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Apple Now Lets Customers Rate and Review Pre-Installed Apps on the App Store

As an App developer, the review are used for other purpose than reviewing current apps. Often users comment on giving one star until "x feature" is added and say that then they will give 5 stars. But, of course they forget updating that unfair review when feature is added and thus, the whole process is kind of failure. This happens more on the Android version, which I have no explanation on why.
 
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Doesn't give me the option. I guess they are rolling the feature out slowly. Shame cause I was looking forward to giving the Podcast app the 1 star review it deserves.
 
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It took them long enough to do something that should have been an absolutely natural thing to do directly with the introduction of the App Store in 2008.
 
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Abazigal said:
My guess is that this point, it’s a conscious decision by Apple not to include too many features in their stock apps. This avoids over complicating the app and over serving users.

Many users don’t need or care for smart speed, because their typical use case involves having a podcast show up, and them listening to it. At regular speed. That’s really all they want in an app.

What I see Apple likes to do is to bake in just enough functionality in their core apps to serve about 80% of their user base, and if they desire more, that’s where third party apps like overcast and Castro come in.
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That’s pretty much how I view free preinstalled apps on an OS. Problem is apple then has their plus version and that rationale goes out the window. Plus doesn’t mean a better app but just content that flows through it.

I’d guess this is nothing apple wanted to do but all about trying to look better for the incoming antitrust cases. Why don’t you let users review your apps apple? You’re not treating all apps equally.
 
Apple should make these pre-installed apps totally independent of major iOS updates so they can receive regular app updates as they fix issues, etc. Just like we get an update for Spotify, why can't we get weekly improvements around mail, music, calendar, etc. This would make the x.1 releases focus on the true core of iOS
 
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bluecoast said:
Incidentally, I was watching ‘Foundation’ - very good btw - I couldn’t help but think it was an analogy about Apple.

Fellow viewers will be able to easily guess what I mean (no spoilers here).
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When do you think the first of Steve Jobs' perfect genetic clones will be mature enough to take over the job of running the Empire?
 
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You know, the reviews showed in this photo really aren't off. I'm all for updating applications to make them better, but how can they justify the past like 2 updates on podcasts? Bring back the super simple single feed they had like 3+ years ago and get rid of this convoluted mess they have going on now.
 
cardfan said:
I’d guess this is nothing apple wanted to do but all about trying to look better for the incoming antitrust cases. Why don’t you let users review your apps apple? You’re not treating all apps equally.
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So what if people are able to rate Apple apps? Sure, we may see some coordinated attempt to bomb the ratings in the short run, but I am not sure what that is going to solve exactly. The preinstalled default is still the preinstalled default.

I suppose it may have something to do with antitrust, but it just feels like everyone is reading way too much into this.
 
Reason077 said:
Those 1-star reviews on the Podcasts app seem a little unfair to me.

Yes, the UI could use some improvement. I particularly don't like how deeply it buries some commonly used (by me) features, like "recently played".

But, compared to the BBC's awful "BBC Sounds" app, which seems to go out of its way to make it hard for you to find content you're looking for (or even any good new relevant content), the Apple Podcasts app is a discovery dream!
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I also worry if some of those reviews start being taken too seriously, comply and start bloating every single app…

I don’t know why Notes would such low stars reviews either, it takes notes pretty damn well (and then tons of other things too).

Although knowing Apple’s behavior on hearing customer feedback, unlikely.
 
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I love Apple products, but the podcast app is terrible. The battery drain alone makes it virtually unusable. I finally downloaded Overcast and haven't looked back.
 
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Glad they did this in the name of fairness or whatever people are clamoring for. It's unfortunate some here are still so misinformed, they don't know they've been able to replace most apps with third party offerings for a while now.
 
Reason077 said:
Those 1-star reviews on the Podcasts app seem a little unfair to me.

Yes, the UI could use some improvement. I particularly don't like how deeply it buries some commonly used (by me) features, like "recently played".

But, compared to the BBC's awful "BBC Sounds" app, which seems to go out of its way to make it hard for you to find content you're looking for (or even any good new relevant content), the Apple Podcasts app is a discovery dream!
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Not to me. I never had an issue with the Podcast app (on ios13?) Everything just worked as expected.
Now? It takes me 3-4 extra key presses just to play the next episode.

The comment "did Apple contract this out" was perfect.
 
Idk why they can't update their apps separately from the OS. If they can be downloaded from App Store, can't they be updated that way? Seems like an easier solution than installing a whole iOS update every time messages or photos needs a fix.
 
brian3uk said:
Idk why they can't update their apps separately from the OS. If they can be downloaded from App Store, can't they be updated that way? Seems like an easier solution than installing a whole iOS update every time messages or photos needs a fix.
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That is my problem, too. I switched to Mailmate after years of using Apple Mail quite happily b/c I was having horrible problems with Mail's new interface under Big Sur and wanted to transcend above Cupertino's antics and whims about changing things. Speaking from a cybersecurity perspective (my field) there is no reason to tie an app like Mail to the OS in terms of updating. Maaaaybe Safari for the web hooks, but Mail? Podcasts? iTunes? Please.

Heck, I'm surprised Apple hasn't yet pushed a 3GB OS update because they changed the color of the marble board in Chess.
 
Shirasaki said:
Finally something users can pour their frustration and anger towards apple to, and it would be public.

Hope this will tear Apple’s “WE ARE THE BEST” tinfoil hat a little bit and face the reality.
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I'm sure they're aware regardless of app ratings in the App Store.

But I also don't think reviews for built-in apps are necessarily representative of anything. Obviously the people writing reviews are more likely to be dissatisfied with the stock offerings, so they're going to trend more negative by default.
 
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