TECH CRUNCH - Sep 11 - That Apple has used its App Store to offer itself a competitive advantage is nothing new. Apple displayed its apps in the No. 1 position on the Top Charts, for example, or banned apps that competed with iOS features or positioned its apps higher than competitors in search. Now, in the wake of antitrust investigations in the U.S. and abroad, as well as various anti-competitive lawsuits, Apple has adjusted the App Store's algorithm so fewer of its own apps would appear at the top of the search results.