猿大侠·2025-09-02 04:20Core Viewpoint - The shutdown of 91 Assistant marks the end of the "jailbreak era" and signifies the decline of third-party app stores that once dominated the mobile application distribution landscape [8][11]. Group 1: Background and Development of 91 Assistant - 91 Assistant was developed in 2007 by Xiong Jun to simplify the complex operations of iTunes for early iPhone users, quickly gaining over 200,000 users within two months [2]. - It became the only cross-terminal and cross-platform content distribution platform at the time, addressing the limitations of Apple's App Store, which was known for its high-quality but closed ecosystem [4][6]. - The software gained popularity by providing easy jailbreak operations and free downloads of paid applications, becoming a crucial channel for non-official app downloads for iOS devices [4][6]. Group 2: Market Dynamics and Acquisition - In 2009, 91 Assistant expanded to the Android platform, adding features like Android flashing and phone management, which significantly increased its user base [6]. - By 2013, the platform had achieved over 10 billion cumulative app downloads, averaging 8 downloads per person in China, leading to its acquisition by Baidu for $1.9 billion, one of the largest mergers in the internet industry at that time [6]. - After the acquisition, it was rebranded as "Baidu 91" but continued to operate independently within Baidu's ecosystem [6]. Group 3: Decline of Third-Party App Stores - The rise of official app stores and improved app distribution by smartphone manufacturers led to a significant decline in the presence of third-party app stores like 91 Assistant [6][11]. - The shutdown of 91 Assistant on September 28, 2023, along with the earlier closure of similar services like PP Assistant, signifies the end of an era dominated by third-party app distribution [8][10]. - Other similar tools have also gradually exited the market since 2014, although their impact on the early smartphone development phase remains significant [11]. Group 4: Transition and Future Outlook - Despite the decline of many "mobile assistant" tools, some have successfully transitioned, such as Coolapk, which evolved from a mobile assistant to a community-focused platform for product discussions and social interactions [11].