a milestone then.
 
Wow! That's amazing. Keep up those numbers Apple and the iPhone devs.
 
Fake arguments, don't make me laugh. If we shouldn't trust the amount of apps downloaded, why should we trust anything else from Apple. Why should we trust them when they talk about the number of developers they have, the number of apps, number of iPhones sold, number of Macs, number of iPods, number of safari downloads? Or do you pick which numbers to believe when it suits your arguments.

Why should we believe anything Apple says? If they can lie about this, why can't they lie about eveything else. For all we know the numbr of iPhones sold could be including those that you get when you retun a defective one, what about refurbs?

Are you really this dense or are you just intentionally trolling now? Companies use statistics to promote their brand, so naturally they're going to highlight those that make themselves look most favorable, while avoiding discussion of others. Apple is no different. That's all anyone is really saying. You're the one building these strawman arguments about Apple committing securities fraud and lying about everything, which no one else has even suggested. If anything, people are just stating the obvious and you're getting all defensive for no reason. Whatever, it's always fun watching Apple fanbois get worked up over nothing.
 
Why should we believe anything Apple says? If they can lie about this, why can't they lie about eveything else. For all we know the numbr of iPhones sold could be including those that you get when you retun a defective one, what about refurbs?

Refurbs are very likely in the number of units sold figures they put in the official reports. So the same Mac with a single serial number could be sold multiple times.

This is offset when this is a lemon replacement. For example,
get a Mac Pro. It just has a gremlin that won't go away. Apple offeres a replacement machine. ( that second one isn't "sold"). Apple then tears down the box and it starts passing tests again. It gets sold through the refurb store. There are still two macs out there so counting as two in "number sold" is fine.

It is juicing the stats when the Mac comes back and the money gets returned. That should count as a non sale, but may span quarters. ( so in Spring Quarter there but by Summer Quarter Gone). Never heard Apple revise the count, but don't if refurb goes back out ( however that should just count as one. )

The number of refurb boxes they sell is likely a low percentage of the overall sales. So it is part of the noise ( errors in measure) numbers.


Apple could also do inventory stuffing. ( did this several times in the 90s). Sell off the machines to the retailers and count it as "sold" even though end users had not bought them. Not just Apple lots of companies do that when there are mutliple layers between the manufacturer and the end user sale. If there is some "buy back unsold inventory" relationship... yeah this is a way to cook the books short term.
 
I wonder why they didn't save this announcement for the earnings call next week? That really surprises me, makes me wonder if they have bad news on unit sales or margins.
 
The figure is impressive and I'd say that the App store has been a huge success. However, like all of Apple's promotional data, I'd take it with a pinch of salt.
 
Am I the only one reading this: "Apple today announced that customers have downloaded more than 1.5 billion applications in just one year" and then start to wonder how many of these "downloads" where actually simply app upgrades?

Technically still a download, yet that makes it look very different. Don't you agree?
 


Apple today announced that iPhone and iPod touch users have downloaded over 1.5 billion applications in the App Store's first year of operation. There are currently over 65,000 applications available in the store.Apple also notes that it has sold over 40 million iPhones and iPod touches capable of running App Store applications.
No, they shipped over 40 million devices, and that includes all stocked items stored at your local Apple store/reseller, and all providers world wide (in 77 countries) ;)
 
About 50 of those downloads came from me only to realize that the apps were crap and I deleted them. Oh how statistics can be skewed to present in a certain fashion. Maybe they should do an analysis of what people downloaded and actually kept but then that probably wouldn't be a milestone then.

Bull who has the time to do all that, for that sake of what? I don't even think Apple cares if you keep the app for a day or 10 years.
 
Are you really this dense or are you just intentionally trolling now? Companies use statistics to promote their brand, so naturally they're going to highlight those that make themselves look most favorable, while avoiding discussion of others. Apple is no different. That's all anyone is really saying. You're the one building these strawman arguments about Apple committing securities fraud and lying about everything, which no one else has even suggested. If anything, people are just stating the obvious and you're getting all defensive for no reason. Whatever, it's always fun watching Apple fanbois get worked up over nothing.

Worked up, it is you getting worked, did you have to reply to my post. It ain't that serious.
 
