Google Play Had More App Downloads in Q2 Than iOS, but the Money Is Still on Apple’s Side

Downloads! Monetization! And a viral video of cartoon characters being horribly, hilariously killed.

With 50 Billion Apple Apps Downloaded, All I Got Was This Poster

My version of Apple’s fifth-year App Store poster, reimagined and not quite so magical.

News Byte

Quixey Launches “Sponsored Apps” Advertising Program Into Beta

Mobile app search engine Quixey said today it is rolling out a beta advertising program that matches search queries with links to download sponsored apps. The company said in a press release that the goal is to reach users as they are already intending to download an app. The program is open to “app developers, agencies, brands with apps, and others interested in app advertising,” according to the press release. Quixey’s technology is present in some search engines operated by partners Microsoft, Sprint and Ask.com, among others.

News Byte

Apple’s iTunes App Store Passes 50 Billion Downloads

Apple couldn’t have timed its countdown to 50 billion app downloads more perfectly. Just hours after Google revealed during its I/O conference keynote that app installs from its Google Play store had hit 48 billion, the iTunes App Store countdown clock rolled over to 50 billion, passing another major milestone and surpassing the achievement its rival had announced earlier in the day. The 50-billionth app? Say the Same Thing. Brandon Ashmore from Mentor, Ohio, will receive a $10,000 App Store gift card for downloading it.

How Is Facebook Home Really Doing?

The social giant discloses some early stats on Facebook Home. Prognosis? Who knows.

News Byte

Nearing One Million Downloads, Facebook Sees Some Traction With Home App

Facebook announced Thursday that Home, its application made to create a full Facebook experience on Android smartphones, is close to hitting one million downloads in the first month since its release. Facebook also plans to update its app with improved features in the coming weeks, making it easier for new users to learn how to use Home and also introducing a chat buddy list and app tray.

Apple Nears 50 Billion App Store Downloads, Plans Giveaway

Cupertino will give $10,000 in apps to whoever downloads the milestone app, with 50 runners-up getting $500.

Voices

App Non Gratis

What matters more than hitting the Top 10 is the ability to stay in the Top 10.

Apple’s iTunes U Hits One Billion Downloads

Apple tells AllThingsD that, to date, more than 4.5 million iPads have been sold into U.S. education institutions.

With New Sign-In Feature, Google Plus Makes Its Developer Pitch

Google wants developers to flock to its platform. Here’s how.

Spotify Stops Selling Downloads