Apple Amps Up Promotion for 50 Billion App Milestone

Apple today increased its promotion for the upcoming milestone of 50 billion downloads from the App Store, an event the company is marking with a contest in which the person who downloads the 50 billionth app will receives a $10,000 iTunes Store gift card while the next 50 downloaders will receive $500 gift cards each.

apple_50_billion_solar_walk
The milestone is now being promoted as the main feature on Apple's front page, with an animated counter being accompanied by a rotating series of iPad mini app photos with associated facts to put the "50 billion" number in perspective:

- "With 50 billion steps, you could walk around the earth more than 800 times." [Solar Walk]

- "With 50 billion bricks, you could build 12 Great Walls of China." [ProCamera HD]

- "Counting to 50 billion would take you 1600 years." [Intro to Math, by Montessorium]

Apple announced the contest one week ago, and the counter stood at slightly over 49.2 billion downloads at the time. With the counter now registering a little over 49.6 billion downloads, it should take just under another week to reach the milestone.

(Thanks, Ben!)

Popular Stories

Verizon New

Verizon is Down: iPhones Show 'SOS' Mode Due to Network Outage [Resolved]

Wednesday January 14, 2026 10:18 am PST by
Verizon is experiencing a major outage across the U.S. today, with hundreds of thousands of customers reporting issues with the network on the website Downdetector. There are also complaints across Reddit and other social media platforms. iPhone users and others with Verizon service are generally unable to make phone calls, send text messages, or use data over 5G or LTE due to the outage....
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

New Leak Reveals iPhone 18 Pro Display Sizes, Under-Screen Face ID, and More

Wednesday January 14, 2026 7:09 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around eight months away, a leaker has shared some alleged details about the devices. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo this week, the account Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Consistent with previous...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Thursday January 15, 2026 10:56 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another eight months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of January 2026: The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, Macs, and More

Thursday January 15, 2026 11:19 am PST by
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the United States, according to the company's website. Most of the values declined slightly, but some of the Mac values increased. iPhone ...
maxresdefault

Google Gemini-Powered Siri Will Reportedly Have These 7 New Features

Tuesday January 13, 2026 7:52 pm PST by
Apple and Google this week announced that Gemini will help power a more personalized Siri, and The Information has provided more details. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. As soon as this spring, the report said the revamped version of Siri will be able to… Answer more factual/world knowledge questions in a conversational manner Tell more stories Provide...

Top Rated Comments

MasterHowl Avatar
166 months ago
I would literally cry with happiness if I won a $10,000 iTunes Store gift card. I'd never have to spend another penny on music again!
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LagunaSol Avatar
166 months ago
Pfft, Android hit 50 billion pirated app downloads like 6 months ago. ;)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iGrip Avatar
166 months ago
Billions and Billions Served!

You can always tell what is the absolute finest quality by how many items get sold.

You want the finest apps? The AppStore sells billions, so they must be the best!

You want the finest hamburger? McDonalds sells billions, so they must be the best!

You want the finest computer OS? Windows sells billions, so it must be the best!

You want the finest apps? The AppStore sells billions, so they must be the best!


That is the only way that this campaign makes any sense whatsoever. Apple has brilliant marketing! /s
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TouchMint.com Avatar
166 months ago
Cant wait for one of my apps to be downloaded as the 50 billionth app. =) What a promo that would be!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xkmxkmxlmx Avatar
166 months ago
You can always tell what is the absolute finest quality by how many items get sold.

You want the finest apps? The AppStore sells billions, so they must be the best!

You want the finest hamburger? McDonalds sells billions, so they must be the best!

You want the finest computer OS? Windows sells billions, so it must be the best!

You want the finest apps? The AppStore sells billions, so they must be the best!


That is the only way that this campaign makes any sense whatsoever. Apple has brilliant marketing! /s

Or you know, they are just pinting out a milestone. I don't think they mention anywhere how "quality" the apps are. Just that the store is hitting a big milestone for them. What is the big deal?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
samcraig Avatar
166 months ago
I would almost bet 10K that the app named as the 50 billionth will not be a Google app. Or a Samsung one.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)