Comments on: iTunes App Store "Release Date" Sorting Sorta Broken?

By: Von Stwart

Von Stwart — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:30:16 +0000

I love the Avatar 3D movie, particularly the story line, not only it brings a totally new sensation but inspiring thoughts of humanity. I heard the New Avatar 2 is comming soon, can't wait to watch it again...!

By: m65

m65 — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:13:05 +0000

good read thanks for the share. nice website

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:00:29 +0000

Seems broken again. I haven't seen avatar on the release date sort, but it was release two days ago

By: Blaine

Blaine — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:37:44 +0000

John is exactly right on this issue. I'm almost positive this is not a bug. Apple has stopped placing updated applications on the front page of their respective categories. Instead they added an "Updated" field on applications.

This is a pretty big blow to small developers like myself. I recently released an app. It was delayed and never got on the front page of photography. I just released an update and that too was not on the front page of photography. So I'm not getting any of the great exposure that iTunes gives you for free. Small developers cannot compete with large companies when it comes to marketing. I simply cannot afford the advertising needed to gain significant exposure for applications.

The updating route was great for me. I have four apps now and relied on making constant and significant updates in order to keep my app in the spotlight. I now have no incentive other than to add features that I want. Releasing an update will do nothing for my sales. I really can't justify the amount of time I spend on these apps if I don't see at least a little money for my work.

This is a really disappointing turn in the app store. Hopefully Apple will reconsider this and see that they are doing much more harm to the store than any good that can come of this.

By: John

John — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:02:53 +0000

No, Apple's new policy is not to show updated apps on the new release lists now. But I get the feeling the update change led to the other issues.

I don't think a database or file system with 100K entries is that big.

Looks like new apps are showing up again in the list.

Seems like lots of marketers are pressuring devs now that updates don't show up. So, rather than the consumer knowing there is an update without the product you'll just have to browse or look at the shinny new add.

By: Hils

Hils — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:43:29 +0000

I was wondering why I couldn't see any new apps Such a shame - I love checking to see what's new out. You can still see the new apps if you look via your PC/Mac, but that kinda defeats the point of being able to access them via your itouch..... :/ Hope they fix it soon.

By: Neon Kitten

Neon Kitten — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:19:43 +0000

I wonder if this problem is also behind the recent phenomenon where after updating some - but not all - apps, the update remains stuck on the app store's updates page for up to a day..?

(The updates apply fine, but the notification of an update refuses to go away once the update is done).

This is in Australia, btw. I had initially wondered if a time zone problem was to blame.

By: ladillex

ladillex — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:41:23 +0000

im having the same prob as steve, after installing a new update, the update badge keeps coming back no matter how many times i install it... is anybody else having this issue?? why is it happening.. its quite annoying!

By: Virtuous

Virtuous — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:05:47 +0000

Is it possible that Apple's IT backend is having trouble handling 100K apps? As for myself I currently have 55 apps on my iPhone. In iTunes I've never looked at apps by release date. I look at apps that people in blogs and forums recommend.

By: John

John — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:00:34 +0000

Apple posted on the dev message boards they recognized the issue and were going to have a fix in soon.

By: John R. Haigh

John R. Haigh — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:57:20 +0000

This is so unfortunate! It happened a few times for our Mark On Call app, but only for updates thank goodness. Now that Apple no longer allows updates to appear under the new Release Date section, it really is becoming more of a challenge, especially when developers actually improve their product. If it's any help, really focus on the keywords users will type in to find you and make your app's name up of some of these words if possible. People need to understand quickly what it is you're offering. Tweaks in our app's name have spiked our sales and conversely negatively affected them at times, especially with their policy of no keywords in the app name (so you have to be creative).

By: John

John — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:07:16 +0000

Most of an apps sales are from its first exposure. Then make or brake. Its what the consumer wants. I'm cool with that. My app was just approved and the sales have been negligible. No list exposure and no consumer knows. It makes me cynical but thats three months of development down the tubes. With the new policies an update gives no exposure either. Totally reevaluating the platform. btw, love the iphone and the mac but the marketing is broken. My view about Apple is changing too. Not a fan of android either.

By: Steven

Steven — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:46:13 +0000

I was happy to have an app approved last night, but without a fix the app is essentially lost. Until you have a chance to sell a few copies you won't even appear near the top of any search results. Sales so far have been zero; I contacted Apple via email and the radar bug tracker but I seldom hear back when I try those avenues.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:43:44 +0000

We're in the same boat. Our new app went live last night. This makes the second time an new app release has gone awry. Not cool. This potentially will cost us a lot of money.

By: Vince

Vince — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:15:18 +0000

We also had an App released last week and are missing out on not having it listed. This is a major issue! We have sent some emails to iTunes Connect with no response as of yet.

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:52:34 +0000

The developers of those apps are very lucky.

By: steve

steve — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:42:31 +0000

That sucks Bryan, its funny how one day the app store goes south, and it takes a while for them to fix or notice it. They should just leave it alone. Top grossing apps really do nothing for a consumer. Does it?

By: Bryan

Bryan — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:38:49 +0000

I am a developer who has been "harmed" by this issue. We had an app come out last week that never made the new releases page. Consequently, our sales have been severely damaged by this issue.

By: steve

steve — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:30:34 +0000

Must be the same reason the updates after they are installed keep coming back and back and back and back.