I'd like to know that too. They don't specify if it's first-time downloads or downloads period. Every time an app is updated, I have to download the entire thing over again. If they're counting that and announcing it in a press release that implies every one of those downloads was a new app, then it's a bit misleading.

And "duplicitous marketing teams?" Let's not get too carried away. Surely you've never worked in or around marketing people. Their job is to make the company or product look good. Doesn't mean you have to believe everything they tell you, but there's no point in calling them names for putting whatever spin on things makes their company look good.

As if "random dude on the internet" is any more or less reliable than some random marketing person.

Thank you for taking the time to understand my question.

Again I wasn't singling out Apple. I think all the tech/software companies make questionable claims. I find all marketing to be borderline disingenuous.

dude... what is wrong with you? Are you a troll?

The original post says 'downloads', who cares what the heck these are? Apparently you do, in which case, do you care to elaborate how this makes a difference?

Incidentally, I have 'downloaded' the same app more than once... in three different iphones! So, yes, even if it is the same downloaded app, it counts because most of the time those extra downloads are in other folk's iphones (family, friends, acquaintances) that may not have an apple account, so you use yours to do them a favor.

No, I am not a troll. I just tend to question stats regardless of whether or not I like or dislike what they suggest.

Unique downloads makes a difference because it gives the false impression that these downloads are new individual apps instead of updates (that's why I asked). Obviously others assume they are the original apps based on the response while others have echoed the same question I have so it's not unreasonable.

If you downloaded the same app across three different devices, yes that should count as three downloads. My question is, if an update is released for that app you downloaded 3x, does :apple: record that as 3 additional downloads; resulting in 6 downloads instead of 3?

What is wrong with you people? The guy asked a simple question. That's not trolling, that's trying to understand the data Apple is putting out there on a deeper level. I think it would be interesting to know the difference between total downloads and unique app downloads. I don't hate Apple and I'm not criticizing them for anything. It's just curiosity combined with a little common sense that would tell anyone that the official line from them is going to paint things in the most favorable light rather than the most statistically relevant. But whatever, I guess we're supposed to just marvel at the greatness that is Apple and not care about anything that hasn't been officially vetted and released by their marketing department. :rolleyes:

Thank you. It's considered mac-treason to ask a unfavorable question on this board sometimes. Entertaining to see the same dudes rush to the call of duty.

So I guess I shouldn't be trusting them when they report 40 million iPhones or touches being sold or 29 billion in the bank, someone report Apple, they are commiting securities fraud.

This is a ridiculous argument. It would have been easier to just say you didnt know if updates were counted towards overall downloads rather than get into this nonsensical defense

Companies use statistics to promote their brand, so naturally they're going to highlight those that make themselves look most favorable, while avoiding discussion of others. Apple is no different. That's all anyone is really saying. You're the one building these strawman arguments about Apple committing securities fraud and lying about everything, which no one else has even suggested. If anything, people are just stating the obvious and you're getting all defensive for no reason. Whatever, it's always fun watching Apple fanbois get worked up over nothing.

I guess in his mind Apple is different. I see nothing wrong with questioning promotional statistics presented here. I still believe they have accomplished something great with the app store, but I'd like to get a better grasp on the numbers
 
Apple should have said 'A Lot'. Then everyone would be guessing how much 'A Lot' is, and there would be posts saying 'but how do they count 'A Lot' ? It might just be 'Quite A Few' and they're boosting it to 'A Lot' by including updates.' :)
 
Apple should have said 'A Lot'. Then everyone would be guessing how much 'A Lot' is, and there would be posts saying 'but how do they count 'A Lot' ? It might just be 'Quite A Few' and they're boosting it to 'A Lot' by including updates.' :)
LOL
 
without the standard deviation, the average is incomplete; not quite meaningless.

The standard deviation would also be close to useless, as the distribution of download numbers in the App store likely does not resemble anything close to a Gaussian or standard normal bell curve. Mistaking a power law curve (a couple were recently posted in Apple's dev forum) for a Gaussian distribution is thought to be one of the investment risk analysis mistakes that led the banking industry into the current world financial crisis.
 
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