It's hard to imagine that these stats would go up after Christmas. 
This is almost as bad as Apple charging for 10.5.6.
This is almost as bad as Apple charging for 10.5.6.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Massive Christmas iPod Touch Sales Boost App Store Downloads
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
man the iFart guy must be getting really close to pocketing $100000, and counting, all just from the last couple of weeks.
anyone else feeling just a little jealous?
anyone else feeling just a little jealous?
I use a version of that when I'm shopping, in brick and mortar stores. I take a photo with my iPhone camera of the item, and then I can bring it back up when I'm back in the store or shopping online. It's a photo shopping list, if you will!
You could do the same, for free, but just taking a screenshot while you're browsing the appstore, etc.! Hold the home button down and press the power button! Then, refer to your roll of pictures later!
At this point, the touch seems like a no-brainer for anyone considering an iPod, either upgrading or getting one for the first time. Unless you are on the tightest possible budget, it's hard not to justify the extra cash over a nano. I can't imagine ever again buying an ipod that can't run apps.
How so?
How so?
I think he may be referring to having to pay for software upgrades. But as far as that goes, at least they GET software upgrades... all the other iPods you are stuck with the features it has when it gets the device.
Depends on your application. For example, if its sole purpose is to integrate into a car stereo, then it would make a lot more sense to get one with a huge hard drive, while the touch-screen and applications capability would be wasted.
Alternately, if its primary purpose is for working out, then a nano or even a shuffle makes a lot more sense since they are so much less bulky (and cost less).
@DavidLeblond : Thanks for the plug. I'm glad you found AppBeacon and found us useful. This type of thing is exactly what AppBeacon is good for. You can bookmark interesting apps here and come back later when you're looking for a new app fix. We also make it a lot easier to discover apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
my ipod touch got me into a fight with my wife. on my birthday this weekend I played fieldrunners all day even when my wife planned all this stuff for us to do. so yeah, the ipod touch is awesome haha.
wife - "can you please act your age and stop playing videogames for one second?"
I turned 29, and no, apparently I can't stop despite my age.
wife - "can you please act your age and stop playing videogames for one second?"
I turned 29, and no, apparently I can't stop despite my age.
Paying for the software upgrades on the iTouch is a necessary GAAP subscription based accounting procedure required by the SEC - not because Apple just felt that they wanted to for the fun of it.
That might have resulted in divorce.
Still a lot of potential for small developers to make some good money in the Apple iStore. This type of environment can foster the strong growth of some niche products.
So how do other companies offer firmware updates that add features without charging for it?
Gift Cards
What about iTunes Gift Cards? For Christmas I asked for a lot of gift cards and spent most of them on games for my iPhone I got last year. The first thing I did Christmas morn was download about $30 worth of apps.
What about iTunes Gift Cards? For Christmas I asked for a lot of gift cards and spent most of them on games for my iPhone I got last year. The first thing I did Christmas morn was download about $30 worth of apps.
I didn't see any change in sales of my apps:
- Colony: $0.99. 1 sale on Xmas Day.
- Squares: Free. 320 'sales' on Xmas Day (most of which were updates and not new downloads).
- Linx: $1.99. 1 sale on Xmas Day.
- Linx Free: Free. Didn't get any sales on Xmas Day because Apple took two weeks to review it.
I'm more than a little annoyed that innovative games like mine don't get anywhere near the same number of downloads as pointless trash like iFart.
None of my apps have ever been in the "NEW" section on the front of the App Store, despite having just been released. It's not "new" apps that get listed there; it's apps that are made by large companies (Facebook, Sega etc.). Independent app developers don't get on there unless they're already selling hundreds of units a day.
For example: Wine Enthusiast Guide is in the New section. It was released on 8th Dec. Toy Bot Diaries 3, released 11th Dec. Bloomberg France, released 30th MAY.
The Facebook app is very popular, and has a spot right at the top middle, but it was released on 10th JULY. It's popular, but it's full of bugs. One of my games has a higher user rating (stars) than Facebook, but my game hasn't ever been a featured app.
Until Apple start promoting ALL apps fairly, independent developers aren't going to see anything like the success of iFart. (Of course, Joel Comm's iFart is only popular because he already had a presence on the internet, what with being a New York Times bestselling author, and all...)
