AppleInsider Staff
Apple added a new Shopping category to the iOS App Store on Friday to collect mobile banking, marketplace and coupon apps — including those that accept Apple Pay — in one easy to browse location.
Details on Apple's new addition were first reported by TechCrunch, which noted a new, dedicated "Shopping" category will be available to users worldwide once it launches. Previously, shopping-related apps were found in the "Lifestyle" section. Apple later confirmed availability in all 155 App Store territories through an announcement on its developer webpage.
With the new category active, iPhone and iPad users will be able to surface online banking apps that were previously scattered across different App Store categories. Being lumped together in a single category, or more specifically curated sub-categories, also boosts discoverability for lesser known commerce apps.
Also made more discoverable are apps supporting Apple Pay in-app payments. Apple added a "Shop with Apple Pay" subsection to denote such apps, while also introducing Shopping-related app collections for wedding planning, deals, shopping for kids, fashion and more. Prior to today's addition the apps now included in Shopping were mostly relegated to the Lifestyle section, meaning that category is now less bloated.
As noted by Apple, developers can select Shopping in iTunes Connect when assigning app categories for new and updated titles.
Update: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated Shopping was exclusive to the tvOS App Store. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.
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11 Comments
In fact, the entire Categories section only just debuted on Wednesday.
One man's 'entire Categories section' is another man's 'categories tab'. The categories tab was ready to be added when the apps began to fill up.
A little OT but I'd like feature to backup my device to iCloud, an IOS device and/or an iTunes instance.
[quote name="ChristophB" url="/t/189976/apple-singles-out-shopping-apps-in-tweak-to-apple-tvs-tvos-app-store#post_2802576"]A little OT but I'd like feature to backup my device to iCloud, an IOS device and/or an iTunes instance.[/quote] That's a fair request. Apple need to make the 50GB tier of iCloud free. Heck, I'd go further and say the first 100GB should be free. If anything it'd provide more user lock-in. Something we know Apple loves, thanks to those highly publicised court documents. We give them enough money as is, they shouldn't nickel and dime their customers for an extra $12 per year to back up our stuff. The main reason for backing up in the first place is to make it easier to upgrade to a new device. And to back up photos taken with these touted cameras. Probably costs Apple less than $5 per year to host a user's data. Make the user happy and have this stuff work out of the box without needing to pay more money and they'll buy a new iPad, an iPhone, a Watch, a Mac, an Apple TV and a car. And they'll back them all up (and be locked in through convenience). Squeezing them for an additional $12 a year to back up their device only leaves a bad taste in their mouth. I've heard a number of people complain about it IRL now. "Don't I give them enough money already" seems to be the consensus. And no, it's not people feeling entitled. It's people literally giving Apple huge sums of money and being treated with no real respect. Apple need to walk the walk they always preach.
Interestingly, inspite of news of a new Categories tab, my AppleTV 4 does not show that tab. Yes, I'm situated in the US. Does the device need to be powered down to be refreshed?
Squeezing them for an additional $12 a year to back up their device only leaves a bad taste in their mouth. I've heard a number of people complain about it IRL now. "Don't I give them enough money already" seems to be the consensus. And no, it's not people feeling entitled. It's people literally giving Apple huge sums of money and being treated with no real respect. Apple need to walk the walk they always preach.
You mean like selling ATV4 before it's ready and therefore making all their customers Beta testers??? I mean zero Bluetooth Keyboard so it takes for ever to enter all your services....The "user experience" is not quite there yet with ATV4....