Apple Offers More Details About Upcoming App Store Review Policy Changes

[MacRumors]

Yesterday, Apple announced it was introducing new App Store review features in iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4 that would allow developers to respond to customer reviews for the first time. A few more details of note have emerged from Apple since then, courtesy of The Loop's Jim Dalrymple and Daring Fireball's John Gruber.

Speaking to Gruber, Apple said that developer responses to App Store reviews will show up in the store as a single response, but rather than having threaded conversations appear, customers will be able to edit their reviews and developers will be able to edit their replies. Notably, iOS users can now use 3D Touch to label reviews left in the App Store as "Helpful", something that couldn't be done before.

Currently, App Store review rating averages are reset each time a developer updates their app. However, although in-app review request prompts are to be limited to three a year, this limit won't be reset each time a developer subsequently updates their app. This is likely to frustrate developers, but it looks as if Apple has come down on the side of customers who are often subject to apps hassling them too frequently for reviews.

Perhaps most significantly for users, Dalrymple revealed that a "master switch" will be included in the next update that turns off user review request prompts across all installed apps.

On a final note, Apple told Gruber that existing apps won't have to change their review prompt behavior immediately after the APIs containing the policy changes have been implemented, but Apple offered no timeline for when the sanctions will come into force.

iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4 are currently only available for developers, but Apple will likely release public betas for public beta testers in the near future.

Article Link: Apple Offers More Details About Upcoming App Store Review Policy Changes

 

[benjitek]

Can't wait to flip the master switch, have always been annoyed by the prompts requesting a review, and that selecting 'never' doesn't shut them off.

 

[farewelwilliams]

this limit won't be reset each time a developer updates their app. This is likely to frustrate developers,

good. now they know how we feel when they ask too many times.

 

[Phil A.]

Can't wait to flip the master switch, have always been annoyed by the prompts requesting a review, and that selecting 'never' doesn't shut them off.

Couldn't agree more - I get completely fed up with the constant spamming for reviews by apps and make a point of never leaving a review for an app that asks for one.

Hopefully Apple won't delay too long before banning any other way of asking for reviews, otherwise that master switch will be useless

 

[Scottsoapbox]

What about a switch to turn off iOS update prompts?

 

[andy.ringwood]

Only 3 prompts per year. This is great news. And if we do want to write a review, we can do it in the app.

 

[ScottButler]

Does anyone know if there has been any changes to the way reviews are displayed in 10.3 for iPhone? For example on the iPad you can select to view 'most recent' reviews, but on the iPhone they're just seemingly in a random order. It's been like this ever since I can remember

 

[4a6d65]

Speaking to Gruber, Apple said that developer responses to App Store reviews will show up in the store as a single response, but rather than having threaded conversations appear, customers will be able to edit their reviews and developers will be able to edit their replies. Notably, iOS users can now use 3D Touch to label reviews left in the App Store as "Helpful", something that couldn't be done before.

This isn't ok. It's like some kid has just worked out how to do some sever side scripting in the 90's. Conversations should be threaded. This is an extremely convoluted way of doing this.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

This isn't ok. It's like some kid has just worked out how to do some sever side scripting in the 90's. Conversations should be threaded. This is an extremely convoluted way of doing this.

Meh, threads suck. People digress far more often when you allow them to have threads. Forcing it to be just a developer response to a single customer review keeps both the developer and customer on topic.

I love Stack Exchange because of how great it is at keeping things on topic. You have questions and answers (and clarifying comments). Nothing else is tolerated, and it's nicely built so people don't try to do the wrong thing very often.

But I guess I'm digressing now.

On topic: Finally. We've only been asking for this for nine years now. About time it was fixed.

 

[4a6d65]

Meh, threads suck. People digress far more often when you allow them to have threads. Forcing it to be just a developer response to a single customer review keeps both the developer and customer on topic.

I love Stack Exchange because of how great it is at keeping things on topic. You have questions and answers (and clarifying comments). Nothing else is tolerated, and it's nicely built so people don't try to do the wrong thing very often.

