I can see how it’s better (the performance is awesome, searching in iTunes is just sooo damn slow, inflexible and no fun) and it has some cool but obvious tools. I’m just wondering why Apple needs to buy them. Can they really not just copy that?
Talent acquisition?
And submarining Android app discovery doesn't hurt.
True! With Chomp gone, where will Google find experts in search?
You can laugh, but Android Market search is horrible.
Perhaps look in the basement of the SPYW department?
You say that, but android market place search is embarrassing.
I came here to say how nice of Apple not just bluntly copying Chomp (you know, like widgets, Safari Reader and notifications)...
I don’t think it’s possible to bluntly copy Chomp (if you stay away from copying their aesthetics). All the stuff they do is pretty obvious and standard. It’s only special because the App Store search is so terrible.
To me a performance upgrade would be the most valuable thing, I don’t think anyone would claim Apple copied Chomp when their search suddenly performs better.
But why reinvent the wheel? They saw something they liked, they thought it was better to buy the technology, so they did. Good for Apple and good for Chomp!