App Store Search Results to Show More Ads Next Year, Says Apple

[mikethebigo]

It struck me that at my workplace, the instructions for installing an app specifically had to say to NOT select the first result when you searched for the specific app’s name. It’s a bad experience both for casual users and for businesses.

 

[Canyonero]

Since they introduced ads, I’ve stopped visiting the App Store unless it is to download a new app that is link redirected there. I used to browse it all the time. Sad how Apple chooses a poor customer experience for a few extra hundred millions nowadays.

 

[ATmahe]

I already have all apps I need, can’t remember when I last opened the AppStore to search for something 🤔
Also a simple websearch returns better results most of the time.

 

[bluecoast]

I haven't used the App Store in years its just full of **** and a horrible user experience.

Agreed. When the App Store first opened, I had fun buying loads of 99p (I'm in the UK) apps.

Nowadays, I'll do anything to avoid installing another app, as the App Store is horrible and apps generally try and grab as much PII data as possible.

Sad that Apple feels that they have to do this for more $.

And it's another hostile act towards their devs, who will need to pay even more in order to make sure that their app appears at the top of the relevant keyword search term.

 

[neuropsychguy]

It does come up, along with countless copy cat apps that try to scam you.

That sounds like the searching works, but there are issues with copy cat apps. If they are scam apps do you report them?

Can you give a specific example? I haven't seen this so I'm interested in learning what you've seen.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I already have all apps I need, can’t remember when I last opened the AppStore to search for something 🤔
Also a simple websearch returns better results most of the time.

Same. I haven't browsed the App Store in years.

The only reason to open it is if you already know what you want before hand. Even then, if you type the name of the app exactly, you often have scroll two pages to find it.

 

[TumbleDryer]

The App Store experience went to the dogs when they went from a dedicated app (fast and polished) to a web based thing. It's always been a little slow and clunky ever since then (long time ago).

I only ever open the App Store when there is an app I know I need. For example I had a tracker fitted to my car and to use it I needed an app. So I search for it by name (it appears about 5th in the results for some reason) install and then get the hell out of there.

That was my last foray into the store. I said earlier it was years but I forgot about the tracker.

 

[aries81]

I haven't used the App Store in years its just full of **** and a horrible user experience.

where do you get your apps from then?

 

[jdavid_rp]

How about fixing Today discovery? I'm sick of the same carousel of the same apps over and over.

Today is Honkai Star Rail. What's next tomorrow: Roblox, Royal Match, TikTok, or a dating app?

Tomorrow will be the "blog post" about the best tricks and tips to use the AI chatbot apps, again.

 

[Omega Mac]

Ah, another incentive to not move off IOS 18.....

Indeed!

 

[Omega Mac]

I don’t think that’s a very smart idea from Apple.

You can really feel that this is a financially driven decision and is not trying to help improve the App Store experience at all.

They are already so many scam apps with weekly subscriptions that I am super tired of opening the App Store.


Where is the Apple that is trying to build great products for end users and not great products to increase shareholder value for themselves and for VC funded startups?

Must be hard times for Apple when they need to advertise to their own customers in order to make a few extra pennies.

Destroy the EXPRIENCE damage the BRAND.

It is a BAD move on that front. A very BAD move.

Having the APP store as the authority for getting Apps to your phone, a very personal device that needs to be super secure, having ads in this area of the eco-system starts to turn that experience into becoming more like everywhere else and subtle differentiations a Trillion dollar market cap company is built on start to feel sub-prime, it undermines much.

 

[Kar98]

It struck me that at my workplace, the instructions for installing an app specifically had to say to NOT select the first result when you searched for the specific app’s name. It’s a bad experience both for casual users and for businesses.

I've made QR codes for DUO Mobile and Intelligent Hub for Apple and Android, and have users point their phone at them get the correct one. MUCH easier that way. And yes, it bypasses the ads on the appstores and goes directly where I need them to go.

 

[TumbleDryer]

where do you get your apps from then?

Im talking mainly about the Mac App Store so the developers sites directly. As regards iOS store I rarely download new apps there either, there's even more crap on there than the Mac App Store.

 

[xXRainKingXx]

Where is the Apple that is trying to build great products for end users and not great products to increase shareholder value for themselves and for VC funded startups?

Died with Jobs.

 

[iMac The Knife]

Meanwhile, over in the corner...

 

[tridley68]

More ads To clutter up the app store👎☹️

 

[dead.cell]

******tification, full steam ahead !

I like that I could read this without having to guess at all what was censored.

But yes, much is the way of the world. I thought about this just yesterday when I noticed my Google search results on my phone had 3-5 sponsored URLs at the top... and ANOTHER 3-5 sponsored URLs at the bottom.

Feels like we're devolving into the era of paid results. Didn't find what you were looking for? That poor dev should've paid for the opportunity to be presented as a result!

 

[Biro]

Interesting that this begins with iOS 26.2… right after I and millions of others finally took the plunge to 26. And after Apple began aggressively twisting everybody’s arms to do so. Coincidence? I think not. More nasty little surprises are likely.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Let’s not forget how this screws over developers who now have to pay to advertise their app so that when people search for their specific app by name they actually have a chance of being the first thing the user sees, rather than a competitor who paid for a deceptively prominent slot.

I used to be able to tell my users to go to the App Store and download the first result. Now I have to tell them to be careful not to get tricked into downloading something else. How is this better for anyone?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Jesus, they just came right out and said it?

You know you’ve got too much power over your platform when you can announce something users will not like, with no fear whatsoever of consequences.

 

[turbineseaplane]

This sure sounds like a platform that needs competition for software sales.

This is so unbelievably gross.

 

[MBAir2010]

think about how much that is, 1 trillion dollars laid end to end, is further then the earth is to sun, basically Apple has so much money that the dollar bills would go from earth to the sun 4 times. It takes light 8 minutes to get from the sun to earth - that's how far it is

this is a great observation-
I think that is the premise of the fist App Store Search Results Ad!

voice over infront of that dollar line from Cupertino to the sun graphic;
"We at s pride ourselves in sustainability..... as we can block the harmful sun rays four times over!"
the next ad is the support staff priding themselves for taking only 8 minutes to answer/reply to a baffled customer.
we, well ye should get some credit for writing these ads!

personal i never heard of App Store Search Results App.

 

[MilaM]

That sounds like the searching works, but there are issues with copy cat apps. If they are scam apps do you report them?

Can you give a specific example? I haven't seen this so I'm interested in learning what you've seen.

The first search result is always an ad, even when you search for a very specific app by name. There is plenty of opportunity to abuse this system. But of course it's profitable for Apple to effectively force app owners to pay for the first App Store spot. What's even more confusing is that sometimes the original app you were looking for will get a very small search result without screenshots.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

I don’t think that’s a very smart idea from Apple.

You can really feel that this is a financially driven decision and is not trying to help improve the App Store experience at all.

They are already so many scam apps with weekly subscriptions that I am super tired of opening the App Store.


Where is the Apple that is trying to build great products for end users and not great products to increase shareholder value for themselves and for VC funded startups?

I think it's smart. Why not take every possible opportunity to make money , cut corners, increase margins, and even advertising money? People will keep buying en masse anywyay

 

[turbineseaplane]

it's profitable for Apple to effectively force app owners to pay for the first App Store spot.

Tricks they learned from the pioneer of this awfulness (Google).