App Store update stops developer abuse

APPLE HAS UPDATED the App Store, which acts as a marketplace for third party developers for Iphone and Ipod Touch applications, to prevent misuse.

It seems that some less scrupulous programmers have been regularly releasing minor updates in order to exploit a loophole in the way applications are ranked in order of release date.

Before the update, applications were sent to the top of the ranking list because the release date was reset with each update, regardles of how minor the changes. From now on all apps will be ranked according to the 'original' release date.

At least one developer has suggested that this move may hinder the development of better apps and games as programmers will be more inclined to chase big sales from new launches rather than spending time improving their existing work for less reward.

Apple has also addressed the fact that visitors to the Itunes App Store could post reviews when they had never even seen the application in question.

We suspect this has more to do with the number of users clogging up the system complaining about the disparity in pricing between the UK and the rest of the world, particulary the USA, than anyone posting malicious opinions, or trying to boost the profile of their own work by penning glowing reviews.

Anyone trying to post comments without having downloaded or paid for an app will be greeted with a pop-up which states, "You must own this item to write a customer review. In order to write a customer review you must have purchased or downloaded it." µ

L'Inq
Touchmeme’s Bog