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Jean-Louis Gassee bemoans lack of App Store curation
Former president of the Apple Products Division Jean-Louis Gassee has written an interesting blog post bemoaning the lack of App Store curation. The post will find a sympathetic ear from anyone who has tried searching for relevant apps on the App Store before. Despite Apple's effort to improve relevant search by buying Chomp, it's still hard for users to find new apps and for developers to get their new apps noticed. Gassee starts his post by reprinting a fictional Google press release announcing The Google Play Red Guide -- a dream come true for those hoping for better App Store search and curation. Of course the fictional press release is making the point that "this is what search and curation on any app store should be like." While the press release is just a dream, Gassee explains why such a service is needed in both the Google Play and Apple App Store, arguing that "both companies let users and developers fend for themselves, lost in a thick forest of apps." He goes on to say: That neither company seems to care about their online stores' customers makes no sense: Smartphone users download more apps than songs and videos combined, and the trend isn't slowing. Unfortunately, Apple appears to be resting on its laurels, basking in its great App Store numbers: 40 billion served, $8B paid to developers. Perhaps the reasoning goes like this: iTunes served the iPod well; the App Store can do the same for the iPhone. It ain't broke; no fix needed. But serving up music and movies -- satisfying the user's established taste with self-contained morsels of entertainment -- is considerably different from leading the user to the right tool for a job that may be only vaguely defined. Gassee's post is well worth a read for the fictitious Google press release alone. With Apple's App Store on path to hit 1 million apps in the next few years, hopefully the company will improve on its search and curation features that will allow users to find more new, interesting and relevant apps.
App search engine Chomp shuts down, but is Apple cracking down on app discovery apps?
This should come as no surprise to anyone following the saga of Chomp, the app search engine Apple acquired some time ago. It has now ceased operations as an independent app. Apple appears to have integrated Chomp's technology in the latest major overhaul of the App Store. While some have lauded the changes, others have found search results to sometimes come up lacking. Personally, I can't fathom why Apple would remove the ability to gift an app from my iOS devices (look and try to gift an app from your iPhone -- you no longer can!), but that's one of many minor issues plaguing Apple's reboot of the store. Yet more worrisome than the issues in the store itself (which can be fixed on Apple's end) is the possibility of third-party app discovery tools going away. MacRumors points out a quiet change to the developer docs (first mentioned by PocketGamer.biz), which warns devs of apps being rejected if they "display Apps other than your own for purchase or promotion in a manner similar to or confusing with the App Store." Never mind how confusing the App Store can be. While I admit there are apps which could lead to customer confusion, there are also some great apps which help people find what they are looking for -- something Apple's store has yet to perfect.
Apple's app search engine goes dark, Chomp joins Ping in obsolescence
Ping wasn't the only Apple service to go offline at the tail end of September. Chomp, an app search engine purchased by Cook and Co. earlier this year, also closed up shop. In the spring, the service discontinued support for Android apps, and now its entire website and iOS application have been shuttered. Folks who still have the app installed are greeted with the bad news upon launching it: "Chomp has been discontinued as of September 30. Thanks for being a loyal user." If you're mourning the loss, we hear Yahoo would be delighted to make your acquaintance.
Apple spits out Android option from Chomp app navigator
It's taken a bit longer than we expected, but following Apple's acquisition of app search engine Chomp, the Android option has now been cut out from its homepage. We're now left with the choice between iPhone and iPad categories, alongside existing shortcuts for popular freebies and apps on sale, in a few efforts to cut through Cupertino's 600,000-strong app selection. Hit up the source to give it a run for yourself.
Apple removes Android app searches from Chomp
Just over two months after Apple acquired the app discovery service Chomp, the company has removed features that allowed users to search for Android apps in addition to iOS apps. Chomp is a search tool that lets users to search for an app based on what it can do, instead of by the name alone. The service works using specific algorithms that sort through and compile what an app does based on its description, user reviews, and capabilities. Apple bought Chomp in February for US$50 million. It is assumed that Chomp was not just a talent acquisition, but was also purchased so that Apple can use Chomp's technology in future versions of the App Store. During Apple's financial earnings call last week, the company announced the App Store now has more than 600,000 apps and the Mac App Store has over 10,000 apps. One of the biggest complaints from developers and users alike is that it's hard to discover new and interesting apps with the existing App Store search function.
Daily Update for February 24, 2012
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen.
Apple chomps Chomp to improve App Store search
If we were Tim Cook, we wouldn't be able to resist the temptation of wasting some of that $100 billion on something extravagant, like a crystal iPhone dock or private theme park. Instead the boys in Cupertino remain dogged in quietly acquiring start-ups and hoping no-one notices. Chomp is the latest technology company whose staff will find themselves with a pass for the Infinite Loop car park. It's an app discovery business with technology reportedly far in advance of the App Store's current keyword-based search and given that there are 500,000 apps, it's unsurprising that people aren't finding what they need. You may recall that Chomp powered Verizon's Android searches too, a situation we don't expect to last very long as soon as it's time to renegotiate that contract. The companies will be mixing their sauces together in the hope of making some good goulash, although as usual, we don't expect to get a taste for a while.
