Top iPhone apps get more iTunes exposure

Apple on Thursday night rolled out a new look to its App Store directory, putting more of an emphasis on both the top paid and free applications within each category's listing pages. These lists now appear on the left and right sides of the results, giving users a chance to see what's currently the cream of the crop.

While this information has been available on the iPhone version of the App Store since the 2.2 firmware update, users searching for new applications in iTunes have had a less exploratory experience.

According to a developer who had contacted AppleInsider about the news, the change means that some applications are getting more exposure among iTunes shoppers. Developers had even gone so far as to change their pricing to get better screen real estate on the store's pages.

iTunes now features the top free and paid applications, which sandwich each category's listing pages.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

[cnet.aaron]

Is there any indication as to how often this will change? If apps make it into the top downloads list, how long do they stay there? Just because everyone has downloaded the Facebook app, it shouldn't take up permanent residence in the Top Social Apps category. I'm just curious if these are all time, or if they're posting Top Apps for a designated time period, like the last month or something.

[oooh5615]

Is there any indication as to who gives a flying f***rt about what's goin on in that crapp, I mean, app store? They should seriously consider merging with Toys-R-Us - same content...

[AppBeacon]

@aaron : I don't think anyone knows how Apple updates these "top" lists. That was part of Craig Hockenberry's "complaint" to Apple. Quite simply it is and most likely will remain a mystery.

@oooh5615 : You obviously could care less about the App Store. Why bother adding your useless comments?

[KyleLC]

Could NOT care less.

[seven7dust]

This is a much needed change indeed
But we also need Sub-catergories in all the Sections
Especially in Games and Books
I've Got more Books on my Touch than I've Got Printed Copies
But it's so Damn Hard to Find Good ones Unless you Know the Names !

I keep requesting this over and over and they always Ignore
Apple isn't as Friendly as they appear !

[3pmstudios]

I agree that this "top" lists are a complete mystery. We recently re-categorized our Henry and Hailey's preschool pals from games to education. Education is a better fit for our app and we are waiting to see if this will increase our sales. We have noticed a small increase since changing categories.

I also wonder if they will ever implement a minimum amount of downloads to stay in the iTunes app store. It would be nice if they could clean out some of the clutter.

[3pmstudios]

I just checked the education category list and was pleasantly surprised to see that Henry and Hailey's preschool pals is now in the top 50 paid apps for the category.

[weeman17]

It is a good idea. I think it needs more of a lively back ground.

[groovemeisterus]

I'm not for sure. But looking from a 50,000 foot level point of view there
could be something going on with what apps sell most, apple comes up with future
idears to include by default maybe, or they look at the business aspects of how these apps would
could or why they make the top list? Research on Apples part to help further the iPhone platform?

Apple could see this as a pattern recognition and see how and why apps sell
from crunching the numbers of cost verse use or value per app, how apps become better
sellers than others etc?

Apple uses this approach from a business point of view, maybe upgrades different aspects
of the iPhone hardware/software for future trends to support more features etc for future models?

What better a place to look for data to adapt accordingly to the times?

I'm no business expert, but just my 2 cents.

And yes I do use a black mac book, and a older desktop using pro tools
recording software to record bands and stuff, but i do not have an
iPhone and never owned an iPod.

If the iPhone nano rumors pan out, for the price, I might look into that
if announced next month.

[itouchguy]

Love the new look of the app store much easier to navigate around, the only thing I would love for them to add is a what's new tab.

Dean
http://www.ireviewiphoneapps.com

[mattmchugh.com]

This good... very glad to see it (especially since an app I contributed to -- Scrooge & Cratchit -- shows up right there in top free book!)

While better categorization of apps on the iTunes Store is certainly a step in the right direction, a better way to index and browse them on your iPhone is also needed. Those litte icons and flip screens are pretty, but get a few hundred of those and it gets tough to keep them organized. A configureable finder/explorer on the iPhone allowing you display apps by genre, author, developer, release date (kind of like what you can do with music) would be ideal.

I wonder if a canny developer can build such an AppTracker App? And, if they did, would Apple let it on the store?

- mattmchugh.com