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Apple begins counting down to 25 billion App Store downloads

post #1 of 38
2/17/12 at 9:16am
Thread Starter 
Apple on Friday added a counter to its website, leading up to the milestone of 25 billion downloads from the iOS App Store by offering a chance at a $10,000 gift card.

As of Friday afternoon, the countdown is at 24.29 billion but is quickly growing. The person who downloads the 25 billionth application from the App Store has a shot at a $10,000 gift card.

A year ago, Apple instituted a similar countdown to the 10 billion mark. That was also tied to a contest for a $10,000 App Store Gift Card.

The 10 billion download mark was reached on January 22 of 2011. That means that the number of downloads on the App Store have more than doubled in little over a year.

Downloads from the App Store have continued to grow at an exponential rate since the digital storefront first launched in 2008. In its first year, the App Store reached 1.5 billion downloads, but by January of 2010, total App Store downloads had topped 3 billion.




Revenue from the App Store has grown as well, as Apple revealed in January that it has paid more than $4 billion to developers. For comparison, over $1 billion was paid to developers by June of 2010.

[ View article on AppleInsider ]
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post #2 of 38
2/17/12 at 9:22am
Back in my day when they hit a milestone, they gave away an iMac, TEN iPods (what we now know as classics) for you and your friends, AND a $10,000 gift card.

*rocking chair squeak-length pause*

Times have changed.
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post #3 of 38
2/17/12 at 9:23am
There were a few apps that I was planning on downloading soon, and I'll be following that counter and I'm going to try and time my move perfectly!

I wouldn't mind 10k. I'd convert them into 20 shares of AAPL. That's what I'd do with the extra 10k. Either that, or maybe spend it on some hookers and blow. That's also a pretty good use for 10k.

edit - Oh, it's a giftcard, not even cash. Well, that kind of blows.
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post #4 of 38
2/17/12 at 9:36am
Well that's it, they just hit the 25 billion mark. That was quick.

I have excellent rhythm and timing, and if I didn't win, then I was pretty damn close, because I made my move at the right spot. I just downloaded some random free app, and now I'm going to delete it.
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post #5 of 38
2/17/12 at 9:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

Well that's it, they just hit the 25 billion mark. That was quick.

Eh? It's at 24,296.
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post #6 of 38
2/17/12 at 9:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post

Apple on Friday added a counter to its website, leading up to the milestone of 25 billion downloads from the iOS App Store by offering a chance at a $10,000 gift card.

That's close to FOUR app downloads for every man, woman and child on the Planet Earth!

Go Apple!
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post #7 of 38
2/17/12 at 9:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

Eh? It's at 24,296.

Oh, hahaha. Please excuse me. It's kind of early for me still and my brain is only functioning at a portion of it's max capacity.

You are of course correct.
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post #8 of 38
2/17/12 at 9:45am
I saw the headline and for less than a second thought the grand prize would be $25B. Apple has the money for it.

Honestly, I don't think I could spend $10,000 in my lifetime on iTunes content... Maybe books.

I agree with the first post. Where's the free iPad 3 or Mac? I guess beggars can't be choosers.
When a company stops chasing profit and start chasing the betterment of their products, services, workforce, and customers, that will be the most valuable company in the world.
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When a company stops chasing profit and start chasing the betterment of their products, services, workforce, and customers, that will be the most valuable company in the world.
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post #9 of 38
2/17/12 at 9:46am
1) Just to be crystal clear an app download is defined as when an iTunes Store account holder buys an individual app. It does not count updates or when a user deletes and app and then re-downloads it from the user. It will count multiple versions of the same app if they are not Universal or if there is a free and paid version. For instance, Words with Friends and Word Free, Words with Friends HD and Word with Friends HD Free are 4 different apps.

2) According to their counter they have 3.7 million apps to go and they selling 10,000 every 15 seconds.
702,000,000 ÷ 40,000 = 17,550 ÷ 60 = 292.50 hours = 12.19 days to go.

