Jeremy Wohl

Perhaps just as pertinent a change as making app reviewers purchase the app in question is iTunes dropping the All Applications view. The one that let folks watch the stream of new and updated apps, having sorted by Release Date. The one that gave developers a little release boost and let them, by updating weekly, ride a growing wave of users.

Such a feature doesn't scale @ 100 apps/day, soon 10K apps in the store (just 20 weeks!). I think this is a signal to developers that any future kiting-style organic growth is unlikely but for select apps handed to fame via the top/picks/favorites lists. That traditional marketing is the once and future fallback. You have to build a community out there.

UPDATE: Release Date in categories will speak to the original release, not updates. So no bumps whatsoever, but for new apps. AppleInsider has more.

UPDATE 2: Grumpy developers assume this will shift emphasis to rapid and vapid apps (moreso than now?), moving away from any desire for maturation. It will be fun to see if multiple economies from efficient community builders to bottom feeders remain vibrant in the store.