Once again, Apple is counting down to an app-download milestone. This time we're approaching the 50 billionth app download. And as before, should you happen to download the 50 billionth app, you'll receive an App Store Gift Card worth $10,000. The App Store home page has a countdown ticker so you can track how close we are to that milestone. In addition to the top prize, the next 50 people to download an app after the 50 billionth will receive a $500 App Store Gift Card. So tell me, how would you possibly spend $10,000 in the App Store? Seems like it would take years, and then what would you do with the thousands of apps all that money could buy?
In the past, Apple also has celebrated the 1-, 10-, and 25-billion download milestones. In one instance the person who won was a woman in the UK who had downloaded an app not even knowing there was a competition going on. When Apple contacted her to tell her she had won, she thought it was a scam.
You can find more information on the rules page for the contest. You need to be at least 13 years of age and are limited to 25 entries per day. Purchase not necessary in order to win. You can also enter the contest by filling out a form on this page.
The contest page also lists the top 25 all-time paid apps and the top 25 all-time free apps. These lists are worth checking out. The top five all-time paid apps are all games, including two versions of Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, Doodle Jump, and Cut the Rope. The top five free apps have been Facebook, Pandora Radio, Instagram, YouTube, and Skype. Google Maps is way down at number 25, but it was only released last year.