The App Store has been one of Apple’s biggest ever successes, and now it’s poised for a refresh, with new tools, and new ways to get hold of apps and content. Read on for the details.
Apple’s Scott Forstall, senior vice president for iPhone Software announced the iPhone App Store overhaul today, as part of the iPhone OS 3.0 upgrade. It’ll allow developers to make applications with “subscriptions” built in, amongst other things.
Forstall says developers have asked Apple for more flexibility in selling content through the App Store, and Apple has listened, serving up “in app purchase” abilities. It means you won’t have to go to and from the App Store to buy extra content – it’ll be dished up in the app.
Forstall used the example of city guide apps, where instead of selling the same app re-skinned for many cities, developers can sell one app and allow users to download city ‘packs’ from within it. It’s a much neater system, and should cut down on clutter in the App Store.
It’ll also work with games, so bonus content and extra levels can be bought from within the game itself. EA has confirmed that The Sims 3 for iPhone will be one of the first games to use In App Purchase, letting gamers buy “items for the Sims for $0.99 each”.
TBC | £TBC | Apple
