Apple App Store

Apple will allow developers to create cross-platform apps for the iPhone, iPad and Mac sometime next year, according to Bloomberg.

Currently developers have to develop two versions of the same app to work on both iOS and macOS. This tends to lead to developers neglecting Mac apps or not creating them at all, leaving the Mac App Store a virtual "ghost town." Bloomberg points to the Mac Twitter client as an example. The iOS version is regularly updated while the Mac version lags behind and is considered substandard by most users. Apple's new developer tools will allow the iPad, iPhone and Mac versions of the Twitter app will to receive the same updates at the same time.

Google has launched Google Opinion Rewards to the App Store. The app, which was previously limited to Android devices, rewards users to complete surveys. Each survey is 10 questions or less and “take less than 20 seconds to complete," according to Google.

Your favorite websites, blogs and vloggers are taking another advertising hit as Apple plans to reduce affiliate commissions for apps and IAPs from 7% to 2.5%, according to an email sent to iTunes Affiliate Program members. Contrast founder David Barnard tweeted the letter which included the warning, "beginning May 1, 2017, commissions for all apps and in-app content will be reduced from 7% to 2.5% globally. Commission for all other Apple services, such as music, movies, electronic books and TV subscriptions, shall remain the same.

Apple today announced that is has "shattered" another App Store record having its busiest single day ever on New Year’s Day raking in $240 million.

“2016 was a record-shattering year for the App Store, generating $20 billion for developers, and 2017 is off to a great start with Jan. 1 as the single biggest day ever on the App Store,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “We want to thank our entire developer community for the many innovative apps they have created — which together with our products — help to truly enrich people’s lives.”

Apple today released its Best of 2016 selections for the App Store, iTunes and iBooks. The number of categories has grown this year to include the Apple TV and Watch App Stores. Apple's editors chose SketchBook Motion and Severed as the best iPad app and game of the year. Severed taking the Best iPad honors reveals the lack of iPad apps being released to the App Store since it is technically a universal release. iPhone honors went to the photo editing app Prisma and Clash Royale, for Best App and Game of 2016.

Apple has officially announced its annual shutdown of iTunes Connect. The service, which allows developers to add apps and app updates to the App Store, will be down from December 23 to December 27. Apple made the announcement on Tuesday via their developer portal:

"The busiest season on the App Store is almost here. Make sure your apps are up-to-date and ready for the winter holidays. New apps and app updates will not be accepted December 23 to 27 (Pacific Time), so any releases should be submitted, approved, and scheduled in advance. Other iTunes Connect and developer account features will remain available."

After sending out invitations for its iPhone 7 keynote, Apple has notified developers of its plans to rid the App Store of any outdated apps.

"To make it easier for customers to find great apps that fit their needs, we want to ensure that apps available on the App Store are functional and up-to-date. We are implementing an ongoing process of evaluating apps, removing apps that no longer function as intended, don’t follow current review guidelines, or are outdated."

In an effort to get more people to download the Apple Store app, Apple periodically offers free app downloads. Starting today, the sketching app, Procreate is available for free through the Apple Store app.

You can take advantage of this deal by downloading and opening the Apple Store app on your iOS device. Once the app is open, tap the Stores icon located at the bottom of your display. From here you can scroll down until you see the "iPhone Upgrade Program," then swipe left until you see the Procreate icon. Finally, tap where it says "Sketch, Paint, Create," and then tap the green "Download now for free" bar at the bottom of your display. You will then be taken to the App Store where you can redeem your free download.

Apple has created a special Apps for Earth section on the App Store. Proceeds from all the apps listed on the page will go to help WWF's (World Wildlife Fund) effort in global conservation. As part of the promotion, several popular apps are offering bonus content. For example, Hearthstone players can unlock an exclusive mage called, Khadgar, and Candy Crush Soda Saga is holding two weekend-only themed events (April 15-17 and April 21-24). You can access the Apps for Earth section via the App Store app on your device. If you do not see the Apps for Earth banner, double tap your Home button and swipe away the App Store panel to reload the app.

The new trend seems to be human curated lists for music streaming apps, and now Apple is bringing the same idea to the App Store. Apple is in talks to sign Drake, Pharrell Williams and other big name stars to be guest DJs for its revamped iTunes music service, according to the New York Post. The report also claims that Apple is in deep negotiations for its new $10 a month streaming service which will reportedly borrow the best features from Pandora, Spotify and YouTube. Apple plans to offer not only music, but videos, artists’ pages, and a "YouTube-style post-it-yourself destination called Apple Connect" through the new service. This is in addition to the revamped iTunes Radio and standalone Beats Music subscription service expected to be announced at WWDC 2015.