My World Confusion

In the My World section of BlackBerry App World, users can view their application activity. For example, any and all applications that you download via App World should appear in My World, regardless of whether or not they're currently installed. You can quickly remove apps from your device or replace them. And you can review and recommend software, as well.

BlackBerry App World My World Screen

The problem: My World proves flaky and unreliable. Applications that I've installed in the past occasionally don't show up at all, which means I cannot reinstall software I previously uninstalled--even if I paid for it. And My World occasionally tells me apps that are running on my device are not installed. Specifically, I downloaded a couple of free app trials and eventually decided to upgrade to the full versions. But App World doesn't register that I upgraded, and My World says only that the trial version is not installed.

If RIM wants folks to feel comfortable dropping cash on App World offerings, it had better ensure that My World won't simply "forget" past purchases. As is, I have little faith in My World.

No PC-Based Backup Option

BlackBerry App World currently offers no simple, PC-based method of backing up purchases or downloads. Sure, My World is supposed to serve that purpose by utilizing "the cloud" for app backups. And crafty users can find ways to back up third-party applications on their own.

I can only speak for myself, but I don't yet trust said cloud to backup my purchases, and I won't be spending any more cash on App World until RIM either convinces me that its online backups are reliable, or it offers another backup option.

Apple lets iPhone users backup all their App Store purchases on computers via iTunes, and this seems like a much more suitable method.

Both Free AND Commercial App Listings

App World breaks down into four main sections, which appear on the main Featured Items screen: Categories, Top Downloads, Search and My World. The names are self-explanatory, and my issue relates to the first three. As is, there's no simple way to look at separate free and "commercial," or paid, apps. Free apps are grouped alongside commercial ones, with no way to differentiate them expect the price tag.

The Categories, Top Downloads and Search sections should all have separate Free and Commercial breakdowns, so users can easily view free and for-cost options without scrolling through pages of listings and checking prices. Such a breakdown would not only give users more control over what they're searching for, but also very likely result in the sale of more applications, which is obviously a good thing for RIM and its developer base.

I honestly don't know a single developer who considers App World a true money-making opportunity, and that's largely because RIM's shoving tons of free application in users' faces while burying the paid content. For example, all 25 of the Top Downloads in BlackBerry App World are currently free apps. Top Downloads is very likely the spot most users pick to begin looking for apps, unless they're seeking something in particular, and the fact that there are not two Top Downloads pages--one for free apps, one for paid ones--certainly doesn't help.

Promote Worthy New Apps

RIM would also do well to create some sort of section for new App World additions. It's very simple for applications to get buried in App World today, and it would be beneficial to all involved if there were some sort of "New Apps" page. As mentioned above, there's already a Featured Apps page, and some of those listed apps could be new. But most tend to be popular offerings or apps from large or noteworthy entities, like the Associated Press, BNet or Forbes.