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Apple Promises Mother Lode to Billionth App Downloader

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the awww-twenty-dollars-i-wanted-a-peanut dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Apple has posted a counter of App Store downloads as they approach one billion downloads. The lucky billionth downloader gets to walk away with a stash consisting of a MacBook Pro, 32GB iPod Touch, Time Capsule and $10,000 iTunes gift certificate. The App Store now has over 30,000 applications."

30 of 119 comments (clear)

  1. Mistake In Title. by liquidMONKEY · · Score: 2, Informative

    Isn't it mother lode, not motherload?

    1. Re:Mistake In Title. by smooth+wombat · · Score: 4, Funny

      Isn't it mother lode, not motherload?

      This is Slashdot. Their is no room for correct spelling or word usage. Your one of those gammer nazis who should stop being so pedantec.

      --
      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
    2. Re:Mistake In Title. by Red+Flayer · · Score: 5, Funny

      Au contraire, mon frere -- motherload is correct.

      The billionth app downloader will have his mother impregnated via divine insemination by Steve Jobs himself.

      Henceforth this will be known as the iMac-culate Conception, and the offspring of the Holy iSpirit will be brought up as leader of the iFaithful to inherit the reins of Apple.

      --
      "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
    3. Re:Mistake In Title. by saiha · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's spelled "whoosh"

    4. Re:Mistake In Title. by bidule · · Score: 3, Funny

      Your one of those gammer nazis who should stop being so pedantec.

      I think you mean "you're"

      Wouche, wouche!

      --
      ID: the nose did not occur naturally, how would we wear glasses otherwise? (apologies to Voltaire)
  2. Re:Not the billionth downloader by esocid · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You can also submit a form to enter without purchasing anything.

    plus some apps are free

    --
    Absolute power corrupts absolutely. indymedia
  3. Re:Not the billionth downloader by Diss+Champ · · Score: 3, Informative

    When you submit said form, it says you may enter 25 times per day. However, if you try to enter a second time it says you have tried to enter too many times in the same day.

  4. Re:*drools* by Tetsujin · · Score: 2, Funny

    I wouldn't kick that new MBP outta bed for eating crackers.

    It will, however, take up most of the bed. :)

    --
    Bow-ties are cool.
  5. Re:Not the billionth downloader by Tibor+the+Hun · · Score: 2, Funny

    If Apple were smart, they'd make some ads about this, and play them on TV.

    --
    If you don't know what AltaVista is (was), get off my lawn.
  6. Re:Nevermind I was wrong by emocomputerjock · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If /. had an -1 incorrect option I'd have to set my threshold to imaginary numbers to see anyone's comments.

  7. Taxes? by ThePopeLayton · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Is apple willing to pay the taxes on all that for you? Seriously that gotta be at least 13K in prizes for which the US gov will want ~ 50%. Most companies offer people the prize or let then refuse it all together (this is what "The Price is Right" does). Most people end up turning down prizes because they can't afford to pay the taxes on them. Even if the person has the cash on hand to pay the taxes who is going to fork over 5K just to get a prize. Basically they'd be getting everything at half price. Apple knows this and is using the "prize" as just a publicity stunt..

    1. Re:Taxes? by vux984 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Is apple willing to pay the taxes on all that for you? Seriously that gotta be at least 13K in prizes for which the US gov will want ~ 50%.

      Depends entirely on your tax bracket. And if your tax hit is going to be 50% you can probably afford it. If my brother won it (as a grad student he's got more deductions than income) he probably wouldn't pay a dime in tax.

      Most companies offer people the prize or let then refuse it all together (this is what "The Price is Right" does). Most people end up turning down prizes because they can't afford to pay the taxes on them.

      How can they not afford to pay the taxes on them? Taxes aren't usually due immediately, you usually pay them when you file your annual return.
      In the mean time, they can simply flip the prize on craigslist / ebay for 75-90% of retail, and keep the difference. (Or sell part of the prize to cover the taxes...)

      Even if were due immediately, take out a line of credit, and when you sell, pay off the line. The interest cost will reduce your profit only slightly.

      Even if the person has the cash on hand to pay the taxes who is going to fork over 5K just to get a prize. Basically they'd be getting everything at half price. Apple knows this and is using the "prize" as just a publicity stunt..

      Duh. Of course its a publicity stunt. All prizes are.

      That said, its not bogus. If you win, you win stuff. Its not like those ridiculous '2 year lease on a car' prizes which, for most people are more hassle than they are worth. (Its pretty bogus to win a nice car "for a while" and then have to give it back or buy it. And what are they supposed to do with their existing car in the meantime?)

    2. Re:Taxes? by crossmr · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Not everyone is american and the contest isn't just limited to America.

      If anyone in Canada wins they don't have to pay jack. Canada doesn't tax income from prizes.

