Software:Apollo (app)

From HandWiki
Short description: Defunct third-party Reddit client for iOS

Apollo
Apollo app icon.svg
Developer(s)Christian Selig
Initial release23 October 2017; 6 years ago (2017-10-23)
Operating systemiOS
TypeReddit client
LicenseProprietary
Website{{{1}}}

Apollo for Reddit, shortened to Apollo, was a third-party Reddit client for iOS. It was developed by Canadian programmer Christian Selig, a former Apple intern. It was released on 23 October 2017. The app ceased operations on 30 June 2023, when changes to Reddit's application programming interface (API) resulted in Selig shutting down the app.

Usage and design

Apollo was created with consideration for Apple's official iOS guidelines for apps, and featured a gesture-based design.[1] Comments from new Reddit accounts could be highlighted to help users spot trolls, and comments from the moderation bot AutoModerator could be hidden.[2] Apollo's text editor was compatible with Markdown.[3] A Tamagotchi-like critter, referred to as "Pixel Pals", appeared above the display cutout of the iPhone 14 Pro and its Max version in the app.[4] For iOS 16, Apollo was updated to support lock screen widgets.[5]

In comparison to Reddit's official app, Apollo did not feature advertisements for non-paying users. However, customizing gesture controls, logging in through multiple accounts, and posting were locked behind a one-time US$5 fee known as "Apollo Pro". For US$1 per month, users could pay for "Apollo Ultra", which features push notifications and custom themes.[6] Notifications were overhauled in May 2022.[7]

History

Launch

In October 2014, Reddit acquired Alien Blue, a third-party Reddit client for iOS. Alien Blue was pulled from the App Store and Google Play Store in April 2016; in its wake, Reddit announced its own app.[8] Former Apple intern Christian Selig,[9] seeking to emulate Alien Blue, announced Apollo on 23 October 2017, after two years of development.[1] He used the app's popularity to raise CA$27,335 for the Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for his 26th birthday in July 2019.[10]

Reddit API changes and shutdown

Main page: 2023 Reddit API controversy

On 18 April 2023, Reddit announced it would charge companies for access to its application programming interface (API).[11] Reddit CEO Steve Huffman told The New York Times that the "Reddit corpus of data is really valuable".[12] On 31 May, Selig announced on Reddit that Reddit plans on charging US$12,000 for 50 million requests; in April, Apollo made 7 billion requests, coming out to US$1.7 million per month or US$20 million a year. The decision threatens the longevity of Selig, who doesn't have "that kind of money" nor knows how to pay for it.[13] The API changes took effect on 19 June.[14] The decision to limit access to "mature content" within Reddit's API also affected Apollo.[15]

On 8 June, Selig announced that Apollo would cease development and shut down on 30 June through his Twitter account and a Reddit post.[16] Selig alleged that Huffman told employees that he attempted to blackmail the company for US$10 million.[17] Apollo shut down on 30 June.[18]

Reception

Lifehacker called Apollo the best Reddit app for iOS in 2022.[2] Vice called it the best Reddit app in 2023.[19] TechCrunch called it "beautiful, clean, and modern" in 2017.[20]

