Apple Gobbles Up Chomp App Search Engine

By

Chomp, chomp. Apple gobbles up the startup app-search service
Chomp, chomp. Apple gobbles up the startup app-search service

Along with iTunes (ten minutes to transfer a TV show to my iPad?), the iTunes Apps Store is possibly the worst experience one can have while using Apple products. You can never find anything good; all the listings are clogged with scam software and other crap; and it is slow, slow, slow. The good news is that Apple looks set to fix it, with the purchase of Chomp.

Chomp is a collection of iOS and Android apps, along with a website. I had never tried it until I read of Apple’s acquisition today, but now I’m hooked. I can’t see myself ever going back to the built-in App Store search. Until Chomp is integrated right into the App Store, I guess.

According to MG Siegler of AOL’s Tech Crunch, the details of the acquisition are sparse. What he does know, though, is that Chomp and its team are being brought in whole, ready to fix the broken App Store.

The biggest question is whether or not the Android side of the service will remain in place. I’d say almost certainly not, even though Chomp currently powers Verizon’s Android app search service.

Inn the meantime, I’d recommend grabbing the free iPhone app right now, just in case it does go away. There’s no harm in being cautious, right?

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.