Dissecting iTunes, App Store and Mac App Store links
For the latest release of Consume, we wanted to include two buttons: one that linked to all our apps on the App Store, and another that let users easily write a review on iTunes. These both seem like common things iOS developers would want to do, so we decided to share the results of our research. Some of the information contained below is obvious for experienced iTunes users, while other links are rarer.
Copying links from iTunes #
Most links can be copied directly from iTunes. Simply right click (Mac & PC) or control-click (Mac) on a button or linked text in iTunes and select Copy Link.
http://itunes.apple.com/genre/mobile-software-applications/id36?mt=8 — App Store home http://itunes.apple.com/genre/mobile-software-applications/id6014?mt=8 — Games http://itunes.apple.com/genre/mobile-software-applications/id6002?mt=8 — Utilities http://itunes.apple.com/app/consume-mobile-isp-packages/id337064413?mt=8 — An app
These links all function as you’d expect on a Mac, PC, iPad, iPhone and iPod.
iTunes Link Maker #
Apple provide a great tool for creating iTunes links, aptly named iTunes Link Maker. It lets you create all kinds of URLs, including a direct link to an artist.
http://itunes.apple.com/au/artist/the-chemical-brothers/id3726283
On Mac or Windows, this link will open your web browser (if you’re not already in it), then open iTunes and the artist’s page (The Chemical Brothers, in this case). On an iOS device, the link opens iTunes and loads the artist’s page. iTunes Link Maker tool also lets you create a link to a developer’s apps.
The link functions as expected on iTunes for Mac and Windows, opening up the developer’s page. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work on iOS devices—it opens the iTunes app then gives an error. This is probably because the App Store app doesn’t actually have a page that lists all apps by a developer.
There is a way around the problem though.
Searching and linking with iTunes.com #
iTunes.com URLs provide a great method for jumping to search results or directly to an item. If the search produces multiple results, you’ll land on a search results page. If the search produces a single result, then you’ll be taken directly to the item.
http://itunes.com/search — Search for search
This searches for songs, movies, TV shows, artists, developers or any item on the iTunes Store. If the name of the item you’re linking to contains spaces or punctuation, you’ll need to strip them out. You might have issues using this method to link to a single item for common names, as they’ll yield multiple results (try a search for “Dreams” or “Party” if you don’t believe me).
http://itunes.com/artist/song — Link to song by artist
http://itunes.com/artist/album — Link to album by artist
http://itunes.com/movie/moviename — Search for moviename
http://itunes.com/tv/tvshow — Search for tvshow
http://itunes.com/apps/app — Link to app
http://itunes.com/apps/developer/app — Link to app by developer
Using specific URLs is more likely to produce one result, ending up where you intended.
http://itunes.com/apps/developer — Search for all apps by developer
It’s also possible to link to all apps by one developer, but there’s a catch. On a Mac or a PC, this will open iTunes and land on a developer’s page. On an iOS device it’ll do a bit of a dance, opening MobileSafari, then iTunes, then the App Store app. Not ideal, a bit ugly and slow, but it gets there in the end.
If you’d like to hide the redirections and speed up the process, Apple recommend using NSURLConnection.
Mac App Store updates #
To open the Mac App Store app and select the Updates tab, use the URL below.
Heading straight to a review form #
It’s also possible to send someone straight to the review form for an app.
Simply replace the ID with your app’s ID to create a URL for your app.
On a desktop or laptop, this will take you directly to the review form in iTunes for the app or item. On an iOS device, this will open MobileSafari, then open iTunes or the App Store app on the reviews page, leaving the user only one tap away from writing a review.
Update: iOS 4.2 seems to have fixed this and links now open the App Store app directly.
To find out an item’s ID, right (Mac & PC) or control-click (Mac) on a link to the item in iTunes and select Copy Link. The result will look something like this.
http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/dig-your-own-hole/id19605549 http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/consume-mobile-isp-packages/id337064413?mt=8
The ID is the number in the URL after “id’.
It might be worth noting that this URL was created using iTunes 8. I don’t think there’s a way to create review links in iTunes 9, so maybe this URL is being phased out. Use with caution.
Update: @mareMtl has provided an alternative review link for apps. Please note that it only works on iOS devices.
Linking to a specific promo code #
To create a direct link to open iTunes and redeem a promo code, replace the “RWAPJ7XLTHN7” portion of the URL below with your promo code.
https://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZFinance.woa/wa/freeProductCodeWizard?code=RWAPJ7XLTHN7
Hat tip to Scott Meinzer for working this one out.
Final results #
And the winners are…
http://itunes.com/apps/bjango — Search for all our apps
https://userpub.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZUserPublishing.woa/wa/addUserReview?id=337064413&type=Purple+Software — Go to Consume’s review form
Due to some of the redirecting that takes place on an iOS, using URL shorteners can break links. So, be sure to check before using them on Twitter or Facebook.
Published 21 June 2010.