The Apollo app was chosen as one of Apple's "editors' choice" apps.[21]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rossignol, Joe (23 October 2017). "Beautiful, Modern, and Fast Reddit Client 'Apollo' Launches for iPhone and iPad After Years of Development". MacRumors. https://www.macrumors.com/2017/10/23/apollo-reddit-app/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Parab, Pranay (1 February 2022). "The Best Apps and Extensions You Should Install If You Use Reddit". Lifehacker. https://lifehacker.com/the-best-apps-and-extensions-you-should-install-if-you-1848459916. 
  3. ↑ Terpstra, Brett (31 August 2018). "Apollo Makes Reddit Beautiful For iOS Users". Lifehacker. https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/08/apollo-makes-reddit-beautiful-for-ios-users/. 
  4. ↑ Bonifacic, Igor (17 September 2022). "Apollo update transforms the iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island into a home for 'Pixel Pals'". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/apollo-reddit-iphone-14-pro-dynamic-island-pixel-pals-update-221206984.html. 
  5. ↑ Perez, Sarah (14 September 2022). "Apollo's app brings Reddit to your iOS 16 Lock Screen". TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/14/apollos-app-brings-reddit-to-your-ios-16-lock-screen/. 
  6. ↑ Coombes, Lloyd (29 June 2022). "How to make the most of Apollo for Reddit on iOS and Android for beginners". TechRadar. https://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-make-the-most-of-apollo-for-reddit-on-iphone-and-ipad. 
  7. ↑ Clover, Juli (23 May 2022). "Reddit App 'Apollo' Gets Major Update With New Notification Experience". MacRumors. https://www.macrumors.com/2022/05/23/apollo-app-notification-update/. 
  8. ↑ Yeung, Ken (7 April 2016). "Reddit scraps Alien Blue in favor of in-house built iOS and Android apps". VentureBeat. https://venturebeat.com/mobile/reddit-scraps-alien-blue-in-favor-of-in-house-built-ios-and-android-apps/. 
  9. ↑ Robinson, Kylie (11 October 2021). "How this full-time independent developer made thousands from a 'weekend project' iPhone app for avoiding the AMP links that lots of users despise". Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/amplosion-creator-ios-app-avoiding-google-amp-2021-10. 
  10. ↑ Cooke, Alex (23 July 2019). "'A lot of tails wagging' after app developer raises $27K for Nova Scotia SPCA". Canadian Broadcasting Company. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/largest-spca-fundraiser-1.5221693. 
  11. ↑ Bonk, Lawrence (18 April 2023). "Reddit will charge companies for API access, citing AI training concerns". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/reddit-will-charge-companies-for-api-access-citing-ai-training-concerns-184935783.html. 
  12. ↑ Isaac, Mike (18 April 2023). "Reddit Wants to Get Paid for Helping to Teach Big A.I. Systems". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/18/technology/reddit-ai-openai-google.html. 
  13. ↑ Roth, Emma (31 May 2023). "A developer says Reddit could charge him $20 million a year to keep his app working". The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/31/23743993/reddit-apollo-client-api-cost. 
  14. ↑ Bell, Karissa (31 May 2023). "Reddit app developer says the site's new API rules will cost him $20 million a year". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/reddit-app-developer-says-the-sites-new-api-rules-will-cost-him-20-million-a-year-203911487.html. 
  15. ↑ Harding, Scharon (12 May 2023). "Reddit welcomes NSFW desktop image uploads ahead of Imgur's ban". Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/05/reddit-welcomes-nsfw-desktop-image-uploads-ahead-of-imgurs-ban/. 
  16. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/apolloapp/comments/144f6xm/apollo_will_close_down_on_june_30th_reddits/
  17. ↑ Peters, Jay (8 June 2023). "Apollo for Reddit is shutting down". The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/8/23754183/apollo-reddit-app-shutting-down-api. 
  18. ↑ Peters, Jay (30 June 2023). "The Reddit app-pocalyse is here: Apollo, Sync, and BaconReader go dark". The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/30/23779519/reddit-third-party-app-shut-down-apollo-sync-baconreader-api-protest. 
  19. ↑ Koebler, Jason (8 June 2023). "Apollo, the Best Reddit App, Is Shutting Down Because of Reddit's New Fees". Vice. https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg55g7/apollo-the-best-reddit-app-is-shutting-down-because-of-reddits-new-fees. 
  20. ↑ Perez, Sarah (27 October 2017). "Apollo for iOS is the only Reddit app you need". TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/27/apollo-for-ios-is-the-only-reddit-app-you-need/. 
  21. ↑ "App Store Preview". Apple Ink.. https://apps.apple.com/app/id979274575. 



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