I sure was thinking it but I am glad you did. Right now "windowserver" gobbles up CPUs. This is a long standing problem.
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Apple Reveals the Most Downloaded iOS Apps and Games of 2021
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This.
I may be the minority, but most free apps with IAP are just software demos. If you have to pay-to-win, or unlock features than it really shouldn’t be classified as a ‘free’ app, even if there is no extra charge for the initial download.
Sometimes Google Maps just has stuff not in Apple Maps (eg, cycling directions in my neck of the woods). That's the only one from that list I use more once every blue moon.I have zero of the top free apps.
The only surprise to me on this list is Dark Sky. I figured with the lack of updates and beginning integration into stock Weather app this would detour future buyers. Amazing app don't get me wrong, just kind of surprised to see this on Top Paid list.
I don't think YouTube, TikTok, Instagram are the most downloaded apps. Those apps are already downloaded in most people's phones. I am thinking they are counting the updates for those apps. It doesn't take a genius , the most popular apps are the most "updated" apps.
They should count "new" downloads
They should count "new" downloads
My kids are obsessed with Roblox - it has replaced playing on the Switch (apprently Nintendo refuses to add the game over some copyright issue). The game is constantly evolving and adding new mini games to try.
Why does Apple "reveal" (you can see the lists anytime at the App Store anyway) the most downloaded apps of the year before the year is over? Do they not want to count December because it's such a huge download month due to people getting new or replacement devices for the holidays and may skew the results?
And why would anyone want to play Monopoly on a screen? It's a classic board game - can we keep it that way?
It’s apps downloaded in the United States. WhatsApp is not used much in the US compared to other countries for messaging.
Top ten free iPhone apps with no in-app purchasing:
1. Messenger
2. Google Maps
3. ZOOM
4. Amazon Shopping
5. Cash App
6. WhatsApp
7. Google
8. DoorDash
9. Google Chrome
10. SHEIN
Funny that amazon shopping has no in app purchases even though it is nothing but in app purchases! lol
Using it from inside the edit mode in the Photos app works quite well.
This really shows Apple has a problem here. Gaming is a potentially extremely lucrative segment, but when we look at the top paid iPad apps, there is only one E ticket game, and that is a port of an 18 year old game. There is not much compelling here.
Remember the “What’s a computer?” ads? We may joke about the ridiculousness of those now, but there’s a flip side: the new iPads are very powerful, and have the screen real estate of a laptop. I have a 12.9” iPad Pro, and I use it way more than my computer. Also, I suspect the iPad is the most popular tablet by sales. Yet I struggle to find interesting games to play on it. Most games seem to target young children, or are low effort products. This very much reminds me of the Atari collapse of the 80’s , when low effort junk was shoveled out at high volume as cash dragnets. One can argue Among Us and Stardew Valley are exceptions, but these are more time-waster or social games that might or might not have been on the list if not for the pandemic.
The question arises then: why no killer app game for the iPad? Why no Zelda: Breath of the Wild for such a platform? Is it Apple taking too big a cut making top developers not seeing adequate return on investment? Is it because there’s too much variation between supported devices, and maybe Apple should have a separate Pro category? I’m not convinced of the latter, and I’ll explain why.
I’m not suggesting the iPad is the best platform for first person shooters. In fact, some of the best iPad games didn’t need huge graphics power. For example, The Room games were perfect for the platform. Unfortunately, they were quite short, and had no replayability. The Baldur’s Gate games work well on the iPad, and are fun for nostalgia, but they are really old ports too. One game I’d love to see on iPad would be Drawn: the Painted Tower. This is quite a sophisticated puzzle game with beautiful art, and would be well suited to an iPad. However, BFG does not have it on the app store, even though they developed an iPad port. I could see Diablo II remastered working well here if it could be optimized.
Really though, the iPad is a unique platform, and it deserves to have creative people coming up with great original games that cater to its strengths. There was a flurry of development when the iPhone and iPad first came out, with games like Paper Toss, Fruit Ninja, and Angry Birds exploring the capabilities of these emerging platforms. Since then, development has stagnated, and nobody talks about the iPad as a legitimate gaming platform, despite it’s growing capabilities and unique strengths. I’m particularly troubled that so many top games on the list seem to be effectively baby pacifiers, and Apple should be too. Young children do not directly purchase games or additional content, unless their parents are wealthy or stupid. Older teen and adult gamers spend a lot of money on games and content though, and are not alway on their computer. Apple, perhaps through greed or other policies, is stifling a potentially huge revenue stream. Are they making so much money they don’t care? I would think shareholders should care. And as a user, I’m tired of scrolling through the App Store with the intention of buying a new game and finding nothing to spend my money on.
Anyway, I’d like to hear your ideas about why game developers are neglecting the iPad.
Remember the “What’s a computer?” ads? We may joke about the ridiculousness of those now, but there’s a flip side: the new iPads are very powerful, and have the screen real estate of a laptop. I have a 12.9” iPad Pro, and I use it way more than my computer. Also, I suspect the iPad is the most popular tablet by sales. Yet I struggle to find interesting games to play on it. Most games seem to target young children, or are low effort products. This very much reminds me of the Atari collapse of the 80’s , when low effort junk was shoveled out at high volume as cash dragnets. One can argue Among Us and Stardew Valley are exceptions, but these are more time-waster or social games that might or might not have been on the list if not for the pandemic.
The question arises then: why no killer app game for the iPad? Why no Zelda: Breath of the Wild for such a platform? Is it Apple taking too big a cut making top developers not seeing adequate return on investment? Is it because there’s too much variation between supported devices, and maybe Apple should have a separate Pro category? I’m not convinced of the latter, and I’ll explain why.
I’m not suggesting the iPad is the best platform for first person shooters. In fact, some of the best iPad games didn’t need huge graphics power. For example, The Room games were perfect for the platform. Unfortunately, they were quite short, and had no replayability. The Baldur’s Gate games work well on the iPad, and are fun for nostalgia, but they are really old ports too. One game I’d love to see on iPad would be Drawn: the Painted Tower. This is quite a sophisticated puzzle game with beautiful art, and would be well suited to an iPad. However, BFG does not have it on the app store, even though they developed an iPad port. I could see Diablo II remastered working well here if it could be optimized.
Really though, the iPad is a unique platform, and it deserves to have creative people coming up with great original games that cater to its strengths. There was a flurry of development when the iPhone and iPad first came out, with games like Paper Toss, Fruit Ninja, and Angry Birds exploring the capabilities of these emerging platforms. Since then, development has stagnated, and nobody talks about the iPad as a legitimate gaming platform, despite it’s growing capabilities and unique strengths. I’m particularly troubled that so many top games on the list seem to be effectively baby pacifiers, and Apple should be too. Young children do not directly purchase games or additional content, unless their parents are wealthy or stupid. Older teen and adult gamers spend a lot of money on games and content though, and are not alway on their computer. Apple, perhaps through greed or other policies, is stifling a potentially huge revenue stream. Are they making so much money they don’t care? I would think shareholders should care. And as a user, I’m tired of scrolling through the App Store with the intention of buying a new game and finding nothing to spend my money on.
Anyway, I’d like to hear your ideas about why game developers are neglecting the iPad.
I can relate. All that power but have not creativity to drive it
Very interesting list. Some apps definitely deserve their spot on the list.