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post #10 of 38
2/17/12 at 9:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by silverpraxis View Post


Honestly, I don't think I could spend $10,000 in my lifetime on iTunes content... Maybe books.

I've never used any of their gift cards before, but can't somebody buy Apple devices with it, like their computers? If somebody gets a nice Mac Pro, that would be a pretty easy way to get rid of 10k quickly.

If it can only be spent on apps, music and movies, then that kind of sucks.
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post #11 of 38
2/17/12 at 9:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

I've never used any of their gift cards before, but can't somebody buy Apple devices with it, like their computers? If somebody gets a nice Mac Pro, that would be a pretty easy way to get rid of 10k quickly.

If it can only be spent on apps, music and movies, then that kind of sucks.


Let's play, how would you spend $10k at the Apple Store. I would:

-Keep a few grand for the new Apple TV
-two new Macbook Airs for the wife and myself
-27" iMac for myself
-keep a little for the next iPhone
-spend the remaining on content and accessories

Edit: I was wrong, it does say App Store! (originally I thought it did in fact say Apple Store)

In that case:
-10,000 gift purchases of the best $1 fart app as a gift for everyone I know and some!
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post #12 of 38
2/17/12 at 9:55am
Is the growing number on the Apple website just a fancy animation or is it live? I could certainly use the equivalent of $10,000.
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post #13 of 38
2/17/12 at 10:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by OriginalG View Post

Let's play, how would you spend $10k at the Apple Store. I would:

-Keep a few grand for the new Apple TV
-two new Macbook Airs for the wife and myself
-27" iMac for myself
-keep a little for the next iPhone
-spend the remaining on content and accessories

Edit, i was wrong, it does say App Store!

I was just going to respond, but I just saw your edit.

I'll play anyhow, and if I had 10k to spend and I could use it in the Apple store, then I'd simply buy 20 IPad 3's, and then keep a couple for myself and sell the rest for a profit. I don't need any Apple computers or anything else at the moment, because I have pretty much everything that I need at the moment.
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post #14 of 38
2/17/12 at 10:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ombra2105 View Post

Is the growing number on the Apple website just a fancy animation or is it live? I could certainly use the equivalent of $10,000.

Just an animation. You can skip ahead to the end if you change your system clock.

It's updated to the real number what, semi-daily? But it's almost never right.

It will often still be running for hours or even a day after the milestone has been hit.
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post #15 of 38
2/17/12 at 10:11am
I bet there will be mention of this at the iPad 3 unveiling. "Just a few weeks ago, we had our 25 BILLIONTH App Store download. <show keynote slide saying "25 billion"> A user won a $10k App Store gift card as a result. Let's put this in perspective. A year ago we had 10 billion downloads and since then ....<show fancy app store download growth chart>"
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post #16 of 38
2/17/12 at 10:21am
It's iTunes only so what would you spend it on? I figured I'd just set up an email account for my family and friends to submit wish lists to me and I'd given them everything they wanted. I'd never spend it all alone.
When a company stops chasing profit and start chasing the betterment of their products, services, workforce, and customers, that will be the most valuable company in the world.
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When a company stops chasing profit and start chasing the betterment of their products, services, workforce, and customers, that will be the most valuable company in the world.
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post #17 of 38
2/17/12 at 10:22am
I'd say it's counting up, not down.
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post #18 of 38
2/17/12 at 10:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post

1) Just to be crystal clear an app download is defined as when an iTunes Store account holder buys an individual app. It does not count updates or when a user deletes and app and then re-downloads it from the user. It will count multiple versions of the same app if they are not Universal or if there is a free and paid version. For instance, Words with Friends and Word Free, Words with Friends HD and Word with Friends HD Free are 4 different apps.

2) According to their counter they have 3.7 million apps to go and they selling 10,000 every 15 seconds.
203,000,000 ÷ 40,000 = 5,075 ÷ 60 = 84.58 hours = 3.52 days to go.

