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Apple Tightens App Store Review Requirements -- Gotta Own It First

Monday, September 29th, 2008 at 7:40 AM - by

Apple Inc. has changed a fundamental aspect of its App Store customer reviews, adding a requirement that customers have bought or downloaded it before being allowed to post a review. Users who have not downloaded a given app who click on the "Write a review" link found on every app in the App Store will be given a message (see the screenshot below) explaining the requirement.

According to our tests at iPodObserver.com, the restriction has been introduced for both free and paid apps on the App Store.

A novel idea, the move appears to have been aimed at counteracting the legions of dillweeds people who have posted 1-star reviews to protest the price of some paid apps without having actually downloaded or used it.

As noted by SiliconAlleyInsider, which first reported the development, Apple appears to have removed reviews that don't meet the requirement from the App Store.


Try to review an app before you've downloaded it, and you'll get this message.

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geoduck said:

member since 30 Dec 2003 with 1922 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:53 am

This is not a bad idea, both to avoid unwarranted flames as much as planted good reviews. IMO it makes the reviews a bit more believable.

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Bryan said:

member since 11 Jun 2001 with 7340 posts, TMO Staff, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:13 am

Heya Geoduck, I also think it a dandy idea, but I fear that this wouldn't stop unscrupulous developers from planting fake, positive reviews. Such people would be happy to pay 30% of their app's price to Apple several times over for such exposure, whereas the chucklehads posting the "THIS APP SHUD BE FREE" reviews aren't likely to pay to complain.

That said, I think the vast majority of developers won't be stooping to such tactics, especially with the new system weeding out the weaker members of the Internet gene pool.

Thanks for the post!

Bryan

Editor

TMO/iPO

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CDubber said:

member since 29 Sep 2008 with 1 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:01 am

Huzzah! This was a much-needed improvement.

You think all the "this app is too expensive!" reviews are annoying? Try all the reviews that are simply bigoted rants (like the comments about Mormons in LDS scripture app reviews), which Apple inexplicably allows to remain posted in perpetuity.

Sadly, these boneheads will still be able to post their drivel by downloading the free (or cheap) apps first.

What we really need is for the system to automatically delete apps that are deemed "Unhelpful" by a wide margin.

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A guest said: (hide)

Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:11 pm

LDS stuff? A historically proven fairy tale STILL passing itself off as Christianity, misleading so many people, deserves every damn thing they get. The book of Mormon is a stolen novel for Pete's sake. That sort of flagrant emotional abuse of people should fall under the jurisdiction of the courts. It's one thing to believe in God, and I think that's fine, I do too, but when someone's stolen novel is passed off as a revelation from God and millions are brainwashed into believing it, I will join the chorus in slamming it. Enough of taking advantage of people.

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