If you’re new to the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, then you’ve probably got over a hundred questions regarding your shiny, new device. Here at AppAdvice, we strive to answer them one question at a time, each and every day. This is iOS 101, and class is about to begin. Today, we’re going to be looking at the App Store, and how iDevice users can purchase and download iOS applications through it. Additionally, we’ll look at re-downloading purchased apps, updating apps, and changing accounts. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

The App Store

Apple's App Store, which was introduced with iOS 2.0 in July 2008, allows iDevice owners to manage third party applications. After linking the App Store with an Apple ID, users can download and purchase iOS apps for their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Whether you've loaded the App Store on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can "Sign In" to the store by navigating to the bottom of the "Featured" section. Simply hit the "Featured" tab, which you'll find along the bottom of the App Store application, then scroll all the way down. Once you've hit "Sign In," users have the option of either creating a new account, or signing in with a pre-existing Apple ID. Interestingly, users can open an account in any country's App Store without the need for a credit card. To find out how, check out our article.

If you choose to create a new Apple ID, you can do this from within the App Store, which is handy:

Once you've got an Apple ID, the next time you have to sign in to the App Store, all you'll have to do is enter your email address and password. In order to sign out, simply hit the same icon, and then touch "Sign Out." From here you can remain signed out of the App Store, or you can sign in with a different Apple ID.

Once you've signed in to the App Store successfully, the fun begins. Along the bottom of the application are a variety of tabs, which lead to the most important parts of the App Store. First off, there's "Featured." As you can see in the lead image above (and, as you can probably tell by the name), the "Featured" section of the App Store takes users directly to the week's most interesting iOS applications. Simply touching an app displayed in this section will take you straight to its app page. Next, there's "Categories." The "Categories" section of the App Store allows users to peruse applications by category. There's a wide variety of categories available for users to select. And, some categories, such as "Games," include subcategories. This section of the App Store is ideal for people who are looking for a particular type of app, without being exactly sure of the application itself. So, if you're looking for a new iOS game to play around with, hit the App Store, and browse through the "Games" category. If you're specifically in the mood for an RPG, hit the "Role Playing" subcategory, and you'll be shown a list of suitable games. The next tab in the App Store application, "Top 25," displays the top 25 paid and free iOS applications available to download, along with the "Top Grossing" apps. Furthermore, users can also extend these lists to show the top 50 applications in the App Store, which is a handy feature. This section of the App Store is ideal for discovering exactly what iDevice owners are purchasing and downloading. As the "Featured" section of the App Store essentially presents the apps Apple wants us to check out, it's not really a fair representation of the most popular (and best) apps of the moment. However, with "Top 25," users can discover the most downloaded apps at any given time. "Search" simply allows iDevice owners to search for a specific application. A list of results will be displayed once you've entered your keyword and hit "Search," which you can select an app from. Now, let's look at one of the best and most important features of the App Store.

Updates

The great thing about iOS applications is that almost all of them are continually updated. Sometimes this is merely to improve the app's stability, and to iron out any bugs. But, quite often, iOS applications receive major updates, which add cool, new features. For this reason alone, it is very important to download app updates when they become available. When one of your installed iOS applications is ready to be updated, you'll notice that a red figure appears in the upper corner of your App Store icon. Open the App Store, and navigate across to the final tab, which is located in the bottom right corner of the application, and is labeled "Updates."

To install all available updates, hit "Update All," in the top right corner of the application. In order to install individual updates, simply touch the "Free" icon beside the update's description. While your app updates are installing, you can continue to use your iDevice, though you won't be able to use applications that are in the process of being updated. The process of installing updates is quite similar to purchasing applications, which we're going to discuss now.

Purchasing and Downloading Apps

After you've found an iOS application you want to download, then you'll need to purchase it (if it comes at a price). Say, for example, you want to buy Pages for iPad, which you can see in the screenshot below.

As you can see, this application is priced at $9.99. In order to purchase and download the application, simply touch the price, and it will change to a green icon, labeled "Buy App." If the application you want to install is free, then the green icon will be labeled "Install." To purchase and download the iOS app, touch the green icon, and enter your Apple ID and password.

Important note: Once you've purchased an iOS application, you will never need to purchase that app again - even if you delete it. Instead, you'll be told that you've already purchased this application, and will be offered to download the app again, for free (see below image). You can do this an infinite amount of times, so don't worry about ever being charged again for an application you've purchased - because this never happens, if the application is the same.

Another thing worth mentioning is iTunes Allowances. If you're handing your iDevice over to your child, the chances are some unauthorized purchases may be made. Thankfully, it is possible to sign out of the App Store (see above). However, if you want to allow your kid the liberty to make some App Store purchases, you can instead limit the amount they spend, using iTunes Allowances. Here's what Apple says about iTunes Allowances:

With iTunes Allowances you can let your children manage their own iTunes Store purchases within a budget you control, and without giving them your credit card. To set up an allowance (from $10 to $50 a month), use the Buy iTunes Gifts link in the Quick Links section on the right side of the iTunes Store. Scroll down to the Allowances section (the piggy bank marks the spot), click "Set up an allowance now," and fill in the information requested. If the intended allowance recipient doesn't already have an Apple ID, you can create one for them with their email address. You can set the allowance to begin immediately or on the first of the coming month. Amounts not spent in one month roll over into the next, and you can close the account at any time, withdrawing any funds currently in it.

And, with that final piece of advice, we come to the end of our iOS 101 article on the App Store. If you have any questions whatsoever, please feel free to post them in the comments below, and I'll try to get back to you. And, if you have ideas for any further iOS 101 articles, post your request in the comments, too!

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