I'm really confused about where you got your numbers. The counter shows 703,000,000 to go until they reach 25 billion.

That would be 12.20 days at the 40,000 per minute rate that you stated.
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post #19 of 38
2/17/12 at 10:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GregInPrague View Post

I'm really confused about where you got your numbers. The counter shows 703,000,000 to go until they reach 25 billion.

That would be 12.20 days at the 40,000 per minute rate that you stated.

You're right. I calculated as 24,500,000, not 25,000,000. That's why I like to show my work.

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post #20 of 38
2/17/12 at 11:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

I've never used any of their gift cards before, but can't somebody buy Apple devices with it, like their computers?

Nope. the gift cards that work in the iTunes 'verse only work in it, not on the actual Apple stores.

As for the whole 'this sucks'. Maybe for you. But for some 20 something year old that buys all his music off iTunes, buys tons of apps etc, this would be free stuff for a good chunk of time and he might actually think it rocks.

And consider that there's no law mandating that Apple do anything. So perhaps if their choice of gifts isn't good enough for you then they should just do nothing.
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post #21 of 38
2/17/12 at 11:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

I was just going to respond, but I just saw your edit.

I'll play anyhow, and if I had 10k to spend and I could use it in the Apple store, then I'd simply buy 20 IPad 3's, and then keep a couple for myself and sell the rest for a profit.


And that is exactly why they aren't giving away any hardware or "money" to buy it.
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post #22 of 38
2/17/12 at 11:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlituna View Post

Nope. the gift cards that work in the iTunes 'verse only work in it, not on the actual Apple stores.

As for the whole 'this sucks'. Maybe for you. But for some 20 something year old that buys all his music off iTunes, buys tons of apps etc, this would be free stuff for a good chunk of time and he might actually think it rocks.

And consider that there's no law mandating that Apple do anything. So perhaps if their choice of gifts isn't good enough for you then they should just do nothing.

Of course it might not suck for somebody else. I'm just expressing my own personal opinions here.

And to be honest, 10k is kind of crummy for a 25 billion milestone. It should be 100k or even more. And again, that's just my opinion.

And yeah, of course there is no law mandating that Apple or anybody else holds any contests or giveaways. But if they're first going to have one (which they are and that was their choice), then they should do it properly. If I won, I would not refuse the prize of course and I would be glad to have won, but on the other hand, 10k is nothing, and I would also be kind of disappointed for winning 10k, considering that it is a 25 billion milestone!
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post #23 of 38
2/17/12 at 11:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by OriginalG View Post

I bet there will be mention of this at the iPad 3 unveiling. "Just a few weeks ago, we had our 25 BILLIONTH App Store download. <show keynote slide saying "25 billion"> A user won a $10k App Store gift card as a result. Let's put this in perspective. A year ago we had 10 billion downloads and since then ....<show fancy app store download growth chart>"

...and the chart used to display those figures will be in a dark, mahogany wood.
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post #24 of 38
2/17/12 at 11:35am
Why does Apple say that the person who downloads the 25 billionth app "COULD" win the $10,000 prize? That means they might not give out the prize. Why the uncertainly clause?

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post #25 of 38
2/17/12 at 11:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jd_in_sb View Post

Why does Apple say that the person who downloads the 25 billionth app "COULD" win the $10,000 prize? That means they might not give out the prize. Why the uncertainly clause?

Because somebody could also enter by submitting some entry form.

So the winner might not be somebody who even downloads any app. It could be the person who enters using the alternate method.
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post #26 of 38
2/17/12 at 11:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jd_in_sb View Post

Why does Apple say that the person who downloads the 25 billionth app "COULD" win the $10,000 prize? That means they might not give out the prize. Why the uncertainly clause?

