Almost two weeks have passed since we first found out Apple would be
showcasing the App Store's top applications from certain genres on the iPhone and iPod touch demo units at their physical stores. Now that developers are finally becoming aware that their applications are being showcased, since Apple never officially told anyone, we can see what type of impact this has had on their sales. From the initial results, it looks like none at all.
In all likelihood, most customers who witness applications on the demo units don't actually own the device itself. How many people go to the Apple Store to demo a device they already own? It's also hard to expect customers who have demoed the applications to remember which ones they enjoyed the most, and later remember to download them once they have their new device up and running.
Having your application demoed at the physical store is obviously nothing like being showcased in one of Apple's commercials. Users who witness an application they may enjoy on a commercial can simply whip out their iPhone or iPod touch and download it instantly. We have seen sales data that indicates developers see a major jump when having their application included in a commercial for this obvious reason.
We also have to take into account the fact that some Apple Stores may still be transitioning to the new demo units.
The two developers we were able to get in contact with were Collect3, developer of
Animal Snap!, and Ian Marsh, developer of
Scoops. Both applications are confirmed to be on the demo units, and both have seen little change in sales. The graph basically shows the normal ups and downs of the App Store.
These are preliminary results, but it is hard to imagine much change will occur.
In the end, both developers are excited to have their applications showcased on the demo units whether or not it generates extra sales. Exposure is always a positive thing, and it is a great way for Apple to showcase some of the best applications available at the App Store.
