Slash Lane
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.
Christine McKee
Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
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Andrew O'Hara
7 Comments
This is the upgrade tab. It is pretty cool because it shows which iPhone apps have iPad companions that you can buy.
Very smart.
I'll probably find myself buying a lot of upgrades soon.
I saw that last night. I just assumed it had always been there and I just had missed it somehow.
Cool addition. I think it'll be very helpful for customers.
Genius: May I recommend the fart app?
Me: Does it have deep ones?
Genius: Oh yes sir, the deepest.
Me: Make it so.
I don't understand how a genius for apps works. What's the point of recommending 'similar' apps? How does it come up with recommendations? Why do I want another todo app, for instance?