Apple adds Genius recommendation tab to iPad App Store

A mobile version of Apple's Genius recommendation feature, which suggests applications to users based on their account activity, has been added to the main navigational tabs found on the iPad App Store.

Users who launch the App Store application on their iPad will find the "Genius" tab prominently displayed at the bottom of the iPad. The Genius feature has been placed to the right of the "Updates" tab.

The placement is more accessible than on the iPhone or iPod touch, where Genius does not have its own separate tab at the bottom. Instead, users of those smaller devices must choose the "Featured" option, and then select "Genius" from the top row.

On the iPad, the other tabs remain: Featured, Top Charts, Categories and Updates.

App Store recommendations were first introduced with the release of iOS 3.1 last September. The Genius feature aims to make it easier for users to find new applications on the App Store, which has become extremely large with more than 225,000 options.

The Genius feature analyzes application purchases made by users, and then recommends similar software that users may find useful for their iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. The same approach, and "Genius" branding, are used for recommended music purchases and generated playlists within iTunes.