By Ed Hardy •
Finding useful software in the App Store is about to get easier. Apple is apparently preparing to remove what it describes as “opportunistic” apps that provide little value to iPhone and iPad users.
It already had a policy of not approving applications that are “indistinguishable from what’s already widely available.” This week, it quietly warned developers that it will start removing low-value software that doesn’t attract attention from users.
While it might seem great that iPhone users have about 2.35 million applications to choose from, anyone who uses the App Store knows that it’s jammed with copycat apps, and these low-quality offerings make it difficult to find the good software.
Previously, Apple’s App Review Guidelines told developers to “avoid piling on to a category that is already saturated; the App Store has enough fart, burp, flashlight, fortune telling, dating, drinking games, and Kama Sutra apps, etc. already. We will reject these apps unless they provide a unique, high-quality experience.”
This week, the language in the App Review Guidelines (section 4.3) was updated to tell developers “Don’t submit apps that are indistinguishable from what’s already widely available.”
Plus, Apple now says that apps for “dating, flashlight, sound effects, wallpaper, simple timers, and fortune telling are well established on the App Store and we will not accept new submissions unless they offer a meaningfully different or improved experience.”
And the update added a warning that wasn’t included before: “We may remove these apps from the App Store going forward if they are not updated, improved, or do not attract customers.”
For consumers, kicking out cheap knock-off applications should result in a more curated App Store experience with fewer listings crowding search results. Especially as so many of the applications listed are rubbish.
That said, developers now face greater pressure to keep their apps updated and demonstrate that they offer real value to users. At the same time, legitimate software creators should also benefit from reduced competition from low-quality imitators.
Apple has not yet revealed how the new enforcement process will work or when removals will begin.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
It’s amazing the number of apps that haven’t been updated in years. I will be glad to see those gone or updated, if the developer is still paying attention.
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