14 DAY TRIAL // Earlier this week, it was pointed out that certain iPhone developers were adding spaces in front of their app's titles to "stand out of the crowd" in the Sort By Name category on the App Store. It took Apple a couple of days to acknowledge and rectify this but, as MacUser is reporting, the cheaters' apps have been rearranged to reflect their natural status.
Aside from using spaces in front of an app's name, some developers even went as far as adding things like $.99 in front of the title, to jump ahead in the "Sort By Title" category. It is not known exactly how much damage this caused to other developers, or how many profits the cheaters actually made. But, given that it was just a couple of days worth of cheating, it is fair to assume no one suffered any (serious) damage.
"It seems Apple has quietly fixed an issue in their App Store in which developers looking to 'cut in line' would put a space or symbol in front of their app name to get it to show first on an alphabetically organized list," the MacUser report reads. "One of the nastier perpetrators of this scheme was Jirbo, Inc. Developers and users alike were understandably [upset]. Apple, it seems, responded quickly."
Ars technica also reports these happenings, adding that, with this problem solved, the Cupertino-based iPhone maker can focus on fixing the issues occurring with the review system on the App Store.
Below are some details about the App Store, for those who are still not very familiar with the new service:
- The iTunes App Store is used by Apple to distribute third party software to iPhone and iPod touch users. Device owners need software version 2.0 to use the service. Applications are categorized by name, release date, last version and, of course, their respective categories (Lifestyle, Social Networking, Games etc.).
- Applications under 10 MB can be downloaded through the App Store over the cellular network. To download pieces of software larger than 10 MB, you will have to get them over Wi-Fi or by syncing to iTunes. Applications are downloaded directly from the new App Store. The App Store is accessible from just about anywhere. You can browse categories, do a keyword search, or take a look at recommendations to download and install applications directly onto your iPhone / iPod touch. The App Store will also notify you whenever updates are available for one or more of your stored apps.
- with an RSS feeds service definitely in order for the new service (something Apple surprisingly failed to provide) the guys at Pinch Media have set up four RSS iPhone app feeds for iPhone / iPod touch users. The feeds provide a view of the newest software additions by multiple categories.