Apple Publishes First-Ever App Store Transparency Report

[sw1tcher]

Beautiful App? Sure.. MySpace was beautiful too. However, it's owned by Zukerberg tho..

WhatsApp is owned by Zuckerberg too, yet you want one for the iPad and Apple Watch

Remember?

Can WhatsApp team can work on bringing the app to an iPad, please. It will be beneficial and easier for the community to come together.

That’s a great feature but what about WhatsApp iPad App? 😒

How about WhatsApp on an iPad? Please make it happen. Long overdue!

First and foremost, where’s the WhatsApp iPad App? 🤐

Would be nice if this could have been done on an iPad or Apple Watch.

Still no WhatsApp for the iPad and Apple Watch. Where is it? 😬

 

[vegetassj4]

WhatsApp is owned by Zuckerberg too, yet you want one for the iPad and Apple Watch

Remember?

Yeah, what's up with that?

 

[Attirex]

You could have simply looked at who the publisher was.

I needed the app to authenticate Office apps for work and was in a hurry bc of a deadline. Yes, I could have checked the publisher, but I *shouldn't have to* in the "trusted" environment of the App Store search results, which have become no better than a scammy sideshow barker trying to entice me to see the bearded lady for US $10,000 per week.

In which reality is the actual MS Authenticator app the second or third hit, not the first? Oh right, the reality in which $$$ matters more than user experience/safety, despite what Apple like to trumpet in fawning press releases.

Thanks, Obama.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

WhatsApp is owned by Zuckerberg too, yet you want one for the iPad and Apple Watch

Remember?

Dang! That search bar came in very handy today. 😃

WhatsApp app is not the same as FaceBook Tho. WhatsApp definitely does not show random Ads either. Don't think they are data mining like Facebook. I can go on and on... I'm just not a fan of Facebook. Huge difference between those two. 😅

 

[nt5672]

Apple is really rolling out the propaganda these days. Lets hope people are smart enough to not be fooled by a lot of frivolous spending on Apple's part.

 

[Jgreg00]

I needed the app to authenticate Office apps for work and was in a hurry bc of a deadline. Yes, I could have checked the publisher, but I *shouldn't have to* in the "trusted" environment of the App Store search results, which have become no better than a scammy sideshow barker trying to entice me to see the bearded lady for US $10,000 per week.

In which reality is the actual MS Authenticator app the second or third hit, not the first? Oh right, the reality in which $$$ matters more than user experience/safety, despite what Apple like to trumpet in fawning press releases.

Thanks, Obama.

It’s the first hit that doesn’t have an obvious AD badge right on the listing. It’s not that complicated. You were just in a hurry and couldn’t be bothered.

 

[astrorider]

Why I never use the App store these days:

Wanted to install the MS Authenticator app. Did a search, first hit is "Authenticator," which is NOT the MS app, but uses a very similar icon and branding. Not realizing this, I installed it, launched, and next thing I know I'm being prompted to approve a criminally expensive subscription. Luckily, I realized my mistake.

**** you, Apple. Your app store is a mess. Clean it up.

I tried that and see what you're referring to. This is the problem with ads showing above the best match of the thing you searched for. Any developer can pay to be the top search result

 

[Arcus]

Why I never use the App store these days:

Wanted to install the MS Authenticator app. Did a search, first hit is "Authenticator," which is NOT the MS app, but uses a very similar icon and branding. Not realizing this, I installed it, launched, and next thing I know I'm being prompted to approve a criminally expensive subscription. Luckily, I realized my mistake.

**** you, Apple. Your app store is a mess. Clean it up.

If you search for Microsoft Authenticator its the first one. I think people just like to complain for the sake of complaining and don't take responsibility for their actions.

 

[mthomas184]

Why I never use the App store these days:

Wanted to install the MS Authenticator app. Did a search, first hit is "Authenticator," which is NOT the MS app, but uses a very similar icon and branding. Not realizing this, I installed it, launched, and next thing I know I'm being prompted to approve a criminally expensive subscription. Luckily, I realized my mistake.

