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AppShopper Returns to the App Store With 'AppShopper Social' for iOS

Monday April 22, 2013 8:57 am PDT by Eric Slivka
Back in September 2010, our sister site AppShopper launched a dedicated iOS app offering users easy access to app-tracking features such as updates and price changes. But after two years on the App Store, Apple removed AppShopper in late 2012, citing a rule against apps that could be confused with Apple's own App Store app.
Apps that display Apps other than your own for purchase or promotion in a manner similar to or confusing with the App Store will be rejected.
Since that time, several other developers such as AppGratis have seen their apps removed from the App Store, reportedly as part of a broader crackdown on app discovery apps.

Over the past several months, the AppShopper team has been reworking the app to add a more social component, and that effort is now showing up with today's launch of a brand-new app, AppShopper Social.

appshopper_social_1
The Next Web has more on the return of AppShopper:
The new app, called App Shopper Social, makes social recommendations indispensable, rather than optional. When you launch the app, in fact, there is no list of apps waiting for you. Instead, the app recommends that you follow the App Shopper account, which is one of several curated lists ready at launch. Others include Macrumors, 148apps and Toucharcade, all of which provide a steady stream of apps that can be ‘owned’ or ‘want listed’. Each of the apps has a rating from one or more of those feeds, as well as an App Store rating. This allows users to say, get a friend’s rating, Toucharcade’s rating and the App Store rating all side-by-side.
appshopper_social_2
A blog post at AppShopper notes that this 1.0 version of AppShopper Social brings back much of the core functionality of the original AppShopper app but that a number of features such as native iPad support and Top 200 lists are not included. Those features will be brought back in future updates.
In the 1.0 version, we’re aware that there are several obvious features that are absent. Top on our priority list is the ability to browse friends’ lists individually by tapping on their name. Also, an easier method for friend discovery and friend recommendation are also something that is clearly necessary. Even without these features, AppShopper Social is an incredibly useful tool for App Discovery, but there’s a lot of potential to be even better.

We lost a lot of momentum with the removal of our App Store app, so we’d ask you to spread the word on AppShopper Social. A large user base will guarantee future updates and improvements.
AppShopper Social is available now as a free download in the App Store. [Direct Link]
[ 63 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

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arn
17 months ago
If you follow "macrumors", it shows any apps we've mentioned in articles in real time
Rating: 9 Votes
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haruhiko
17 months ago
A great workaround for Apple's stupid rules. I wish that an iPad version is coming!
Rating: 5 Votes
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saving107
17 months ago
Instead of going to the media to complain like a 5 year old who's parent won't buy them another toy, why can't AppGratis just do this (if in fact their company is doing nothing wrong)?

The App (App Shopper Social) looks nice, good job.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Cougarcat
17 months ago
I'm curious as to why Appshopper was taken down in the first place, and how this version gets around that.

Download it while you can?

How much are they paying MR to post to this on the front page?


Nothing, MR owns them...
Rating: 5 Votes
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slicecom
17 months ago
Great app! Lets hope Apple doesn't pull this too...
Rating: 4 Votes
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inscrewtable
17 months ago
There are so many app discovery apps that someone needs to come up with an app to discover the best app discovery app.
Rating: 4 Votes
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iPusch
17 months ago
awww, your sister site... now I like this app :)
Rating: 2 Votes
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haruhiko
17 months ago

Did apple see app sales drop after this crackdown so they decide to ease up on it? Personally for me it's quite hard to find apps on App Store, given that I know what I want the app to do but I dont know the exact name of it or if it even exists...usually I need to go to google and figure it out that way before going to App Store as even if you make a typo in a name it won't find it...it's great for angry birds and other popular time killing apps but not so much more serious apps that might not be in top 10 or so....at least for now apple needs these app discovery apps


The App Store should allow video previews of the apps.
Rating: 2 Votes
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zorinlynx
17 months ago
I don't understand why Apple removed an app that leads directly to app sales.

It's like you own a business and there's a guy outside telling everyone about your specials and pointing folks to your restaurant. For free... and telling him to leave.

WTF? Anyway, good to see the app is back.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Nunyabinez
17 months ago
Here is my take on what is going on with "App Discovery" apps. The big stink was over AppGratis, and people have been wondering why some apps are removed and some stay. Apple claims it is about "confusion" but it isn't. They are using that as a way to get rid of them because it's a convenient excuse.

What Apple doesn't want is any apps that can "Game the system." By that I mean an app that does something like charge the developer to feature them. That's why apps that simply highlight apps that have gone free or are discounted are left alone. This revised app is likely being allowed because it is based on the opinions of real users. So, I don't anticipate this app being removed again, because it is not designed to allow gaming of the system.
Rating: 1 Votes

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