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Google to Fix Incorrect 1-Star App Ratings in Search Results Next Week

Friday December 4, 2015 8:42 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Google today acknowledged an ongoing issue causing a number of iPhone, iPad and Mac apps to display incorrect one-star ratings in its search results on the web, and confirmed that a fix should be implemented by early next week.

Dandelion 1 star
"I'm happy to share that we've been working hard on providing a solution, and a new fix has been scheduled for the next release, which should be rolling out early next week," wrote Google Search community manager AJ in the Google support forums.

A growing number of developers, including the makers of Dandelion, have reported incorrect one-star ratings in Google search results since late October, despite actually having higher-than-one-star ratings on iTunes.
One of the apps that we have developed - Dandelion App - has an average of 4 star rating on the iTunes store, however when you search it on Google Search, it comes up as 1 star. How does Google generate the average ratings on its search page? Is this an error? The app has more than 1 review - so just interested why it's coming up with the wrong information.
The issue appears to be limited to App Store apps that have not received enough ratings (five or more) to display an average for the current version, a threshold that can take a while to reach for apps that have limited downloads or frequent updates.

Google community manager AJ advises developers that continue to see incorrect ratings in search results after mid next week to report the issue in the Google support forums so the company can continue to investigate.

Tags: App Store, Google, iTunes
[ 82 comments ]


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illegalprelude
44 months ago
There has been a lot of these "bugs" lately that happen to hurt Google's competitors. So many bugs, so many coincidences.
Rating: 15 Votes
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btrach144
44 months ago
The fact that this error works so favorably in Google's favor is exactly why I've stopped using all things Google.
Rating: 9 Votes
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XboxMySocks
44 months ago
"Accidentally"
Rating: 9 Votes
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webbuzz
44 months ago
I wish google would fix the mobile friendly search results. And by fix, I mean get rid of it.
Rating: 9 Votes
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LordQ
44 months ago
I prefer Bing.
Rating: 7 Votes
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nt5672
44 months ago
People still use Google?
Rating: 5 Votes
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Studioman
44 months ago

I smell a conspiracy theorist coming to explain it all...

I smell a Google apologist coming to deflect yet another coincidental bug that tends to only affect their competitors. Of course Google is quick to search for and point out bugs in competitors software but not so much on theirs. Odd
Rating: 5 Votes
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iRikal
44 months ago
I smell a conspiracy theorist coming to explain it all...
Rating: 5 Votes
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samcraig
44 months ago

Quite simple. Customer does a search for a games they really like, the games really have a much higher rating on iOS, but Google displays them as 1 instead of 5. If this person is shopping for a new device, and plans to play lots of games, Android would appear to have an advantage.


I sincerely doubt the scenario you've created would have much affect at all. I'm pretty sure that if someone was really THAT interested in a game or games, they would click through to see the listing and read comments. Especially if it was going to make or break their decision on which phone to buy.
Rating: 4 Votes
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leftynaut
44 months ago

What does this have to do with Mac/Apple products? Who cares.


Seriously?
Rating: 4 Votes

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