The purpose is not to make money on other's work, the purpose is to provide a service to people for free but the servers cost money. The developper earn the same money as a direct link and the user doesn't pay more, that's just a little less money for Apple. It's just a way to provide free services to help people to browse in the AppStore which has not been created to have so much (crappy ?) apps.
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Store-Extend : A new way to browse AppStore for free
- Thread starter fedj
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The purpose is not to make money on other's work, the purpose is to provide a service to people for free but the servers cost money. The developper earn the same money as a direct link and the user doesn't pay more, that's just a little less money for Apple. It's just a way to provide free services to help people to browse in the AppStore which has not been created to have so much (crappy ?) apps.
I have compared it to other AppStore Scraper : PandoraBox, BargainBin and AppMiners (the 3 most known)
It seems that Store-Extend have much more Discounts than the last 2 and between 10 and 15 more than PandoraBox.
I say : good job fedj.
break a leg !
It seems that Store-Extend have much more Discounts than the last 2 and between 10 and 15 more than PandoraBox.
I say : good job fedj.
break a leg !
Seems like a cool app. I'm going to give it a try.
Might I suggest adding a "5 Star App" list? I'd love to be able to browse the "cream of the crop" without seeing the junk.
Might I suggest adding a "5 Star App" list? I'd love to be able to browse the "cream of the crop" without seeing the junk.
The problem is that in the SDK Agreement, there is a paragraph which says that scraping ITunes content is not allowed. ITunes content contains the reviews (stars) and we're not allowed to scrap and show them or sort apps by reviews
The only thing we are allowed to do is to create by hand a list but it will be like the featured button of the AppStore
The problem is that in the SDK Agreement, there is a paragraph which says that scraping ITunes content is not allowed. ITunes content contains the reviews (stars) and we're not allowed to scrap and show them or sort apps by reviews
The only thing we are allowed to do is to create by hand a list but it will be like the featured button of the AppStore
Well that's pretty lame. I wonder why that is... Anybody?
Yeah I know but I did the best I could, I'm a computing engineer, not a graphic artist but I will try to improve it, thanks for the suggestion.
I really try to improve Store-Extend and to fix bugs I didn't see. I put a contact form on the app and I need to know bugs and improvements I can do in order to get a really professional and good software.
If you see a bug or an improvement I can do, please tell me !
Thank you
If you see a bug or an improvement I can do, please tell me !
Thank you
That's Apple and it's stupid policy !
In a App, you can't use anything that Apple owns ! trust me, been there !
The app has already replaced both AppSniper and the App store for me in terms of browsing, searching, and keeping up with sales/new apps. But I do have suggestions.
1. Change the name. Store-Extend is.... lame. Sorry I can't think of a better one right now but it definitely needs work.
2. Email my brother at cyrilshark@gmail.com and he will probably be willing to make you a free icon. Make sure you give him any design specifications though such as icon size, ppi, all that stuff. He's not exactly a professional yet, though I'm personally amazed at the stuff he can do.
3. Model your app after the appstore interface-wise, but with the additions you've made. This makes it familiar, but improved.
4. I'm not sure what content you have available, but adding Apple's featured, *new*, and staff pick lists would be awesome. Also I'm not sure if you can but linking the app to people's iTunes account to list their updates would be a great feature, bringing you that much closer to replacing the app store entirely.
5. In appsniper, when you open it up it highlights all the apps that received price drops or are new since the last time you opened up. That'd be REALLY handy in store-extend.
6. Consider adding another list for updated apps. But if you do this, be sure to include the update-log if possible!
7. When I click to go app store for an app in my favorites list, do what appsniper does and offer to remove that app from my favorites list.
8. I've noticed one bug, sometimes descriptions get messed up. There was one that had a completely unrelated description, and another that had the description from a previous update. (I checked it against the app store).
Good luck and thanks! Nate
1. Change the name. Store-Extend is.... lame. Sorry I can't think of a better one right now but it definitely needs work.
2. Email my brother at cyrilshark@gmail.com and he will probably be willing to make you a free icon. Make sure you give him any design specifications though such as icon size, ppi, all that stuff. He's not exactly a professional yet, though I'm personally amazed at the stuff he can do.
3. Model your app after the appstore interface-wise, but with the additions you've made. This makes it familiar, but improved.
4. I'm not sure what content you have available, but adding Apple's featured, *new*, and staff pick lists would be awesome. Also I'm not sure if you can but linking the app to people's iTunes account to list their updates would be a great feature, bringing you that much closer to replacing the app store entirely.
5. In appsniper, when you open it up it highlights all the apps that received price drops or are new since the last time you opened up. That'd be REALLY handy in store-extend.
6. Consider adding another list for updated apps. But if you do this, be sure to include the update-log if possible!
7. When I click to go app store for an app in my favorites list, do what appsniper does and offer to remove that app from my favorites list.
8. I've noticed one bug, sometimes descriptions get messed up. There was one that had a completely unrelated description, and another that had the description from a previous update. (I checked it against the app store).
Good luck and thanks! Nate
That would be my number 1 request and is the only reason I still have AppSniper installed. I want to see what's new (new apps and new price drops) since I last launched the app. I have the same complaint with PandoraBox as well.
Thank you for this great post, I really appreciate it ! To answer and comment these points I would say :
1. I tried to find a great name for days but I just found this name, it's really hard to find a name that is representative and cool but I'm still searching a good name.
2. I'll try to but I'm really busy at this time, thank you very much
3. The first version was really close to the AppStore, but I was rejected because of the fact that it was too close ...
4. I'm already working on it
5. I will begin to work on it, it will probably done in an update
6. Updated apps ? Like on appstore for the apps you installed or new versionned programs ? I don't know if the first is possible but the second can be done.
7. Why not, that's a really good idea. Again, in the next update I think
8. Descriptions not up-to-date is a problem I know. Actually, with the multi-store feature, it begins to be hard to do updates rapidly, that's why the description is not always up to date.
For the description messed up, I didn't saw this kind of bug but please if you see one, please tell me the app name in order to correct the bug.
A great thanks for you post, it really helps me to improve Store-Extend.
@Fedj :
I agree with must of liptonlover's suggestion. But I can tell you right now, you won't be able to connect into iTune's user account, so don't try to look at it !
Only, Apple has access to those accounts, and for obvious security reason !
Even if you manage to do it, be sure that your update will get rejected by Apple. (I'm sure one of the SDK Agreement is talking about that)
About the Interface, I find it great enough, no need to stick to apple's AppStore interface.
BTW, I stand corrected to my last post, today Store-Extend has 40 more discount's than PandoraBox... great job !
I agree with must of liptonlover's suggestion. But I can tell you right now, you won't be able to connect into iTune's user account, so don't try to look at it !
Only, Apple has access to those accounts, and for obvious security reason !
Even if you manage to do it, be sure that your update will get rejected by Apple. (I'm sure one of the SDK Agreement is talking about that)
About the Interface, I find it great enough, no need to stick to apple's AppStore interface.
BTW, I stand corrected to my last post, today Store-Extend has 40 more discount's than PandoraBox... great job !
I just downloaded your App and it's fantastic. The only constructive advice I can give you is that more organization is needed. Is there any way to sort the "new" and "discounted" tabs by category? For example, the "new" list is still cluttered and hard to find things because it is dominated by single eBooks or "travel-to" apps. Sometimes we have to go through pages and pages of apps we have zero interest in just to get to something we may want. This is the problem with the regular App Store, so this problem basically remains unsolved.
Maybe after clicking on the "new" tab, you get a list of the different categories and you can then browse by category? This would also help with navigation because just by reading the app's title and looking at the icon, I still don't know if the app is a game or what. Clicking on the apps individually just to read the first sentence of their description to see what the app does is sometimes cumbersome.
