Apple mistakenly publishes iOS testing app at App Store [u]
updated 11:20 am EST, Mon January 2, 2012
Appears aimed at testing in-app purchases
(Updated with iOS App Store info) Apple appears to have accidentally uploaded an internal testing app to the App Store, reports note. Called GameStore, the software went public on December 31st, but was removed just minutes prior to the publishing of this article. Before that it cost 99 cents, and was described only as allowing you to "buy different things from within the app." A Products List tab included items like "2 Lives" for $3, or "Ebook5" for $7.
Among other unusual details were a 1.8 version number, a "Payment Q" tab, and a ratings warning about content like horror, gambling, and violence even though the app had none of it. The icon for the title was also nondescript, featuring just a shopping cart against a blank background. Firmware requirements extended back to iOS 3.0.
Partly because of this, it's thought that GameStore may date back to 2009. iOS 3.0 was released that year, and introduced the concept of in-app purchases. At the time GameStore may have served as testbed for App Store infrastructure.
Update: MacRumors points out that when viewed from with the iOS version of the App Store, GameStore's post date is listed as June 9th, 2009, during the 2009 Worldwide Developers Conference and shortly before iOS 3.0 was launched.