    3. Re:Taxes? by Sentry21 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I've always found it amusing that in the US, you get taxed on things you win, whereas in socialist Canada, where our tax rates are *so high*, prize winnings are considered windfall income and are non-taxable. Thus, if you won this contest in Canada, you wouldn't pay any tax.

  8. Re:Nevermind I was wrong by Hikaru79 · · Score: 3, Informative

    I think you were correct. In fact in the official rules it states in big capital letters:

    NO PURCHASE OR DOWNLOAD NECESSARY. A PURCHASE OR DOWNLOAD OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

    Seems pretty clear to me. The contest is to celebrate the 1,000,000,000 download, and it ends at that point, but it's just a random draw beyond that.

  9. Re:So... what are you going to do with your $10,00 by Chyeld · · Score: 4, Funny

    By the time you get to the billionth download, variable pricing will ensure the card is only worth two songs, both sung by the Chipmunks (or alternatively, the Chipettes).

    I recommend "The Girls of Rock and Roll" and "Weekend In France, Italy, England, Amsterdam, Greece..."

  10. Mistake on website by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It isn't the only error. I just tried their form for entry without purchase. They say you are "Limited to 25 entries per day", but on only my second attempt at entry it said, "You have entered to many times today".

    I'm not buying 24 apps a day. I don't even own a device to use them. Which is why I'm entering to win one.

    --
    Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
  11. Re:Not the billionth downloader by Svartalf · · Score: 3, Informative

    What's interesting is the claim "(Limited to 25 entries per day)" on the form submission, but if you ATTEMPT to submit more than once, you get blocked with the site adding the following text to the form: "You have entered to many times today."

    Not only is it wrong, it's mis-spelled... Heh...

    --
    I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
  12. More importantly... by denzacar · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Will those $10.000 in song certificates come from China?

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
  13. Re:Sp3ll2ng Naugzteez! by Tetsujin · · Score: 2, Funny

    MotherLoad implies a very heavy workload.

    "A man may work from sun to sun, but a woman's work is never done..."

    --
    Bow-ties are cool.
  14. Re:Mother Lode? by saiha · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yeah, those greedy bastards.

  15. Why enter now?? by Rastl · · Score: 3, Informative

    Per the official rules:

    The prize will be awarded for the entry (either through an app download or through the non-purchase online entry) sent immediately following the download of the 999,999,999th app.

    So entering any time prior to JUST before the counter hits the magic number is completely pointless unless I'm reading this wrong or the counter is just there for show.

    1. Re:Why enter now?? by Frac+O+Mac · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The number the counter shows is just based on your system time.

  16. Official Rules: Don't have to purchase... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Timing. The Promotion shall run from 12:01 a.m. EDT on April 10, 2009 and ends with the downloading of the 1 billionth app (âoePromotion Periodâ). For purposes of the Promotion, the downloading of the 1 billionth app is considered to be either the downloading of the 1 billionth app from iTunes or the receipt of the non-purchase entry after the download of the 999,999,999th app, whichever comes first. Only entries submitted in this time period will be accepted. Sponsorâ(TM)s computer is the official time keeping device for this promotion.

  17. The ultimate geek dilemma by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    "The lucky billionth downloader gets to walk away with a stash consisting of a MacBook Pro, 32GB iPod Touch, Time Capsule and $10,000 iTunes gift certificate."

    But I only run FOSS and non-DRM, you insensitive clods!

  18. The App Store now has over 30,000 applications... by godrik · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... and ten useful one.

  19. Re:Not the billionth downloader by palegray.net · · Score: 5, Funny

    Still, I can just see some dude downloading an app, and up pops the flashing banner: "You're the billionth downloader! Click here to claim your prizes!"

    Poor guy would just snicker in amusement, as this ain't his first picnic...

    --
    512 MB RAM, 20 GB disk, 200 GB transfer, five datacenters. $19.95/month.
  20. Re:Is $10k gift certificate enough? by Lost+Engineer · · Score: 2, Informative

    hmm

    Roughly

    (32 gb * 1024 (mb/gb) * 1024 (kb/mb)) / (60 (min/album) * 60 (s/min) * (256 kbit/s) / (8 kbit/kbyte)) * 10 ($/album) = $2910

    Yes.

  21. Re:small return by yermej · · Score: 3, Informative

    There's no drawing. The first entry received after the 999,999,999th - whether by purchase or the non-purchase entry form - is the winner. For serious. It's in the rules.

  22. Million != Milliard by Barryke · · Score: 2, Informative

    To avoid confusion.

    Some might find this interesting, and actually is a common screw up in international media.

    USA en modern Britisch:
    10^6 : million
    10^9 : billion
    10^12: trillion

    Standard:
    10^6 : million
    10^9 : milliard
    10^12 : billion
    10^18 : trillion

    Among others, we in the Netherlands use the latter.

    FYI - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milliard

    --
    Hivemind harvest in progress..