Maybe after clicking on the "new" tab, you get a list of the different categories and you can then browse by category? This would also help with navigation because just by reading the app's title and looking at the icon, I still don't know if the app is a game or what. Clicking on the apps individually just to read the first sentence of their description to see what the app does is sometimes cumbersome.
@fedj - I was talking about getting a list of apps I have that have been updated, like in the real appstore. But I agree with TheSquad, it's probably not possible.
@kas23 - Go to categories in store-extend and you can sort any category by new, price drop, or top free/paid.
I like having lots of tidbits of information just in list view, so I know whether or not I should click through to the description, screenshots, and possibly buy. Here's what *I* think should be included in the basic list view.
*Icon
*Name
*Category (subcategory for games maybe)
*price/new price
*star rating
*number of ratings/reviews
*If there's enough room, a bit of description (not really viable on iphone screen though)
When browsing for sales/new apps, this is enough information for me to know if I want to try the app, if it's free.
One more addition would be nice; again I'm not sure if you can access it but complete reviews from the actual app store would be awesome. Also appsniper shows the star rating which while very inaccurate for some reason is very helpful at times.
Nate
@kas23 - Go to categories in store-extend and you can sort any category by new, price drop, or top free/paid.
I like having lots of tidbits of information just in list view, so I know whether or not I should click through to the description, screenshots, and possibly buy. Here's what *I* think should be included in the basic list view.
*Icon
*Name
*Category (subcategory for games maybe)
*price/new price
*star rating
*number of ratings/reviews
*If there's enough room, a bit of description (not really viable on iphone screen though)
When browsing for sales/new apps, this is enough information for me to know if I want to try the app, if it's free.
One more addition would be nice; again I'm not sure if you can access it but complete reviews from the actual app store would be awesome. Also appsniper shows the star rating which while very inaccurate for some reason is very helpful at times.
Nate
That's way too much information I think...
And about Star rating I don't know how AppSniper and PandoraBox got away with it, but it is not possible to use Apple's data ! They should have hide this feature to the reviewers !
Oh no. Store extended fooled me today. I was looking at the top 100free softwares(in Indian store) and it showed Tetris by EA at no75. Excitedly I hit the buy button only to find that it was not free and still4.99. . Went back to the app to reconfirm. It was still showing tetris free at no 75. Also the app crashed when I clicked on the Fast n furious lite in the same list. But other than these two incidents there hasn't been any other problems with the app. Still a 5star app for me.
a few suggestions in addition to what has already been discussed in the thread.
1. Price n update history for all the apps. Appsniper does it by putting the price and updates Data on a graph. No need to do it that way. Use a list to show the details like you see on appshopper.com. Really neat, yet extremely useful.
2. Sync my data(favourite apps) with your server and allow me to use the same on my computer online via a website hosted by you. The app is pretty good but I'd prefer my mac over the iPhone any day. If a web site is not possible then send the users an email as and when an app (in his favourite list) gets a price change. I don't want to run the app twice a day just to see if any of my app went on sale. Also the email idea will be a lot cheapr compared to push notificatios.
. Went back to the app to reconfirm. It was still showing tetris free at no 75. Also the app crashed when I clicked on the Fast n furious lite in the same list. But other than these two incidents there hasn't been any other problems with the app. Still a 5star app for me. a few suggestions in addition to what has already been discussed in the thread.
1. Price n update history for all the apps. Appsniper does it by putting the price and updates Data on a graph. No need to do it that way. Use a list to show the details like you see on appshopper.com. Really neat, yet extremely useful.
2. Sync my data(favourite apps) with your server and allow me to use the same on my computer online via a website hosted by you. The app is pretty good but I'd prefer my mac over the iPhone any day. If a web site is not possible then send the users an email as and when an app (in his favourite list) gets a price change. I don't want to run the app twice a day just to see if any of my app went on sale. Also the email idea will be a lot cheapr compared to push notificatios.