News
Apple requires app download before allowing App Store review
By Charles Starrett
Contributing Editor
Published: Monday, September 29, 2008
News Categories: Apps + Games
Apple has quietly changed the App Store’s review policy, now requiring users to have actually downloaded or purchased an application before they are allowed to review it. This improvement has been long-requested by developers, who at times saw the ratings on their apps drop due to negative reviews from users who had never even used the application. Now, if a user attempts to review an application that they haven’t used, they are greeted by an alert explaining, “In order to write a Customer Review for this item you must have purchased or downloaded it.” [via TUAW]
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1
Hallelujah!
Posted by Galley in Greenville, SC on September 29, 2008 at 6:18 AM (PST)
2
Great change. Maybe now we can start to see some useful reviews for software that isn’t free. It seemed like most of the paid apps were flooded with one star reviews from people complaining that it wasn’t free.
Posted by Mark on September 29, 2008 at 6:21 AM (PST)
3
Makes much more sense. I wish though Apple would maintain its standards and prevent utterly useless apps from making their way to the App Store.
Posted by ramasaurus on September 29, 2008 at 8:35 AM (PST)
4
This is a good change. I’ve read some of the reviews before purchase and found way to many reviews from people that have never used the app but gave it a not so good rating. I hate reading reviews from people that have never used the product they’re reviewing.
Posted by Audrey McGirt on September 29, 2008 at 9:42 AM (PST)
5
Maybe allow non-owners of the app to leave comments only, with no review rating?
Posted by Steve on September 29, 2008 at 9:49 AM (PST)
6
At last! Maybe the reviews will actually be well-informed reviews, rather than endless 1-star “to expansive” and “shud be free” drivel that currently plague most applications review pages. I don’t understand why this wasn’t implemented from the start.
Non-owners should be able to leave nothing. No comments. No reviews. Nothing.
Posted by TexCub on September 29, 2008 at 2:37 PM (PST)
7
#5 Steve, why in the world should someone who doesn’t own the app be allowed to comment on it? No one is interested in reading these type of comments. Maybe you’re part of the problem?
Posted by HB on September 30, 2008 at 1:10 PM (PST)
8
now if apple could just find a way to keep the developers away from leaving a comment/review. some of them are soooo obvious. but it’s a good start. nothing worse than seeing some ##### put up one star and only say “first”
Posted by john on September 30, 2008 at 1:37 PM (PST)
9
===#5 Steve, why in the world should someone who doesn’t own the app be allowed to comment on it? No one is interested in reading these type of comments. Maybe you’re part of the problem?===
Posted by HB on September 30, 2008 at 2:10 PM (PDT)
I agree with Steve. Comments (but no star rating) should be allowed and for this reason. I have seen well-meaning posters (who didn’t give 1 star just to complain) who have suggested either a lower price or a certain feature be added before willing to buy. On several occasions, I’ve seen prices on apps lowered when a lot of people comment about that. Because, let’s face it. A lot of app developers are “optimistic” on what their app is worth.
Posted by Dale Reeck on October 1, 2008 at 4:13 AM (PST)