2008 App Store downloads

Using iTunes as the vehicle, Apple has posted a ranking of the most popular App Store downloads of 2008. The leading paid app was The Blimp Pilots' Koi Pond, which attempts to calm users with a small pool of virtual fish. Behind this was Sega's more elaborate Super Monkey Ball, which has players race across increasingly treacherous terrain. The remaining apps in the paid top 10 are Pocket Guitar, allRadio, iChalky, Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D, Moto Chaser, Texas Hold'em, Cro-Mag Rally and Air Hockey.

The most downloaded free app was iPint, which is currently the subject of a lawsuit against Molson Coors, on the basis that iPint undermined sales of iBeer, a similar app that arrived first and costs $3. The more recently-launched mobile version of Google Earth came in second, with Labyrinth Lite taking third. Other apps in the top 10 free category include Tap Tap Revenge, Flashlight, Facebook, Lightsaber Unleashed, Remote, Touch Hockey: FSS and Shazam.

Games are widespread in both lists, though dominantly in the paid category, where all but Koi Pond, Pocket Guitar and allRadio are games. No productivity app achieved a high ranking, though utilities (such as Remote and Google Earth) are scattered throughout the free category.

by MacNN Staff