[NewsPoster]

On the heels of a similar refresh for the Apple Store iOS app, Apple has also rejuvenated the iTunes Connect web app used by developers to gather statistics and information about sales, publishing data and other tidbits about their apps and App Store performance. The new design, originally shown off at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers' Conference but only just implemented on Thursday, offers more analytics and a new, more iOS-like design.

The new features will also migrate automatically to the iTunes Connect app, and includes data such as how many page views an app's page on the iTunes Store have happened -- information that was not previously available. Developers can track sales and trends, payments and other financial data (such as tax payments), and utilize iAd to make and deploy advertising within the apps (or submit ads for use in other apps and sites). The design makeover is intended to make iTunes Connect more visually consistent with the rest of iCloud.

[Inkling]

This change also applies to iBookstore sales. I'd add that getting more data is helpful, but the iBookstore needs to adapt to changes int the market. The reflowable (for iPhones) and fixed format (iPads) versions of ebooks need to sold from the same page, with buying one automatically meaning that the other is also owned. And authors/publishers should be able to upload both files, easily exported from InDesign, at the same time.

For textbooks, fixed-layout is marvelous, since it means an ebook's interior, page-breaks and all, can look identical to the much more expensive print edition. But students also need a reflowable version for other situations.

[lockhartt]

Well, at least now I know why my app was sitting in Waiting for Review longer than usual :/