**** you, Apple. Your app store is a mess. Clean it up.

Im guessing the big blue border and the word AD didn't give it away?

 

[no_idea]

It’s the first hit that doesn’t have an obvious AD badge right on the listing. It’s not that complicated. You were just in a hurry and couldn’t be bothered.

Correct. It’s never their fault 🙃

 

[sw1tcher]

WhatsApp app is not the same as FaceBook Tho. WhatsApp definitely does not show random Ads either. Don't think they are data mining like Facebook.

🤣

WhatsApp Has Shared Your Data With Facebook for Years, Actually

A pop-up notification has alerted the messaging app's users to a practice that's been in place since 2016.

www.wired.com

Since Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014, users have wondered and worried about how much data would flow between the two platforms. Many of them experienced a rude awakening this week, as a new in-app notification raises awareness about a step WhatsApp actually took to share more with Facebook back in 2016.

.... WhatsApp has shared data with Facebook since 2016 for the vast majority of its now 2 billion-plus users.

When WhatsApp launched a major update to its privacy policy in August 2016, it started sharing user information and metadata with Facebook.

“Our updated Terms and Privacy Policy provide more information on how we process your data, and our commitment to privacy,” WhatsApp wrote on Monday. “As part of the Facebook Companies, WhatsApp partners with Facebook to offer experiences and integrations across Facebook’s family of apps and products.”

.... that doesn't mean there isn't still a trove of other data WhatsApp can collect and share about how you use the app. The company says it collects user information "to operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our Services.”

In practice, this means that WhatsApp shares a lot of intel with Facebook, including account information like your phone number, logs of how long and how often you use WhatsApp, information about how you interact with other users, device identifiers, and other device details like IP address, operating system, browser details, battery health information, app version, mobile network, language and time zone. Transaction and payment data, cookies, and location information are also all fair game to share with Facebook depending on the permissions you grant WhatsApp in the first place.

“WhatsApp is great for protecting the privacy of your message content,” says Johns Hopkins University cryptographer Matthew Green. “But it feels like the privacy of everything else you do is up for grabs."

 

[mthomas184]

I needed the app to authenticate Office apps for work and was in a hurry bc of a deadline. Yes, I could have checked the publisher, but I *shouldn't have to* in the "trusted" environment of the App Store search results, which have become no better than a scammy sideshow barker trying to entice me to see the bearded lady for US $10,000 per week.

In which reality is the actual MS Authenticator app the second or third hit, not the first? Oh right, the reality in which $$$ matters more than user experience/safety, despite what Apple like to trumpet in fawning press releases.

Thanks, Obama.

Look, I'm in a hurry to a lot of days at work, doesn't mean you cant take literally 5 seconds and make sure you are getting the right app.

Stop complaining because of your screw up.

 

[75Batt]

I needed the app to authenticate Office apps for work and was in a hurry bc of a deadline. Yes, I could have checked the publisher, but I *shouldn't have to* in the "trusted" environment of the App Store search results, which have become no better than a scammy sideshow barker trying to entice me to see the bearded lady for US $10,000 per week.

In which reality is the actual MS Authenticator app the second or third hit, not the first? Oh right, the reality in which $$$ matters more than user experience/safety, despite what Apple like to trumpet in fawning press releases.

Thanks, Obama.

MS don’t OWN the word authenticator. so if you type that obviously lots of options will come up. If you type MS authenticator it’s the top hit below the ad.

 

[Candy Apple+ Nutz]

It’s probably more like a smokey glass where you can see a silhouette vs transparency. But it’s definitely a step forward.

They need a super purge as far as I’m concerned.

 

[astrorider]

Look, I'm in a hurry to a lot of days at work, doesn't mean you cant take literally 5 seconds and make sure you are getting the right app.

