App Store Searches Now Compensate for Typos and Misspellings

[MacRumors]

Apple has implemented changes to its App Store search engine to compensate for small typos, misspellings, and spacing issues, reports TechCrunch. Previously, an app name had to be spelled correctly and with the proper spacing in order to bring up desired search results unless a developer thought to include misspellings in keywords.

Sources familiar with the matter confirm to us that these App Store search engine changes went into effect a few weeks ago.

The improvements could lead to increased app downloads for affected developers, particularly those with hard-to-spell or lengthy titles, as many are only now beginning to realize.

According to App Store SEO firm SearchMan, comparing App Store search data taken earlier this year to search data from November shows a notable improvement in search results for misspelled words in many cases. "Newz," for example, used to show nine results, but with the built-in spelling correction, it now displays over 2,199.

SearchMan CEO Niren Hiro did find, however, that there's a cap of 2,200 results on misspellings, and some erroneous searches, such as "shoping" are seeing fewer results than before as the App Store now corrects for misspellings rather than looking for keyword matches. Some misspellings are also not returning many results, as a misspelled search for "restaurant" still turns up only two apps.

While autocorrected searches are a welcome and long overdue change in the App Store, app misspellings represent only a small percentage of App Store searches. According to App Store optimization firm Straply, which tested various spellings of "Angry Birds," correct spellings drove 98.48% of searches while misspelled variations failed to generate even a single percent of search volume.

Apple's spell check improvements come several months after the company implemented significant changes to its App Store Top Chart ranking algorithms to boost app discoverability.

Article Link: App Store Searches Now Compensate for Typos and Misspellings

 

[Max(IT)]

Is this a first page news ?!?

 

[PrayForDeath]

I still prefer to search through AppShopper

 

[dumastudetto]

I've noticed a significant improvement in search results. The App Store experience really is so far ahead of Google Play it's laughable at this point. It's good to see Apple continuing to drive innovation in both hardware and software to give consumers the best possible mobile experience.

 

[2bikes]

Diz iz good newz fo efribody!!

 

[quantumphysics]

perfevt for me

 

[Cougarcat]

Can't believe it took them this long to do this.

Now all they need to do is ditch the ridiculous "cards"-style search results UI.

 

[Tilpots]

About damn time.

 

[TWSS37]

I've noticed a significant improvement in search results. The App Store experience really is so far ahead of Google Play it's laughable at this point. It's good to see Apple continuing to drive innovation in both hardware and software to give consumers the best possible mobile experience.

You think this makes the App Store better at searching than a search company's engine?

 

[clamnectar]

Macrumors is really starting to stretch the "news and rumors you care about" slogan....

 

[abhishake]

Macrumors is really starting to stretch the "news and rumors you care about" slogan....

Literally was about to say the same thing.

 

[dumastudetto]

You think this makes the App Store better at searching than a search company's engine?

Google Play search is just shockingly bad. It just serves to demonstrate how badly they have lost focus while Apple has overtaken them in this area. It won't be long before Google Search is also used by a minority of users it's terrible these days.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Is this a first page news ?!?

Opvsley, iff Pepll cannn'd spel rytte

 

[GSPice]

This post was autocorrected perfectly.

 

[d4rkc4sm]

lets reward eliteracy!

 

[jamietshaw]

It's easy to make a typo, but why would anyone search for "newz" and expect to get results back?

 

[Bearxor]

Somebody tracks this?

 

[riptidewahoo]

y iz dis newz?

 

[musika]

Welcome to Google search in the late 90s.

 

[Sandstorm]

Took them long enough.

 

[nagromme]

Good grief--it's about time!

Glad to see a gap like this fixed.

 

[mrtravel123]

Macrumors is really starting to stretch the "news and rumors you care about" slogan....

Is this a first page news ?!?

I have yet to figure out why people are relentlessly questioning (or even complaining at times) about what Macrumors reports on.

Instead of publicly questioning the choices of the editorial staff, be grateful that they've permitted you to use their fantastic website for several years - absolutely free.

 

[BrianMojo]

"hotwls" -- took me way too long to realize this was supposed to be 'hotels.'

 

[Hustler1337]

Yhanks Aple, I rwally nweeded yhis fweachur! I new nut goin skhool waz tha rite ting.

 

[TWSS37]

Google Play search is just shockingly bad. It just serves to demonstrate how badly they have lost focus while Apple has overtaken them in this area. It won't be long before Google Search is also used by a minority of users it's terrible these days.

Have you used any of these recently? I have no issues with either.