App Store Changes in Reviews and Listings
Over the weekend, Apple has implemented some changes to the way their iTunes App Store listings and reviews are handled.
One issue that had been the source of developer frustration is that anyone had previously been allowed to leave "Customer Reviews" -- even for apps they had not personally purchased. This led to a frequent comments complaining about price from individuals who had never bought the application. A simple change this weekend now requires customers to have bought the application in order to be able to leave a customer review. Both customers and developers seem pleased about this change.
Another change has been the removal of the "All iPhone Applications" link which has typically provided a method for customers to view the most recently released applications. Instead, users must visit individual categories to see the latest releases. This change may be part of larger changes, however. One developer claims (via AppleInsider) that App Store listings are now organized by true release dates rather than most recent updates. In the past, any version update would bump an application to the top of the list, increasing its exposure.
While this would be a welcome change that should prevent frequent and unnecessary app "updates", without the presence of the "All iPhone Applications" listing, the benefit is limited, since users have to visit each individual category to find new applications.
In the meanwhile, readers can use these RSS feeds (currently in testing) to find new applications, version updates, and price drops in the App Store:
All Changes
New Apps (All)
New Apps (Free)
New Apps (Paid)
Price Drops (and Increases)
Version Updates
One issue that had been the source of developer frustration is that anyone had previously been allowed to leave "Customer Reviews" -- even for apps they had not personally purchased. This led to a frequent comments complaining about price from individuals who had never bought the application. A simple change this weekend now requires customers to have bought the application in order to be able to leave a customer review. Both customers and developers seem pleased about this change.
Another change has been the removal of the "All iPhone Applications" link which has typically provided a method for customers to view the most recently released applications. Instead, users must visit individual categories to see the latest releases. This change may be part of larger changes, however. One developer claims (via AppleInsider) that App Store listings are now organized by true release dates rather than most recent updates. In the past, any version update would bump an application to the top of the list, increasing its exposure.
While this would be a welcome change that should prevent frequent and unnecessary app "updates", without the presence of the "All iPhone Applications" listing, the benefit is limited, since users have to visit each individual category to find new applications.
In the meanwhile, readers can use these RSS feeds (currently in testing) to find new applications, version updates, and price drops in the App Store:
All Changes
New Apps (All)
New Apps (Free)
New Apps (Paid)
Price Drops (and Increases)
Version Updates
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
44 months ago
Interesting, some of the price changes are kind of odd to see especially the price increases, but besides that i like to see the reviews only being limited to the customers. There are reviews by users who just want to waste peoples time and are pointless, the developers are 100% right that they should not receive negative feedback from someone who hasnt even tried there product.
44 months ago
Awesome, only customers who purchased can review. That's a welcome change I believe. I was pretty tired of 1 star reviews because people complained about the price. You'd think it would be common sense to just not review something you haven't used??
44 months ago
Apple should have had it this way from the start. I hope they have a way to scrub the existing reviews to get rid of all the ones submitted by people who didn't download the app.
44 months ago
I think we're seeing the first signs of the AppStore maturing.
The RSS feeds look great - there have been some great bargains recently with priced drops, definitely a shame to miss out on them
The RSS feeds look great - there have been some great bargains recently with priced drops, definitely a shame to miss out on them
44 months ago
That was one of the reasons that I never took the reviews seriously. I found that I could leave a review for an application I was looking at buying, and read some reviews and noticed that many were invalid.
Hopefully this will start to show the correct ratings for applications in a more reliable fashion.
Hopefully this will start to show the correct ratings for applications in a more reliable fashion.
44 months ago
I'm fairly convinced the 'update' date thing is a bug, not intentional.
For one thing the date has actually rolled back to the SUBMISSION date not the original RELEASE date. That makes no sense, given the variable queue length.
For another, this is a known issue going back as far as August that occurred for SOME applications when editing meta data. I'm willing to bet that when trying to fix the iTunes database after the weekend problems they've triggered it for all apps. See these threads for reference.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7917099�
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8018774�
For one thing the date has actually rolled back to the SUBMISSION date not the original RELEASE date. That makes no sense, given the variable queue length.
For another, this is a known issue going back as far as August that occurred for SOME applications when editing meta data. I'm willing to bet that when trying to fix the iTunes database after the weekend problems they've triggered it for all apps. See these threads for reference.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7917099�
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8018774�
44 months ago
It's too bothersome to hunt through each individual catagory to find new, or updated Apps.
I don't mind the fact that if a Developer is really on the ball, and is constantly working on updates for their App, if it bumps it up in the Store. That just shows that they are listening to customer feedback and suggestions.
I really hope that Apple brings the All Apps back, or they have lost some sales from this customer because I will NOT search or browse through all that mess when I'm used to getting it in a couple of clicks.
I don't mind the fact that if a Developer is really on the ball, and is constantly working on updates for their App, if it bumps it up in the Store. That just shows that they are listening to customer feedback and suggestions.
I really hope that Apple brings the All Apps back, or they have lost some sales from this customer because I will NOT search or browse through all that mess when I'm used to getting it in a couple of clicks.
44 months ago
I hope this applies to the iPod games section of the store too. So many reviews on games there give it one star and comment like "COME ON! This is lame! We want games like Mario Bros on our iPods! Stop with this stupid [insert game name] crap!"
44 months ago
Apple should have had it this way from the start. I hope they have a way to scrub the existing reviews to get rid of all the ones submitted by people who didn't download the app.
I would second that thought, however as im sure you already thought of, implementing that may be a mess. With hundreds maybe thousands of apps with hundreds maybe thousands of reviews it could be a process apple doesnt want to go through the hassle of
44 months ago
Now why can they not do this with the rest of the iTunes store. I would be GREAT if only purchasers could review music and particularly movies!
I am so sick of "iTunes, I want to buy not rent! Click yes if you agree!"....
I am so sick of "iTunes, I want to buy not rent! Click yes if you agree!"....
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