04.13.09
Apple’s App Store Closes in on One Billion Downloads
Apple is celebrating the impressive fact that their App store is nearing 1 billion downloads worldwide. Regardless of how you do the math it is impressive. They are also having a contest to give away a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card, an iPod Touch, a Time Capsule and a Mac Book Pro. Certainly a prize package worthy of any Apple fan’s eye.
The puzzling part is the rules are not clear. On first glance I believed all downloads of applications between now and the 1 billionith download would count as one entry into the contest. (They also have a form for people who don’t want to “buy” free downloads.) This was capped with a maximum of 25 downloads/entries a day.
However some language in the details on Apple’s site seem to indicate the winner will be the person who makes the next download or entry AFTER number 999,999,999. The only thing downloads previously to that would count for would be to break a tie if downloads happened simultaneously. I hope that is not the case as that is a crazy contest that does not encourage anyone to download until the last minute which will undoutedbly crash all of Apple’s servers and make the whole thing an unsatisfying mess.
On the other hand if they count each download (maximum of 25 per day) as individual entries in a big lotto for the prize they will have a nice and steady increase in downloads without a massive peak at the last minute. Everyone enjoys the contest and someone wins. Could they have gone a bit deeper in the prize pool and given out some more items of lesser value as well? I think so, but not my contest and not my money. So in the meantime assume that each download, up to 25, per day will count towards entries into the contest, until Apple clarifies otherwise. No reason to lessen your chances.
Personally, I am downloading free applications for the most part and then just synching apps I want to keep on my phone. My phone was already maxed out on applications so I had no room for 25 new ones a day. So download free ones to fill it out. If you have a few pay-for-applications you have had your eye on then get those now too. Also a note to all iPhone Application Developers. Not a bad time to offer programs up for SALE right now with all the interest. People are going to be downloading anyways, let them download from you.
Here is the link to Apple’s page about the One Billionith Download and you can even see the faux counter they have counting it down!
