Apple has tweaked the App Store in response to unrest at how the store presents its wares.
The App Store now spotlights the most popular applications on each category page, separating the most popular free apps from premium apps. The overall layout has also been adjusted to mimic the design of the App Store application on the iPhone itself.There's been a growing tide of criticism of the store, which has become a victim of its success. The proliferation of cheap and free iPhone apps - necessary to get visibility on the site - is perceived to be suppressing the development of quality premium products.
One developer, Craig Hockenberry, blogged: "Developers are lowering prices to the lowest possible level in order to get favorable placement in iTunes. This... is affecting our product development... we're not working on the cooler (and more complex) ideas. Instead, we're working on 99¢ titles that have a limited lifespan and broad appeal."
Recent research showed that 10,000 apps have now been launched for iPhone but that 99c is the most common price point and that one in four apps is free.
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