Basically, what I'm saying in this rant, is that independent developers like me are likely going to quit developing for the iPhone until we start to have an equal footing with everyone else. I can't devote 5 hours a day and 30 hours over the weekend to writing games for the iPhone if all I'll get out of it is $1 a day for a couple of months. Marketing my apps elsewhere hasn't helped either, as most review sites say they have a backlog and "we'll get to your app shortly"; the review never then materializes.
Until Apple change their ranking system, sort out their front page, and give everyone a reasonable chance at success, is it really worth developing for the iPhone?
- Colony: $0.99. 1 sale on Xmas Day.
- Squares: Free. 320 'sales' on Xmas Day (most of which were updates and not new downloads).
- Linx: $1.99. 1 sale on Xmas Day.
- Linx Free: Free. Didn't get any sales on Xmas Day because Apple took two weeks to review it.
I'm more than a little annoyed that innovative games like mine don't get anywhere near the same number of downloads as pointless trash like iFart.
None of my apps have ever been in the "NEW" section on the front of the App Store, despite having just been released. It's not "new" apps that get listed there; it's apps that are made by large companies (Facebook, Sega etc.). Independent app developers don't get on there unless they're already selling hundreds of units a day.
For example: Wine Enthusiast Guide is in the New section. It was released on 8th Dec. Toy Bot Diaries 3, released 11th Dec. Bloomberg France, released 30th MAY.
The Facebook app is very popular, and has a spot right at the top middle, but it was released on 10th JULY. It's popular, but it's full of bugs. One of my games has a higher user rating (stars) than Facebook, but my game hasn't ever been a featured app.
Until Apple start promoting ALL apps fairly, independent developers aren't going to see anything like the success of iFart. (Of course, Joel Comm's iFart is only popular because he already had a presence on the internet, what with being a New York Times bestselling author, and all...)
Basically, what I'm saying in this rant, is that independent developers like me are likely going to quit developing for the iPhone until we start to have an equal footing with everyone else. I can't devote 5 hours a day and 30 hours over the weekend to writing games for the iPhone if all I'll get out of it is $1 a day for a couple of months. Marketing my apps elsewhere hasn't helped either, as most review sites say they have a backlog and "we'll get to your app shortly"; the review never then materializes.
Until Apple change their ranking system, sort out their front page, and give everyone a reasonable chance at success, is it really worth developing for the iPhone?
Hang in there, I wouldnt give up just yet. I dont think that iFarts popularity has anything to do with him having a presece on the internet. He did his homework and gave the market what they wanted. A steak is also better than pizza but I eat pizza a hek more often than I do steak. Not because I cant afford it but because its quick. His success is short term and will be replaced by another app very soon. Give it some time and your app will see the light. I have published my sales numbers on my site in the past few days and if you take a look although the numbers are low I still made around 10K in 3 months. Thats not that bad for a side gig. I dont expect to get rich, I enjoy what I do and its nice to get a little reward for it. Sorry to hear that your app is selling 1 a day but maybe you need to move on and work on another app? Leave that one alone and let it make money for you while you sleep.
I've already moved on from my earlier apps. I wrote Linx towards the end of November. It took me three weeks in my spare time. It has been on the App Store for ~16 days now, and I have sold fewer than 20 copies.
I gave Colony some time and it has generated fewer than 500 sales since its release in late July.
My apps just don't get featured anywhere, which is why I'm so despondent. I simply can't afford to pay for advertising. And the App Store isn't being fair to everyone. Its featured apps are those written by huge companies who really don't need the cash.
It's not as though the Facebook app is innovative, yet it's featured prominently. I've written three innovative games, and gotten nowhere.
I know I'm not going to get rich doing this, but a few grand would've been nice. You know, something to make it worthwhile. I'm probably going to get more sales through ranting on forums than I ever will in writing apps for the iPhone.
Time to write (yet another) To Do List app, or an app that plays sound samples when you tap a picture, or a Bejeweled clone, another Tetris rip-off, or just another fart sound app...? They seem to be the only ones that make any money.
I gave Colony some time and it has generated fewer than 500 sales since its release in late July.
My apps just don't get featured anywhere, which is why I'm so despondent. I simply can't afford to pay for advertising. And the App Store isn't being fair to everyone. Its featured apps are those written by huge companies who really don't need the cash.
