Steve Jobs, speaking at the D8 Conference, thinks Apple is naive, because one day they read that Flurry analytics detected them testing new iPhone and iPad devices by getting developers to put code in their apps that send geolocation and other data from customers back to Flurry. They don't ask customers for consent, violates Apple's privacy rules. It "pissed Apple off".

Even with iAds coming up, Apple won't block other advertisers but they've decided analytics can only be used for advertising, not to be sent to 3rd parties for sale and for leaking Apple technology. (Steve was fiery mad!)

No excuse not to ask a customer for consent to send private data. Maybe after Apple calms down they'll talk to some of these analytics firms, but it won't be today.

Video after the break! (Again, fiery mad!)

According to Analytics firm Flurry 44% of apps tested by Apple for the iPad are games. Ever since the release of the iPhone SDK, gaming and the iPhone have gone hand-in-hand so it really does not come to a surprise that the iPad is aiming be a popular platform choice among game developers as well.

Coming in at second place with 14% of the pie is the entertainment category and then social networking with 7% of the apps, sports 6%, travel 5%, etc.

If the Flurry data is accurate It seems gamers on April 3rd will be pretty happy customers as there does not seem to be any shortage of gaming titles. And don't think the competition hasn't noticed Apple assault on mobile gaming. Nintendo has just announced that in 2011 they will be releasing their follow up to the DS with the 3DS - a glasses-free 3D handheld device.

A 3D handheld does sound pretty intriguing, how does a 3D second generation iPad sound? (Hey, we can dream!)

[Via Apple Insider and Engadget]

Read Write Web has posted the findings of mobile analytics firm Flurry. They break it down as follows:

• Apps (see charts above) put the iPhone staggeringly ahead in terms of active developers, applications developed, and consumer usage. (note: lack of analytics use by BlackBerry devs likely skews those numbers).
• Smartphones are being used more than ever
• iPhone apps, if they're marketed effectively, are making strong development houses millions of dollars.
• iPhone apps are becoming "hit-driven" like the music industry.
• Free versions help sell paid apps
• Only 10% of users update their apps (we're not sure if that's skewed by other platforms, Apple makes it simple to update).

It's important to remember that with this type of analytics, results are hyper-dependent on what's included (and what's missing) from the data set. If nothing else, however, iPhone developers are getting more attention from, and making greater use of, market analytics at the moment.

That said, anyone surprised by these numbers?