Report: iOS 5 allows app updates 'in place' in App Store
updated 11:00 pm EDT, Fri August 19, 2011
Patterned after Mac App Store behavior
Developers and researchers picking over the latest iOS 5 beta 6 release have uncovered examples of individual apps updating "in place" without having to leave the App Store, a mirror of the behavior of the Mac App Store, AppleInsider reports. Updatable apps are still shown as before, on an Updates page, but will now sport an "Update" button rather than the current "Free" button followed by "Install." The process now also works with apps on the Purchased list.
Once the app has been updated, the "Update" button changes to a grayed-out "Installed" notice, the way updates are handled in the Mac App Store. The change brings consistency to the two platforms and also improves the experience; users are not kicked out of the App Store app back to the home screen, and can navigate around the App Store as normal once the update process has begun. Users can still opt to install all updates en masse using the Update All button, which does still return the user to the home screen.
Apps that haven't been installed on the device being used are still listed with an iCloud icon that enables users to download the app from the cloud, but even uninstalled apps that have a pending update will have the same "Update" button as installed apps -- allowing users to update the iCloud copy without leaving the App Store. This could mean that iOS 5 users will soon be able to update an app once and have the updated version of the app appear automatically on all pre-selected devices. [via AppleInsider]
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
About time
There's been a jailbreak app that will allow for multiple updates without leaving the store for a while. Glad to see Apple finally add this like all the other good jailbreak additions!