I'm assuming because you don't actually need to download an app to win. It's mandatory that every contest have a way to enter without purchasing anything.
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post #27 of 38
2/17/12 at 11:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by auxio View Post

I'm assuming because you don't actually need to download an app to win. It's mandatory that every contest have a way to enter without purchasing anything.

Somebody can always download a free app. That doesn't cost anything.

With that entry form which anybody can use to enter, including bums and non-Apple users, I wouldn't be surprised if the winner is some Apple hating Fandroid.
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post #28 of 38
2/17/12 at 12:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by auxio View Post

I'm assuming because you don't actually need to download an app to win. It's mandatory that every contest have a way to enter without purchasing anything.

I did a little research and apparently the FCC considers it a "lottery" if everyone is required to buy something for a chance to win. To get around the lottery designation, contests offer free submissions.

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post #29 of 38
2/17/12 at 12:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

Somebody can always download a free app. That doesn't cost anything.

With that entry form which anybody can use to enter, including bums and non-Apple users, I wouldn't be surprised if the winner is some Apple hating Fandroid.

God forbid should they decided with their hatred mind to blend that gift cards (or the printed equivalent) in the blender, I'll hunt them down and feed their testes to the closest animal I could find.
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post #30 of 38
2/17/12 at 12:13pm
25 Billion?

That's insane!

I remember when it was only a billion.

Apple have a river of money flowing into their coffers.

Irrelevant, really.

I've heard it ain't how many apps you got.

It's how big your phone is...

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post #31 of 38
2/17/12 at 12:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jd_in_sb View Post

I did a little research and apparently the FCC considers it a "lottery" if everyone is required to buy something for a chance to win. To get around the lottery designation, contests offer free submissions.

Pretty much everywhere nowadays. I know the UK have the same law. Only authorised promoter can offer or do lottery and there are few. Competitions need to have non-purchasing method or some kind of fill-in complete-the-sentence text so it is fair.
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post #32 of 38
2/17/12 at 12:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GTR View Post

25 Billion?

That's insane!

...

It's how big your phone is...

[IMG]http://cdn.redmondpie.com/wp-content...iPhoneNote.png[/IMG]

Like the comic
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post #33 of 38
2/17/12 at 1:18pm
If you use the iTunes buy gift cards won't that take it from your account balance first? I bet I could find people to send me $$ for printed or emailed gift certificates. Say $.80 on the $1.00?
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post #34 of 38
2/17/12 at 3:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dualie View Post

I'd say it's counting up, not down.



Quote:
Originally Posted by GTR

25 Billion? That's insane!

It doesn't seem right somehow. There are only 250 million iOS device owners so that would mean that the average app downloads per user would be 100 apps. This is equivalent to an app every 2 weeks for every user since the App Store launched.

Even counting some repeat downloads, that seems like a lot. Some users must be going mental, downloading apps all the time.
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post #35 of 38
2/17/12 at 9:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by OriginalG View Post

I bet there will be mention of this at the iPad 3 unveiling. "Just a few weeks ago, we had our 25 BILLIONTH App Store download. <show keynote slide saying "25 billion">

Don't forget the transition animation, where the 25 Billion drops from the top, making a thud and a cloud of dust.
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post #36 of 38
2/18/12 at 1:43am
I jus do not like there policy of that $10000 for one user
why so ?
instad you can just sell a app for free for one day??
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post #37 of 38
2/18/12 at 4:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ninadpchaudhari View Post

I jus do not like there policy of that $10000 for one user
why so ?
instad you can just sell a app for free for one day??

I agree, App Store content is pretty cheap that $10k for a single user seems excessive. They could at least do a top 10: $5,000, $3,000, $1,000, $500, $250, $50 x 5.
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post #38 of 38
3/2/12 at 6:37pm
The App Store should hit the mark in the next 4-5 hours. The counter is just for show of course, it's not an accurate representation of the sales. They actually set it back a couple of times so there's a chance they could do this again but it should cross the mark today.
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