5 failures of the itunes app store. presentation given at mobilemonday shanghai event on June 29, 2009 by Matthew Mayer. More on mobilemonday: www.mobilemondayshanghai.net http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5010806187 More on Reign Design: http://www.reigndesign.com/blog/reigndesign-talks-at-mobile-monday/

1. The iTunes App Store 5 fails. 5 solutions. 5 minutes. Matt Mayer, ReignDesign (@matthewmayer) Mobile Mondays, 2009.06.29

5. The review process

6. A few adjectives Slow Inconsistent Opaque Subjective

7. Seven hundred Quidditch fouls are listed in the Department of Magical Games and Sports records… The full list of these fouls, however, has never been made available to the wizarding public. It is the Department's view that witches and wizards who see the list ‘might get ideas’ J.K. Rowling, QuidditchThrough the Ages

8. Reasons for rejection: “duplicates built-in functionality” “potentially offensive content” “use of Apple trademarks” “beta software” “logos don’t match” “undocumented API” ….

10. What can you do about it? Read the rules (written and unwritten) Make a fuss Iterate

11. No sales metrics

12. Who is using my app? How did they find my app? Which countries? Which devices? Which versions? Which features? Which times of day? Searching in iTunes? Related Apps? Advertising? Review sites?

13. What can you do about it? Use your own download page Roll your own metrics Use third-party metrics Survey your users

14. iTunes Connect

15. SORRY, YOU’RE NOT SADISTIC ENOUGH TO DESIGN THE ITUNES CONNECT INTERFACE

16. iTunes Connect UX fails Slow response times Poor usability for common tasks Breaks the Back button

18. What can you do about it? Heartbeat (heartbeatapp.com) Pre-register your apps

19. No protection for your IP

21. What can you do about it? Complain to Apple Fight fire with fire

23. Payment structure

24. Get paid here Earn here

25. The territories scam You need to hit $250 in each territory

26. What can you do about it? Create an app pipeline Identify your core markets

27. Thanks!