Apple's App Gap May Disappear - East Idaho News
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Apple’s App Gap May Disappear

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Getty 031912 AppleLogo?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1370262511832Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Apple faces challenges on two fronts in the near future — from Google and in the courts.

The tech company’s big competitive advantage may soon disappear. Within months, Apple may no longer be the world’s most popular platform for smartphone apps.

The Financial Times reports Apple “has used its superior apps presence to retain a competitive edge over smartphone rivals.” But with recent gains in popularity for Samsung and Google-owned Motorola phones more developers are creating new apps for Android devices.

About 50 billion apps have been downloaded for Apple’s mobile devices. Last month, Google reported an all-time total of 48 billion downloads for Android phones and tablets.

Additionally, the government and Apple are set to square off over accusations of e-book price fixing. The Justice Department sued Apple last year, claiming it conspired with five major book publishers to raise prices for electronic books shortly before the introduction of the iPad in 2010.

The government says comments from former Apple CEO Steve Jobs help prove their case. Apple lawyers argue the allegations are based on “faulty assumptions and unfounded conclusions.”

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