Apple to acquire Chomp app search platform
Having an App Store means never having to say "Sorry, there's no app for that" -- or at least not very often. With the massive success of the iOS App Store, however, there's also a discoverability problem: how do you find the apps you need? Searching by name or keyword doesn't always help, and some gems may be hiding just around the next page of results. The search tool Chomp, available currently for both iOS and Android, aimed to change that equation. Via the company's app or web tool, you can search for apps by what they do rather than what they're called. A proprietary algorithm digs into the app descriptions, reviews and capabilities to figure out what makes an app useful, and then exposes that analysis to eager app searchers and would-be purchasers. Such a capability, if it worked as advertised, would be very valuable. Seems like it does work and it is valuable, because our sibling site TechCrunch is reporting that Apple has bought Chomp. Chomp's current deal to provide Android app search features for Verizon's phones (awkward!) and its standalone app will probably go away once the Apple integration is finalized, according to MG Siegler's post. Like Apple's past high-profile acquisition of Siri, the Chomp technology could make its way into a future version of iOS alongside the obvious integration into iTunes & App Store search. In fact, putting a Chomp backend behind Siri's active assistance would be a natural synergy for iPhone users. "Siri, I need an app for web meetings that supports multi-person videoconferencing." Easy as can be. Update: Bloomberg reports the acquisition of Chomp cost Apple about $50 million.
Exclusive Allods Online IRC Q&A: Darren Allarde and Shelby Goad take on your questions
Last week we were able to get Darren "CHOMP" Allarde, associate producer of Allods Online, and Shelby "Miss_Sadie" Goad, the Allods Online community manager, from gPotato into our chat room and into the hotseat. The topic: Allods Online and their latest patch, Revelations of Gipat! Our editors fielded questions from the chat room audience, and you put the Allods associate producer and community manager to the test! But, for those of you who didn't make it, never fear! We've got the entire interview right here for your viewing pleasure, with witty banter and all! So if you're an Allods fan or just want to find out what they've been doing with their game, hit the continue reading button and get ready for our Allods Online live community Q&A transcript! And don't forget to join us tomorrow to play with Darren, Shelby and more of the gPotato team in Allods itself!
Burger King offering free Wii toys in exchange for money, good health
It's that time again, everybody: time to sheepishly visit Burger King every day and buy a Kids' Meal for Nintendo freebies, all while trying to shut out thoughts of how disappointed your father would be to see you like this. Shame, shame.The fast food chain is giving away a bunch of different toys based on the Wii and its games, and all it wants in return is cash and a willingness to clog up your own arteries. We like the "Chain Chomp Launcher" the best, though the "Float and Go Boo" and "Light-Up Luma" are also nice. Plus, we can always keep telling ourselves we'll sell all this on eBay in the future for a small fortune. Yes, that'll do: it's an investment in our future. Pictures and details of all ten follow the break.
DS Daily: Eat it
Earlier this week, while cruising the vast fields of these internets, we noticed something pretty epically hilarious, i.e., this very thread on NeoGAF: Would I die if I eat a DS game?We'll let you digest that one for a moment. It took us a few to get past the initial giggles. And then we couldn't help but wonder ... with all the DS Fanboy readers out there, surely someone's child/infant sibling/dog has perhaps tested this theory. So we have to ask: has anyone eaten one of your DS games? If so, what happened? Was the game okay? Obviously, if it was Elf Bowling, we don't care about the cart.To make up for mentioning Elf Bowling, we have a little present for you after the break.
The best winter hat ever
If there ever was a hat we would wear every day of the winter, it would be this. It opens the door to a whole world of possible hats made from other enemies in the Super Mario franchise. And, the only hat that could be cooler than this would probably be a Lakitu with a Spiny Egg dangling from his cloud. Someone should get on that ...[Via DS Fanboy]
This hat will bite your head off
A hat like this might give Mario nightmares, but we're certainly fans. It's one of those ideas that seems so perfect, we're surprised we didn't think of it first. Made by the Knitting Ninja, this wonderful knit hat will make you look like a badass while keeping you warm. According to the Ninja herself, the hat is "a Chomp that has happily broken free of its chain, only to latch itself onto an unsuspecting gamer's head."If you'd like this chomp to rest on your head, fear not; the Knitting Ninja has plans to start selling them. You just have to watch her blog and hope you're able to snatch one up when they become available.[Via GoNintendo]
