If you have noticed the recent strange activities in the App Store, from the manner in which apps/games are being released, ranked, as well as the fact that updated apps/games are not being listed under the Recently Released category anymore, then you should take a look at the following article.

Iliya Yordanov, the founder of Cramzy, and the developer of their most recent app (and our fave!) - A Must Go! – wrote an interesting blog post in regard to the recent changes on the App Store, and how this would have an adverse effect on independent developers out to carve a niche (and living) through the phenomenal Apple App Store.

As many of you might have observed, the App Store has been activing strangely for the last several days. Even though it’s not yet fixed, I already got inside info on what the change is all about. I just got off the phone with a guy from the ITSC team who’s contact I have from while ago when they rejected Ananga Ranga*. He called me personally back then, and gave me his contact details.

*What?! We have been waiting anxiously for Ananga Ranga!

So, let me shoot: the updated apps would not show on the list of recently released apps anymore.

What does this mean?
For us, Cramzy, as well as most small devs like us, it very much means that we may not continue working on this platform. Though it’s still uncertain, I belive this is the logical outcome of such act from Apple. Maybe you wonder why?

Let me break it down…
1) If updates won’t lead to increase of sales anymore, there’s not much sense in making so many of them…there’s no sense in trying to perfect something, when you know you’re perfecting it for some good 5-10 people per day.

2) Small devs would prefer to go to different platforms like Android and Symbian. Even though these platforms do not have such a huge customer base yet, they provide developer friendly envifornment, unlike Apple.

3) Only big players with few exceptions will stay on the iPhone market, because in this new state, it would take a luck or a huge advertising budget to earn anything out of the iPhone.

4) The overall quality of software will drop dramatically. And for a reason. Customers will become angry with this, and will be less and less willing to pay for apps, knowing that updates are not expected.

5) The amount of apps would dramatically decrease its count. After developers’ contracts expire, their apps will be taken off, so I expect a decrease in the amount of apps in the near future. With the Motorola DROID coming along, this is probably the end of the iPhone era.

Congratulations Apple. You just shot yourself. Go change your logo now, from a bitten Apple to a shot Apple.

[via Cramzy.com]