App Store quietly changes review policy

Since its inception in July, a more fair user-review process has been one of the most constant complaints/requests for the App Store. The old process, which was the same as the existing policy for podcasts, movies, TV shows and music, allowed anyone to review an applcation, regardless if that person had purchased the app or not. The frequent result is as you might expect: 100 reviews kvetching about price by people who never even purchased the application. That isn't fair to developers, and it isn't fair to potential buyers.

Fortunately, Apple has decided to change the review process. Starting today (well, I noticed it for the first time today, and so did Matt Gemmell), you have to actually own the application in order to review it. Go ahead and try to enter a review for an app you haven't downloaded or purchased, you'll get the dialog box at the top of this post.

This is a GREAT step to making the App Store more equitable for both users and developers. Certainly, it doesn't make up for all of the other valid complaints about the NDA and Apple's non-transparent app review process, but it does address the issue that arguably can have the most impact on application sales.

Although free apps will surely still be littered with reviews that solely exist to complain or try to promote another product or continue Internet wars like we're all 12 years old, I don't expect BS reviews to continue to appear on paid apps. After all, is someone really going to pay to trash a competitor's app? This means that the reviews, both postive and negative, can become more reliable, and that would-be customers have a better chance of actually parsing their opinions before making a purchase.

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Source: http://mattgemmell.com/2008/09/27/apple-is-listening

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Analysis / Opinion App Store

Since its inception in July, a more fair user-review process has been one of the most constant complaints/requests for the App Store. The...

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massimo.berta

I think all developer wait for this, now I hope they'll esare all the previous "non owner" reviews.

September 28 2008 at 4:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ex-Newt

On a semi-related note, did Apple drop some apps from the App Store.

Right now there are only 90 pages of iPhone apps, I thought there used to be like 115 pages of apps just for the iPhone?

Any idea why this post keeps getting deleted?

September 28 2008 at 12:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ex-Newt

On a semi-related note, did Apple drop some apps from the App Store. Right now there are only 90 pages of iPhone apps, I thought there used to be like 115 pages of apps just for the iPhone?

September 28 2008 at 11:53 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ex-Newt

I have been noting this in my own reviews since day 4 - I mean look at FM Touch - yes it is expensive UNLESS YOU NEED a FileMaker Pro database on your iPhone.

A lot of these iDiot reviewers just say "too expensive - 1 star" without owning it. Now Apple, just clear up the NDN stuff and we'll all be happy.

September 28 2008 at 11:47 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Howie Isaacks

Finally, Apple institutes a GOOD policy for the app store. My company develops iPhone apps. We don't want people who don't own it to comment on it. How can you really know how well an app works or, if it was really worth your money if you didn't buy it?

September 28 2008 at 11:46 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

artifex

have they removed the old reviews from nonbuyers, yet?

September 28 2008 at 11:00 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

PXT

Good change by Apple I say.

And can I add that this improvement has happened because Apple increased control, rather than the 'opening up' that we always hear so much about.

September 28 2008 at 9:19 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

smokeonit

i was wondering from day 1 why apple is allwoing people that had not purchased the app to comment...

and it was quite obvious @ some apps that many hadn't purchased the app, since the comments were so not on topic....

it think it's a good thing to not allow people who didn't purchase the app to comment...

September 28 2008 at 9:10 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

moonmen

I disagree, the reviews have been positively affecting the economics of the app store, by weeding out the crap, problem is apple keeps letting it back in...with different names...

September 28 2008 at 8:20 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jash Sayani

I am tired of Apple. Who cares about Apple / AppStore and their stupid policies !

September 28 2008 at 3:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Jash Sayani's comment

Alex

Well Jash if you don't, you seem to be on the wrong website. Perhaps you should make yourself and the rest of us happy and hit the "back" button.

September 28 2008 at 5:52 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply