Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile

Apple’s App Store Hits 100,000 Programs

Geoff Duncan
By

Apple has announced that its App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch now offers more than 100,000 applications for the mobile devices, making it by far the largest mobile application store on the planet. All told, Apple says App Store users have downloaded more than 2 billion programs to enhance the functionality of their iPhones and iPod touch devices; many of those applications are free, but some notable developers (like game developers and navigation provider TomTom) are offering high-dollar applications and seeming to be making a good go of it.

Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“The App Store [..] is clearly a major differentiator for millions of iPhone and iPod touch customers around the world,” said Apple’s senior VP of worldwide product marketing Philip Schiller,in a statement. “The iPhone SDK created the first great platform for mobile applications and our customers are loving all of the amazing apps our developers are creating.”

Recommended Videos

Apple’s iTunes 9 software introduced a new “Genius for Apps” feature that suggests applications that users might find worthwhile; Apple also recommends particular applications as “App Store Essentials.”

Related

Despite the obvious success of the App Store, many developers are still wary of Apple’s whimsical, arbitrary, and sometimes draconian policy of approving or rejecting iPhone applications. The company is currently the subject of an FCC inquiry over rejecting Google Voice for iPhone, which Apple claims replaces the device’s core dialing functionality. However, some other App Store rejections are just inscrutable: Macworld editor Jason Snell noted yesterday that Apple rejected the Macworld iPhone Superguide application simply because it contained the word “iPhone” in the title…never mind that the App Store had previously approved David Pogue’s iPhone: The Missing Manual. (Apple has since said it is resolving the “Superguide” rejection.)

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Geoff Duncan
Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
This one thing could make iOS 18 the best iPhone update in years
The Home Screen on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple’s WWDC 2024 is just a couple of months away. As with every WWDC, we’ll see what Apple has in store for the next generation of software across its hardware portfolio, including the iPhone with iOS 18.

Rumors have been swirling about iOS 18 and how it will be “one of the biggest updates yet.” We know some features like RCS support in Messages are definitely coming, with other whispers of big home screen customization changes and more.

Read more
How to add a different home screen wallpaper on iOS 17
An iPhone with iOS 16, showing the new Lock Screen.

If you haven't used an iPhone in a while, or if you haven't tried to update your lock screen, they you might be happy to learn about some of the new customization features that are available in iOS 17. Although iOS has made some controversial changes to its UI, such as moving the notifications to the bottom of the lock screen, they are also more welcome changes to the customization options for the lock screen.

Introduced in iOS 16 was a slew of lock screen customization features to let you tweak your phone's lock screen to your liking, and these same features are available in iOS 17 as well. While the lock screen used to be just a static image, you can now make it more dynamic with options like cycling through collections of your photos, so you can show off your favorite photos of your pets, your family, or beautiful locations that you've visited.

Read more
The best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases in 2024: the 20 best ones
Renders of iPhone 15 Pro Max cases next to each other.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the latest smartphone from Apple and boasts a 6.7-inch screen and a durable titanium casing. However, even with its sturdy design, the phone can still suffer from accidental damage such as cracking or shattering. To ensure that your phone stays in good condition and lasts longer, it's important to invest in a protective case.

To help you with your selection, we have put together a list of the 20 best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases. These cases have been carefully selected based on their durability, design, and functionality. Whether you're looking for a slim and stylish case or a heavy-duty one that can withstand extreme conditions, we've got you covered.

Read more