Application store

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For the Apple App Store, see App Store (iOS).
For the Amazon App Store, see Amazon Appstore.

An application store (sometimes also referred to as an app store, app marketplace, or variations) is a type of digital distribution platform for application software, often provided as a component of an operating system on a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet. Application stores typically take the form of an online store, where users can browse through different categories and genres of applications (such as for example, productivity , multimedia, and games), view information and reviews of then, purchase it (if necessary), and then automatically download and install the application on their device.

Many application stores are curated and regulated by their owners, requiring that submissions go through an approval process where applications are inspected for compliance with certain guidelines (such as those for quality and content), and also require that a commission be collected on each sale of a paid application. As a result of their ease of use and prominence on mobile devices, application stores rose in prominence in the late 2000s with their adoption by the iOS and Android mobile operating systems. Despite this, similar systems for application distribution have existed in some operating systems (particularly Linux distributions), through graphical front-ends to their package management systems.

Contents

History [edit]

[icon] This section requires expansion. (February 2013)

Precursors [edit]

The Electronic AppWrapper [1] was the first commercial electronic software distribution catalog to collectively manage encryption and provide digital rights for apps and digital media (issue #3 was the AppStore originally demonstrated to Steve Jobs at NeXTWorld EXPO). [2] While a Senior Editor at NeXTWORLD Magazine, Simson Garfinkel rated The Electronic AppWrapper 4 3/4 Cubes (out of 5), in his formal review. Paget's Electronic AppWrapper was named a finalist in the highly competitive InVision Multimedia '93 awards in January, 1993 and won the Best of Breed award for Content and Information at NeXTWORLD Expo in May, 1993.[3]

Many Linux distributions and other Unix-like systems provide a tool known as a package manager, which allows a user to automatically manage the software installed on their systems (including both operating system components and third-party software) using command line tools—new software (and the packages required for its proper operation) can be retrieved from local or remote mirrors and automatically installed in a single process. Notable package managers in Unix-like operating systems have included pkgsrc, Debian's APT, YUM, and Gentoo's Portage (which unlike most package managers, distributes packages containing source code that is automatically compiled instead of executables). Some package managers have graphical front-end software which can be used to browse available packages and perform operations, such as Synaptic (which is often used as a front-end for APT).

In 2002, the commercial Linux distribution Linspire (then known as LindowsOS—which was founded by Michael Robertson, founder of MP3.com) introduced an application store known as Click'N'Run (CNR). For an annual subscription fee, users could perform one-click installation of free and paid applications through the CNR software. Doc Searls believed that the ease-of-use of CNR could help make desktop Linux a feasible reality.[4]

The popular Linux distribution Ubuntu (also based on Debian) introduced its own graphical software manager known as the Ubuntu Software Center on version 9.10 as a replacement for Synaptic.[5] On Ubuntu 10.10, released in October 2010, the Software Center expanded beyond only offering existing software from its repositories by adding the ability to purchase certain applications (which, at launch, was limited to Fluendo's licensed DVD codecs).[6]

Apple and the App Store [edit]

In 2007, Apple Computer launched the iPhone, the company's first ever smartphone. When the device launched, the device did not provide any support for third-party software: Apple's CEO Steve Jobs believed that web applications served over the internet could provide adequate functionality required for most users. Soon after its release, however, developers had managed to "jailbreak" the iPhone and begin coding third-party apps for the device, distributed through package managers such as Installer.app (which itself was based on APT) and Cydia.[7]

With the release of iPhone OS 2.0 in July 2008, Apple launched the App Store; officially introducing third-party application development and distribution to the platform. The service allows users to purchase and download new apps for their device through either the App Store on the device, or through the iTunes Store on the iTunes desktop software. Apple asserts a large number of restrictions on app developers: all apps are subject to a review by Apple staff when submitted and can be rejected if they do not pass certain technological and content guidelines. Additionally, Apple takes a 30% commission on revenues for paid apps sold through the store. Even after the launch of the official App Store, alternative app stores for jailbroken iOS devices, such as Cydia (which also introduced the ability to charge for apps), have remained active as an alternative platform to allow developers to distribute apps that have been rejected by Apple or do not wish to distribute through the App Store.[8][7]

While Apple has been criticized by some for how it operates the App Store, it has been a major financial success for the company: reaching over 40 billion app downloads by 2013, with a library of over 800,000 apps available.[9] The popularity of Apple's App Store led to the introduction of equivalent marketplaces by competing mobile operating systems: the Android Market launched alongside the release of the first Android smartphone (the HTC Dream) in September 2008,[10] and BlackBerry's App World launched in April 2009.[11][12] In January 2011, Apple also launched the Mac App Store, a similar distribution platform for OS X software on Macintosh computers; while developers can still distribute applications for Macs in traditional methods, the Mac App Store features similar certification requirements to its iOS counterpart to ensure security and reliability.[13][7]

"App store" trademark [edit]

Due to its popularity, the term "app store" (first used by Apple's App Store for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad lines) has frequently been used as a generic trademark to refer to other distribution platforms of a similar nature on both mobile devices and other platforms such as smart TVs. However, Apple has asserted trademark claims over the phrase, and filed a trademark registration for "App Store" in 2008. In 2011, Apple sued both Amazon.com (who runs the Amazon Appstore for its Android-based devices) and GetJar (who has offered its services since 2005) for trademark infringement regarding the use of the term "app store" to refer to their services.[14] Microsoft has filed multiple objections against Apple's attempt to register the name as a trademark, considering it to be a generic term describing a store to purchase apps.[15]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Electronic AppWrapper". 
  2. ^ "PRESS RELEASE: AppWrapper Volume1 Issue 3 Ships". 
  3. ^ "NeXTWORLD August 1993". 
  4. ^ "Click-N-Run: an Easier Future for Customers?". Linux Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2013. 
  5. ^ "Ubuntu 9.10 review: Karmic Koala". ITPro.com. Retrieved 15 February 2013. 
  6. ^ "Review: Ubuntu 10.10 builds on app store, cloud service strengths". DesktopLinux.com. Retrieved 15 February 2013. 
  7. ^ a b c Beckman, Mel. "What the App Store Future Means for Developers and Users". PC World. Retrieved 13 February 2013. 
  8. ^ "Breaking Apple's Grip on the iPhone". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 15 February 2013. 
  9. ^ "App Store Tops 40 Billion Downloads with Almost Half in 2012". Apple. Retrieved January 26, 2013. 
  10. ^ "Hype builds for Android phone launch". CNET. Retrieved 17 February 2013. 
  11. ^ Cha, Bonnie (2009-03-04). "RIM store crowned BlackBerry App World". CNET News. Retrieved 2009-03-09. 
  12. ^ "Apple Releases iPhone OS 2.0 Update". PC World. Retrieved 13 February 2013. 
  13. ^ "Apple's Mac App Store: Hands On". PC Magazine. Retrieved 15 February 2013. 
  14. ^ "GetJar responds to Apple's cease-and-desist letter over 'App Store' name". BGR. Retrieved 13 February 2013. 
  15. ^ "Microsoft Files Another Objection in Apple's 'App Store' Trademark Case". PC Magazine. Retrieved 15 February 2013. 

there is a music store too.

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