Apple Releases Guidelines for App Developers

There is definitely a lot of money to be made in the apps business. It seems that there is an app for just about anything, and for developers lucky enough to get their creations improved, it could mean millions of dollars in revenues.

Consider that Apple's App Store currently has 250,000 apps, which have been downloaded 6.5 billion times by users. While a lot of the apps are free, there are plenty that are not, and yield big money for the developers. With the recent release of the iPad, even more apps are being developed, and the possibilities are endless.

The guidelines mostly address Apple's review of an app's including user interface design, functionality, content, and the use of specific technologies.

Apple did state that it is important that developers not view the guidelines as being written in stone. The guidelines are constantly changing, and new apps can make the company reconsider its rules, and amend them as it deems appropriate.

In addition to releasing approval guidelines, Apple also made a surprising statement that it would be easing the restrictions on development tools that developers can use in bringing the app visions to life... potentially including flash.

The statement did not specifically address flash, but it does appear that developers will be able to start using Adobe System (ADBE)'s flash technology which they were previously banned from using. This could open the door for more developers to create apps, and result in a much wider range of apps.

Why Apple has decided to release the guidelines and relax its software restrictions is not known, but it could have something to do with the rising popularity of the Android, which has been steadily taking market share from the iPhone.

Adobe stock has been surging today following the news, while Apple stock has traded slightly higher.

You find the guidelines on Apple's site, but you need to have an Apple developers account to log in and view them.