App Popular iPhone App Update
Posted by John on December 15, 2009
With the new version’s release imminent (we submitted to Apple last Wednesday), I thought I’d provide an update and outlook for App Popular. I’m going to hold off on sharing details of the two new app discovery features we’ve added to 1.1 until it’s actually live in the App Store, but I do believe we’re laying the groundwork for something useful to people who love and use iPhone and iPod Touch apps.
For those unfamiliar with it, App Popular (for the iPhone and iPod Touch) lets you easily browse all 77 App Stores by country and category. It includes the Top Overall Free, Paid and Top Grossing categories. From the world rankings area, one tap lets you track the world rank of any app. With two taps you may add an app to one of your app lists (default lists: My Top Picks, My Worst Picks, My Wishlist); track the price change of any app and receive a push notification “text message” when the app goes on sale or otherwise changes in price; and share any app via Facebook, Twitter or email. Lists (including custom lists) may also be shared, edited and saved.
When you tap the center ranked app icon in the Cover Flow-like “World Rankings” section, you can view its App Store description, see the latest written reviews (US only in 1.1) and view a screenshot (we’re adding all five screenshots to version 1.2). It also links directly to the App Store. So if you’d like to buy it, one tap and it will ask you to confirm exiting the app, and then take you to the app’s sales page to purchase.
What’s nice about viewing the world rankings top 100 in App Popular is that you can peruse apps either via the side scrolling interface or tap the search icon for the quick list view.
When you use the default app lists, we tally the lists together and you get to vote on your favorite and least favorite apps. This aggregated list data comes together in the “Top Picks by Members” area. The new version provides the top 100 apps that receive the most “votes” from the default lists. These categories include: “Top Member Picks”, “Worst Member Picks” and “Most Wished For Apps”.
We have an app data “Stream” that alerts you to deals and trends throughout the day. You can view price changes of currently ranked apps, new #1 rankings, and apps entering and exiting the top 10 and top 25. The Stream currently tracks the United States & United Kingdom’s (Free & Paid) “Top Overall,” “Top Grossing, “All Games”, and App Popular’s “Top Picks by Members” categories. In version 1.1, we’ve added the ability to “Load More” and view the last 100+ entries. In version 1.2 and 1.3, we’ll further expand and segment the Stream to make it more valuable to you. The next iteration (1.2) will have a VERY intriguing app discovery feature added to this section. Can’t wait to share it with you!
As an aside, the new version lets you conveniently do a general App Store search from the main menu.
Version 1.2 will be submitted by year’s end. Features slated for this iteration:
● All five screenshots in app details (if available from developers)
● New Stream item
● App alert indicator in “My Tracked Apps” to refer back to an app with a recent price change at your convenience
● Expansion of app discovery feature added to 1.1
● And – yes – one more app discovery tool!
We’ve been asked a few times how to delete an app you are monitoring in My Tracked Apps. Simply swipe the app row from left to right and the delete button will appear, tap this and the app is deleted. Works the same as the iPhone’s email client.
Currently the app works in landscape mode only. We will offer the option to use it either in Portrait, Landscape, or both. It will be a setting you access from your device’s General Settings (same area you change your Sounds, Brightness, Wallpaper, etc.). This feature will not be implemented before version 1.3.
Please send us your feedback via App Popular’s “Share My Thoughts” section. We’d be delighted to hear from you!
Have a wonderful holiday season and a bountiful New Year.
Warm wishes,
-John 
App Popular, LLC
