Google Play Celebrates App Milestone by Offering Discounts

by Holly Shoemaker

Yesterday Google announced a milestone – Google Play celebrated the 25 billion app download mark. Through Sunday, Google is selling some of its apps and games for $.25, with new apps being added daily.

For those looking for additional deals, the Google Play Store also offers the following deals through Sunday:

• Must-own movies starting at $4.99
• Twenty five albums that “changed the word” starting at $3.99
• Twenty five banned books for $.99 a piece
• Magazines for $1.99 per issue 

Google Play versus App Store

Apple hit the 25 billion download mark in March. While Apple's iOS App Store still houses a slightly larger amount of apps, at 700,000, Google is quickly catching up. The Google Play Store has 675,000 available apps.

Shifting Trend? 

Google’s announcement and sale to celebrate its milestone may have come as a surprise to some. An earlier study showed that interest in developing apps for Android devices decreased. While it looks like the trend is changing, app developers are still finding it more challenging to break even. With Google’s less stringent standards when it comes to publishing apps, that may provide a better route for developers.

Medical App Store Drafts Guidelines for Developers

by Holly Shoemaker

In the past, I blogged about where developers store an app was just as important as the app itself. In particular, I discussed how Happtique, an app store dedicated to healthcare professionals, seemed like an ideal place to find apps for medical purposes. Now, in a move that follows the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Happtique has announced its own guidelines regarding medical mobile app regulation. 

Overview of Guidelines

In addition to meeting security guidelines, apps will have to:

• Effectively run on mobile devices and connect to peripherals like WiFi.
• Follow certain speeds, although at this time, the guidelines do not specify particular ones.
• Identify who receives patient information before a consumer downloads them.
• Contain information written for laypersons. 
• Come from current and recognizable sources.

Concluding Thoughts

Happtique is dedicated to medical apps. By putting guidelines in place, the company shows that it wants to further differentiate itself as the marketplace leader for medical applications. Because of its narrow focus, it has the time to put together detailed guidelines, something the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store cannot do.

With all guidelines, they could hinder or help developers depending on how stringent everyone reviews the requirements. For some developers, it could mean a longer development cycle. At the same time, Happtique makes all the factors known upfront. Therefore, developers could use the information as a checklist when developing medical apps. The drafted guidleines also assign accountablity and make credibility focuses. These are factors that are needed considerations as the numbers of medical mobile apps continue to increase.

Happtique is currently accepting feedback from doctors, nurses, other medical professionals and consumers through Friday, August 17, 2012.

Google Releases I/O 2012 Companion App: Preview of Jelly Bean?

by Holly Shoemaker

Apple focused on the importance of apps at its annual developer’s conference last week. While Google will not hold its conference until next week, the company got a head start by releasing a Google I/O 2012 companion app. The free app, available from the Google Play Store, allows users to plan their schedules with the conference agenda.

Overview of Features

The app was designed to work well on Android smartphones and tablets. It allows users to:

• Sync events with their calendars so they may find the sessions they are most interested in attending
• Share information on Google+
• Participate and view in conversations using the #io2012 hash-tag as it is built into the application
• Access reminders before sessions start
• Play back video session streams 
• Obtain company information in the Developer Sandbox
• Review information regarding speakers, photos and biographies 

Preview of Jelly Bean?

Some have noted that the search box looks different on the app. This had led many to wonder if Google has released a sneak peek of Jelly Bean, the next version of Android that should be on display at the developer’s conference. On June 27, 2012, when the conference starts, we should all find out.

WWDC Stresses Apple's App Dominance

by Holly Shoemaker

Apple focused on mobile solutions at its 2012 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) this week. While Apple, as expected, did not announce a release date for the next iPhone, the company took the time to rattle off statistics in its keynote address. The company also focused on Mountain Lion, its updated operating system, which should help Apple continue to dominate the market.

App Store Numbers at a Glance

 

At the conference, Apple stressed the following statistics:

• The App Store is available in 155 countries.
• Apple had paid $5 billion to developers for App Store downloads.
• Users have downloaded 30 billion apps from the App Store.
• The App Store has 400 million accounts.
• A total of 650,000 apps are now available in the App Store – 225,000 of them were specifically designed for the iPad.

According to Gartner, Inc., an information technology research and advisory company, the App Store should generate $58 billion in sales by 2014. By providing the above statistics, Apple gave concrete reasons as to why developers should continue to make apps for Apple. After all, developers need to meet goals and make profits too.

How Google Play and Facebook Compare

• The Google Play store, formally the Android Market, has more than 500,000 apps available.
• Facebook opened its App Center to users on June 8, 2012. The App Center opened with about 600 apps. The App Center is available on the web, iOS and Google's Android operating systems. Last month, Facebook reported that it sent users to Apple's App Store 83 million times.

Concluding Thoughts

While much of the focus at the WWDC came as no surprise, Apple's focus clearly showed the company believes it will continue to dominant app downloads and sales. Even OS X Mountain Lion brings features like messaging and apps from the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch to the Mac. Developers received a preview of Mountain Lion back in February. In July 2012, users may purchase Mountain Lion in the Mac App Store for $19.99.

China Leads in App Sessions and New Activations

by Holly Shoemaker

Flurry Analytics has come out with data that shows China has become the world's leader in app sessions and new iOS and Android activations. Flurry defines an app session as launching and using an application in one sitting.

Numbers at a Glance

• The app session growth rate in China increased by more than 1,100 percent from Q1 2011 to Q1 2012. In Q1 2011, China ranked number seven.
  
• At the end of March, Flurry projects China will account for 24 percent of iOS and Android activations. In comparison, the United States is expected to account for 21 percent.
• Americans still purchase more smartphones and tablets. However, in February 2012, China, for the first time, activated more devices. In January 2011, the United States made up 28 percent of the world’s activations versus eight percent for China.

Analysis of the Data

I am not particularly surprised by this data. Yes, the large increase is noteworthy. However, China’s population and its consumer’s well-known interest in smartphones, tablets and apps explain the increase.

Concluding Thoughts

Both Apple and Google have issues to overcome in China. Apple awaits a court decision that could affect its overall brand, has dealt with claims of poor working conditions in its Chinese factories and delayed the opening of the Beijing Apple Store in January.

While Android activations are increasing, that does not necessarily mean Google sees the profits. For Android, the amount of app stores in China may become problematic. There are multiple rivals to Google Play in China, and users often download their apps from native app stores. The importance of China’s role in the app realm does not surprise anyone; the latest figures should assist app developers in positioning themselves.