It's not as though the Facebook app is innovative, yet it's featured prominently. I've written three innovative games, and gotten nowhere.
I know I'm not going to get rich doing this, but a few grand would've been nice. You know, something to make it worthwhile. I'm probably going to get more sales through ranting on forums than I ever will in writing apps for the iPhone.
Time to write (yet another) To Do List app, or an app that plays sound samples when you tap a picture, or a Bejeweled clone, another Tetris rip-off, or just another fart sound app...? They seem to be the only ones that make any money.
Have you noticed that both of your apps have a duplicate name with another app in the store? There are two versions of linx add two versions of colony. The other colony is free and the other Linx is $1 cheaper. First of all I thought you couldnt have a duplicate name but it seem that you can. Second, you have to stop developing and work on your marketing strategy.
My Colony was released before the other one. My Linx was released after the other one, but I fail to see what issues a duplicate name would cause? Colony is only $0.99 - the minimum I can charge to make any money. Linx is $1.99. I don't see why every app I write should be released at the lowest price point? Yours aren't.
My marketing strategy? I've contacted loads of app review sites and they're "going to review [my apps] soon..." I can't afford to pay for advertising, so I have to rely on word of mouth and free advertising. Neither of which are bringing in the money.
I did get a review from PocketGamer about Colony, saying, "the mind-melting complexity of fathoming how to make a game like Colony is a serious testament to developer Chris Haynes' coding skills", but it clearly hasn't got me any extra sales.
Unless your app appears on the first page or two of a section in the App Store, or you know what you're looking for specifically, you simply don't get any sales.
Hey, I'm happy that you've got $10K in three months, and I'm sure the pictures on your website of yourself with the Albanian president helps you, but I have no such means of advertising. (In fact, having a picture of myself and Prime Minister Gordon Brown would probably adversely affect my sales!)
My marketing strategy? I've contacted loads of app review sites and they're "going to review [my apps] soon..." I can't afford to pay for advertising, so I have to rely on word of mouth and free advertising. Neither of which are bringing in the money.
I did get a review from PocketGamer about Colony, saying, "the mind-melting complexity of fathoming how to make a game like Colony is a serious testament to developer Chris Haynes' coding skills", but it clearly hasn't got me any extra sales.
Unless your app appears on the first page or two of a section in the App Store, or you know what you're looking for specifically, you simply don't get any sales.
Hey, I'm happy that you've got $10K in three months, and I'm sure the pictures on your website of yourself with the Albanian president helps you, but I have no such means of advertising. (In fact, having a picture of myself and Prime Minister Gordon Brown would probably adversely affect my sales!)
Akacaj is right. Marketing is the other half of the equation. Get a unique name, and a matching domain name. My app is 100sounds and the domain is 100sounds.com. My app actually has 200 sounds so far (I got carried away) but I'd rather undercommit and overdeliver. My site has a Flash demo, an FAQ, review comments, etc. Let's just say I've been successful beyond my wildest expectations. I've posted some of my techniques on my iPhone Life magazine blog (I'm a contributing editor there). http://www.smartphonemag.com/iphone/Todd.Bernhard
Yes, I'm advertising now, but only SINCE Christmas, when it became a no brainer to put some cash back into the system. My goal is to stay in the top 20 paid entertainment apps, where users look most often. I've reached as high as #13 as of Christmas and currently hover around #15. I've NEVER been listed as 'NEW' or 'FEATURED' by Apple. The key is getting raw sales....and then staying there.
... and stay tuned. I have a new venture I'll be announcing here soon, that should help the little guy compete.
Todd, how many sales of 100sounds did you get in the first 16 days without advertising?
I got fewer than 20 sales for Linx, and now it's on page 6 of 33 in action games.
Once your app disappears off the front page and first few pages of a category, your app is dead. 16 days and my app is dead.
I guess I should write "300sounds"? (I would, but I'm all for innovation, not copying.)
I got fewer than 20 sales for Linx, and now it's on page 6 of 33 in action games.
Once your app disappears off the front page and first few pages of a category, your app is dead. 16 days and my app is dead.
I guess I should write "300sounds"?
(I would, but I'm all for innovation, not copying.)