Win $10K in 10 billionth app countdown - Toronto Sun (blog)

On July 11, 2008 Apple unveiled to the world the App Store. It would revolutionize the way we purchase download and update mobile applications. On day 1, the App Store opened with roughly 500 available applications (a quarter of them were free) and within 3 days that number jumped to 800. What was amazing however was in that period there was a whopping 10 million downloads. Within 6 months that number jumped to 500,000 and by April 2009, less than a year later, they had hit the 1 million mark.

Fast forward 2 1/2 years to January 18, 2011 and that number sits at 9.898 billion. The 10 billionth download worldwide is quickly approaching.

To commemorate this incredible mega milestone Apple and has created The 10 Billion Apps Countdown Promotion and is giving away a $10,000 US iTunes gift card.

No Purchase or Download Necessary

Interestingly enough while the contest is about app downloads you don't actually have to download or purchase anything to be eligible for the $10,000 US iTunes gift card.

If you download you are eligible, but alternately, all you have to do is go to the site and fill in the entry form. You're allowed up to 25 entries per day.  Of course there are the usual Offical rules and regulations, which I recommend you read.

So how are they going to work that given 2 ways to enter?

According to Apple. "For purposes of the Promotion, the downloading of the 10 billionth app is considered to be either the downloading of the 10 billionth app from the App Store or the receipt of the first eligible non-purchase entry after the download of the 9,999,999,999th app, whichever comes first (the receipt of which will be made public when the counter on Apple.com stops)."

I guess the big 10 can come any day.

Sesame Street Song

The App Store has invaded all aspects in our lives. Even everyone's favorite children's TV show Sesame Street got into the game. "If you want to comb your cat, there's an App for That!"

Listen to it while you enter the contest.

Greg Gazin is the Real Canadian Gadget Guy.

Follow me on Twitter @gadgetgreg