Stop complaining because of your screw up.

I actually think it's a pretty dumb interface. If you search for an app by its unique name, a good search interface would list the best match as the first result. We're not talking about a generic search term like "Authenticator apps". You're also not doing a Google search where you're searching the entire web. You're searching only for apps, by its unique name. The first result should be the matching app. Just because you and I know the first result is almost always an Ad doesn't mean everyone knows this.

 

[justperry]

Almost 37 million developer accounts (Wow), so, about $3.7 billion profit....🤔😜

 

[75Batt]

I actually think it's a pretty dumb interface. If you search for an app by its unique name, a good search interface would list the best match as the first result. We're not talking about a generic search term like "Authenticator apps". You're also not doing a Google search where you're searching the entire web. You're searching only for apps, by its unique name. The first result should be the matching app. Just because you and I know the first result is almost always an Ad doesn't mean everyone knows this.

The Offcial MS app is the top hit if you actually specify it’s the MS app you’re looking for instead of just authenticator

 

[mthomas184]

I actually think it's a pretty dumb interface. If you search for an app by its unique name, a good search interface would list the best match as the first result. We're not talking about a generic search term like "Authenticator apps". You're also not doing a Google search where you're searching the entire web. You're searching only for apps, by its unique name. The first result should be the matching app. Just because you and I know the first result is almost always an Ad doesn't mean everyone knows this.

But it literally says AD right there. AND it's shaded so the ad stands out even more.

Not to mention, OP clearly knew it was called Microsoft Authenticator because they explicitly searched for MS Authenticator. Why would you download something not named what you are looking for

 

[anselpela]

Don't see how any of these numbers help anyone.

 

[WWPD]

Store Transparency...well duhh....the've had that for a while.

****ducks****

View attachment 2204359

People who live in glass houses....oh, nevermind.

 

[JamesHolden]

Why I never use the App store these days:

Wanted to install the MS Authenticator app. Did a search, first hit is "Authenticator," which is NOT the MS app, but uses a very similar icon and branding. Not realizing this, I installed it, launched, and next thing I know I'm being prompted to approve a criminally expensive subscription. Luckily, I realized my mistake.

**** you, Apple. Your app store is a mess. Clean it up.

I rarely use the App Store. Whenever I do, it's very difficult to sift through all of the crap. There are so many knock-off apps and half-baked apps. One of the downsides to the App Store is that it has given a lot of very mediocre developers a platform. Those same developers wouldn't be able to afford a website, payment processing, etc. for the handful of licenses they sell. But, on the App Store, it basically costs them nothing to sell their garbage apps, which is why the App Store is such a wasteland of mediocrity.

 

[vegetassj4]

People who live in glass houses....oh, nevermind.

Don't worry, it's Gorrila Glass 8™ ....the lightest toughest glass we've ever made.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

I rarely use the App Store. Whenever I do, it's very difficult to sift through all of the crap. There are so many knock-off apps and half-baked apps. One of the downsides to the App Store is that it has given a lot of very mediocre developers a platform. Those same developers wouldn't be able to afford a website, payment processing, etc. for the handful of licenses they sell. But, on the App Store, it basically costs them nothing to sell their garbage apps, which is why the App Store is such a wasteland of mediocrity.

I miss the day when I could just open up iTunes and scroll through difrent apps way more clearly than on a tiny iPhone screen.

Cries in nostalgi.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

1.7 million apps and everyone uses the same thousand or so. (But regionally dependant.)

My bigger question is. How many of these 1.7 million apps are just the same app but the ipad or the free and payed app version.

20 difrent versions of the same app but for difrent markets with little to no difrence.

A website in an app form.
And apps that tries to be a clone of a similar app. Like a million angry birds lookalike. Ninja fruid copies etc etc that just tried to ride the hype of the game of the month

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Don't see how any of these numbers help anyone.

They don't. Apple is just being Transparent.