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.

Will Mountain Lion Roar? Developers Receive Preview of New Mac OS

by Holly Shoemaker

Developers got a sneak peek today of Apple’s updates to its Mac operating system, “Mountain Lion.” The update will allow users to copy additional app features from iPhones and iPads to Macs.

Overview of Updates

The Mountain Lion preview, an update of the previous version known as Lion, allows app developers to make products in advance that use the new features. Some of the new features include:

• Game Center – An iPhone app that stores high game scores and connects users with opponents. The app will integrate with iCloud, the Internet storage service used on mobile devices.
• Notification Center – This will show changes made from calendars and email. It should function like the one used on the iPhone.
• Messages app – This replaces iChat and the format will be copied from the mobile operating system. Those who use Lion have the ability to download a free preview version of the app.

Apple will release the software to the public this summer. At this time, Apples has not released what Mountain Lion will cost. Apple sells Lion for $30.

Concluding Thoughts

This is a good move for Apple and helps the company integrate its line of products. This may also help Apple increase its computer sales. The preview release to developers has a strategic component too. Developers already have a preview version of Windows 8. Microsoft will release Windows 8 later this year.