Developers and users today reported major difficulties using the Apple App Store, although the problem has since been resolved. Apparently, a glitch caused the store’s search function to return incorrect results, rendering many well-known apps difficult to find for several hours.
The system status Web page for Apple services, stores and iCloud showed that a problem with “multiple services” on all store sites affected users from 4 a.m. to around 10:30 a.m. Eastern time.
We contacted Apple for more details about the service problems but did not receive a response. According to reports in other media outlets, Apple has fixed the issue, but has not publicly stated what caused the glitch.
Questions on Support Forums, Twitter
Similar problems were reported with Apple store services as well as iCloud accounts on Tuesday, according to the services status page. Those earlier difficulties made it harder for users to sign in or make store purchases, and also caused slow or no access to some iCloud services.
Throughout this morning, numerous users posted questions on Apple’s support forums regarding their problems finding apps for their iPhones, iPads and other devices. At least one user reported finding a short-term fix by searching for an iOS app on Google and then linking directly to a download from the results page.
Hundreds of users also took to social media sites like Twitter to report their Apple store problems and look for solutions. However, there was no mention of the issue on Apple Support’s Twitter account.
Problems in Cupertino, China
Recently, Apple has also faced other issues, according to news reports. Earlier today, the U.K.’s Guardian featured an article detailing Cupertino, Calif. Mayor Barry Chang’s complaints with his city’s high-profile technology neighbor. The article was titled, “Cupertino’s mayor: Apple ‘abuses us’ by not paying taxes.”
“Many people in Cupertino, a 60,000-person town in the heart of Silicon Valley, are beginning to organize around their overburdened city,” the article reported. “They claim the region is struggling with aging infrastructure and booming companies whose effective tax rate is often quite low.”
The Guardian pointed out that Chang did not want to limit new development because that would damage the regional economy. Rather, he said the real solution should be higher taxes on the wealthy and companies such as Apple, the paper noted.
And earlier this week, reports surfaced that a court in China had ruled against Apple in a trademark challenge involving a Beijing-based company that sells purses, cellphone cases and other leather goods stamped with the label, “IPHONE.”
The Chinese firm registered the trademark in 2007 — the same year Apple released its first iPhone — and the court agreed with an earlier ruling that found Apple couldn’t prove that name was a well-known trademark before that time.
Image Credit: App Store images via Apple.