But I guess I'm digressing now.

On topic: Finally. We've only been asking for this for nine years now. About time it was fixed.

Yeah, but Stack Overflow also has many people commenting on a thing. This will only be between dev and user.

haha, yes, having it is much better than not having it. But it isn't an Apple way of doing this. If people want to discuss, moan or express this won't stop them. It will stop average end users possibly having dialogue because it's convoluted.

 

[Fall Under Cerulean Kites]

Single response is the correct way to do this. Otherwise, reviews become a support forum.

Turning off review prompts? Great news for app users!

And finally, not resetting the reviews per version is fantastic. Too many developers put out releases for “bug fixes” only to reset the reviews. (The Cloud Magic -> Newton debacle is a good example of this being done.)

 

[Cougarcat]

Hopefully Apple will enforce the API like they say they will. Unlike, say, ads in Notifications...

 

[Glassed Silver]

good. now they know how we feel when they ask too many times.

This one's for all devs who ask nicely to then only offer "Yes" and "Not now".

This master switch is some of the best iOS news in years, I'm not even kidding.

My quality of user experience will shoot up tremendously.

Hopefully Apple will enforce the API like they say they will. Unlike, say, ads in Notifications...

Good point. Maybe the positive feedback from users will have them reconsider the way they enforce this policy, because right now the policy might as well not exist at all.

Glassed Silver:ios

 

[NoahK17]

And finally, not resetting the reviews per version is fantastic. Too many developers put out releases for “bug fixes” only to reset the reviews. (The Cloud Magic -> Newton debacle is a good example of this being done.)

Where did you read that?

 

[Cosmosent]

Just finished reading the details on other websites.

This is only going to work if Apple resets the Ratings for ALL apps once SKStoreReviewController becomes mandatory.

Otherwise, those App Developers who (in the past) forced, tricked or relentlessly-pestered their Users into rating their app(s) will have an UN-fair advantage, similar to what occurred with the changes Apple announced on Sept 1st.

I doubt a single App Developer will adopt SKStoreReviewController unless / until Apple adds a benefit to apps that do so ... such as a GREEN FLAG ICON right next to an app's icon (on the iOS App Store), informing potential customers that such apps have adopted the new higher-integrity Rate & Review method ... Phil, are you listening ??? ... this isn't Rocket Science.

This GREEN FLAG ICON recommendation is similar (in concept) to the RED FLAG ICON I recommended to Apple exactly one week ago ... you'll need to see our news webpage for the details on that ... its a proposed fix to the iOS App Store that is absolutely needed.

 

[Cougarcat]

I doubt a single App Developer will adopt SKStoreReviewController unless / until Apple adds a benefit to apps that do so ... such as a GREEN FLAG ICON right next to an app's icon (on the iOS App Store), informing potential customers that such apps have adopted the new higher-integrity Rate & Review method ... Phil, are you listening ??? ... this isn't Rocket Science.

This GREEN FLAG ICON recommendation is similar (in concept) to the RED FLAG ICON I recommended to Apple exactly one week ago ... you'll need to see our news webpage for the details on that ... its a proposed fix to the iOS App Store that is absolutely needed.

Apple will never do something like that. No one would know what it means, it would look terrible, and it's not necessary. Developers will implement it if they want ratings in their app because if they don't they'll get rejected.

 

[zauriel]

And finally, not resetting the reviews per version is fantastic. Too many developers put out releases for “bug fixes” only to reset the reviews.

That's not what the article said. It said the limit of 3 review request prompts a year won't be reset just because an app is updated; it's 3 a year, total. I imagine the reviews themselves will still reset as they currently do with an update, with the option to still see the average among all versions of the app.

 

[ILikeAllOS]

What about a switch to turn off iOS update prompts?

There already is a switch for that.
It's called switch to Android, because you're obviously on the wrong platform if you would like to be behind on OS versions