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Apollo (app)

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Apollo for Reddit
Developer(s)Christian Selig
Initial release23 October 2017; 6 years ago (2017-10-23)
Operating systemiOS, iPadOS
TypeReddit client
LicenseProprietary
Websiteapolloapp.io

Apollo for Reddit was a third-party Reddit client for iOS and iPadOS. It was developed by Christian Selig, a former Apple intern, and released in October 2017. The app has ceased operations on 30 June 2023 due to API changes made by Reddit management.

Usage and design

Apollo was created with consideration for Apple's official iOS guidelines for apps, and features a gesture-based design.[1] Comments from new Reddit accounts can be highlighted to help users spot trolls, and comments from the moderation bot AutoModerator can be hidden.[2] Apollo's text editor is compatible with Markdown.[3] A Tamagotchi-like critter, referred to as "Pixel Pals", appears 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, customizable gesture controls, multiple accounts, and creating posts were locked behind a US$5 minimum 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 money 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 article: 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 will take place on 19 June.[14] The decision to limit access to "mature content" within Reddit's API could also affect 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. Selig alleged that Huffman told employees that he attempted to blackmail the company for US$10 million.[16] The app, along with Sync and BaconReader, were shutdown by Reddit on 30 June.[17]

Reception

Lifehacker called Apollo the best Reddit app for iOS in 2022,[2] while Vice called it the best Reddit app.[18] TechCrunch called it "beautiful, clean and modern".[19]

The Apollo app was chosen as one of Apple's editor's choice apps, showcasing its exceptional features and user experience.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b Rossignol, Joe (23 October 2017). "Beautiful, Modern, and Fast Reddit Client 'Apollo' Launches for iPhone and iPad After Years of Development". MacRumors. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b Parab, Pranay (1 February 2022). "The Best Apps and Extensions You Should Install If You Use Reddit". Lifehacker. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  3. ^ Terpstra, Brett (31 August 2018). "Apollo Makes Reddit Beautiful For iOS Users". Lifehacker. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  4. ^ Bonifacic, Igor (17 September 2022). "Apollo update transforms the iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island into a home for 'Pixel Pals'". Engadget. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  5. ^ Perez, Sarah (14 September 2022). "Apollo's app brings Reddit to your iOS 16 Lock Screen". TechCrunch. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  6. ^ Coombes, Lloyd (29 June 2022). "How to make the most of Apollo for Reddit on iOS and Android for beginners". TechRadar. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  7. ^ Clover, Juli (23 May 2022). "Reddit App 'Apollo' Gets Major Update With New Notification Experience". MacRumors. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  8. ^ Yeung, Ken (7 April 2016). "Reddit scraps Alien Blue in favor of in-house built iOS and Android apps". VentureBeat. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  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. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  10. ^ Cooke, Alex (23 July 2019). "'A lot of tails wagging' after app developer raises $27K for Nova Scotia SPCA". Canadian Broadcasting Company. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  11. ^ Bonk, Lawrence (18 April 2023). "Reddit will charge companies for API access, citing AI training concerns". Engadget. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  12. ^ Isaac, Mike (18 April 2023). "Reddit Wants to Get Paid for Helping to Teach Big A.I. Systems". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  13. ^ Roth, Emma (31 May 2023). "A developer says Reddit could charge him $20 million a year to keep his app working". The Verge. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  14. ^ Bell, Karissa (31 May 2023). "Reddit app developer says the site's new API rules will cost him $20 million a year". Engadget. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  15. ^ Harding, Scharon (12 May 2023). "Reddit welcomes NSFW desktop image uploads ahead of Imgur's ban". Ars Technica. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  16. ^ Peters, Jay (8 June 2023). "Apollo for Reddit is shutting down". The Verge. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  17. ^ Peters, Jay (30 June 2023). "The Reddit app-pocalyse is here: Apollo, Sync, and BaconReader go dark". The Verge. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  18. ^ Koebler, Jason (8 June 2023). "Apollo, the Best Reddit App, Is Shutting Down Because of Reddit's New Fees". Vice. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  19. ^ Perez, Sarah (27 October 2017). "Apollo for iOS is the only Reddit app you need". TechCrunch. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  20. ^ "App Store Preview". Apple Ink. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
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