But really, developers need to keep up with the updates because new iOS with idevices coming yearly...gotta keep up with bugs and compatibility.
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Apple to Clean Up App Store, Eliminate Outdated and Non-Functional Apps
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Apple really needs to focus on forcing CURRENT & ACTIVE app developers to make apps look native on the 6/6S and soon to be iPhone 7 screen resolutions...
It's been 2 freaking years since the larger screen phones came out, yet app devs continue to be lazy and don't update popular apps to native screen resolutions.
It's been 2 freaking years since the larger screen phones came out, yet app devs continue to be lazy and don't update popular apps to native screen resolutions.
This 1000x over. For people that make real games and are in the RPG or adventure category it's nearly impossible to get exposure on the charts because they are filled with these scam apps that are all the same just with diff screenshots and diff shell companies . They have all 1 start reviews besides the purchased reviews.
About freaking time!!!
No one wants to walk to a grocery story and browse between 50 different kinds of ketchup where half of them are past the 'best before date' or piles of stale bread or bad dairy.
AppStore should be no different. I would start with apps that do not offer updated resolutions for iPhone 6/6+ and newer. The developers that cared about this had already updated their apps. Others, well, they had two years, and if still, they do not have an updated application, such application should be removed from the AppStore to limit people's disappointment, especially that there are no trials or it isn't always obvious to everyone on how to request money back.
No one wants to walk to a grocery story and browse between 50 different kinds of ketchup where half of them are past the 'best before date' or piles of stale bread or bad dairy.
AppStore should be no different. I would start with apps that do not offer updated resolutions for iPhone 6/6+ and newer. The developers that cared about this had already updated their apps. Others, well, they had two years, and if still, they do not have an updated application, such application should be removed from the AppStore to limit people's disappointment, especially that there are no trials or it isn't always obvious to everyone on how to request money back.
I really like the suggestion above that App Store gets split in two. One for games, one for everything else. Maybe there are apps on the border of the two, but I can't think of any.
I play a lot of games, but it's annoying to search for basically any non-game and be flooded with irrelevant stuff.
Top charts tab tells you 90% of Apple's revenue is from games, but it's the non-game apps that justifies buying latest devices for many people / companies. You tell yourself you need Dropbox (or Word or whatever) to work better on the phone...
I play a lot of games, but it's annoying to search for basically any non-game and be flooded with irrelevant stuff.
Top charts tab tells you 90% of Apple's revenue is from games, but it's the non-game apps that justifies buying latest devices for many people / companies. You tell yourself you need Dropbox (or Word or whatever) to work better on the phone...
EA Scrabble
Scrabble, for pete's sake. I haven't been able to create a game against a new opponent for years. There's a bot responding to every single email request for help. Please release this game back into the wild and let a developer who gives a rat's patootie take it over.
Of course we can. You can remove an app from sale at any point from iTunes connect.
This is a good thing! Especially search.
Here's what I'd like to see.
1) Detect which iOS / macOS / OS X version I'm accessing the App Store with and only show me those Apps capable of running on my platform.
2) Define "outdated" ? If an App ran fine on iOS 6,7,8 but maybe not 9, does that mean users with older version can now no longer purchase it ? There was some good work done in the past. Some of it better than today.
3) Always support/keep available for re-download purchased Apps regardless how old. I get that you don't want Apps advertised for iOS 4 still showing, but if I purchased it in the past, I should always be able to download it again.
4) Please separate "Apps" from "Games". I rarely browse the Apps store anymore for all the "fun" games that clutter the aisles. Just like going to the mall, if I want to shop for some professional and mature products, I don't want to be forced to wade thru a Toys R Us entrance every time. Games make up such a large section of the store now, that I think it deserves its own portal.
Also, quick reminder to all those here trashing "old" devices. I have a perfectly pristine looking and fully working iPod Touch 4th Gen that I used everyday in my car. It's "latest" iOS is version 6.1.6 and it is *only* 3 years old. iOS 7 was only released 3 years ago and since then Apple has raced through 4 major changes/version upgrades in that timespan.
Sure things become "obsolete", but hey, we're not talking 8-track or walkman here. I expect Apple to support their premium dollar devices for more than 3 years.
Here's what I'd like to see.
1) Detect which iOS / macOS / OS X version I'm accessing the App Store with and only show me those Apps capable of running on my platform.
2) Define "outdated" ? If an App ran fine on iOS 6,7,8 but maybe not 9, does that mean users with older version can now no longer purchase it ? There was some good work done in the past. Some of it better than today.
3) Always support/keep available for re-download purchased Apps regardless how old. I get that you don't want Apps advertised for iOS 4 still showing, but if I purchased it in the past, I should always be able to download it again.
4) Please separate "Apps" from "Games". I rarely browse the Apps store anymore for all the "fun" games that clutter the aisles. Just like going to the mall, if I want to shop for some professional and mature products, I don't want to be forced to wade thru a Toys R Us entrance every time. Games make up such a large section of the store now, that I think it deserves its own portal.
Also, quick reminder to all those here trashing "old" devices. I have a perfectly pristine looking and fully working iPod Touch 4th Gen that I used everyday in my car. It's "latest" iOS is version 6.1.6 and it is *only* 3 years old. iOS 7 was only released 3 years ago and since then Apple has raced through 4 major changes/version upgrades in that timespan.
Sure things become "obsolete", but hey, we're not talking 8-track or walkman here. I expect Apple to support their premium dollar devices for more than 3 years.
It would be nice if, in this rule revision, we could end the practice of companies updating their apps every few weeks just cuz. Facebook, for example, seems to always have a "new version" with no notes on whats changing.
As a matter of personal taste, I too prefer older versions for selected apps. I have old iOS 4/6 iPod Touches with old version games synched from my Snow Leopard Macbook Pro. I like the way they look and the way they behave and will keep these old devices until they break. The other day, while synching certain updated apps to my new iOS 9 iPod Touch with new Macbook Air, I got a glimpse of the "updated" Scrabble game. oooooooo --New Look! No thank you. I prefer the old, more sedate, easy-on-the-eyes, version. Since these old versions are stored on my Macbook, Apple can do what it wants with its store.
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This is really common for a lot of apps developed by Chinese developers. Some of them only feature reader function but if you search other apps, those long-name apps will also be included, even though they don't have the feature you want.
From what I have seen and witnessed and tried there is no way to load your apps onto iTunes in the current iTunes software. Even though I can download all the DDR games their servers won't allow you to play cause well there are none, which is bull.
How are you doing this?
What's funny is some current apps crash on launch and they are updated recently. Is Apple going to remove them?
I disagree. I know my nephew's school has an app that contains their grades, homework, lesson plans, behavior, etc that has not been updated in over a year.
EDIT: How convenient... It released an update today.
What's there to clean out? I thought the 1 million plus apps generating billions in revenue were all first rate.
Can we add the ability to search for apps I bought but don't have installed? It took me forever to scroll through 1000's of apps to find a flash card app I bought in 2011 for $20, but had removed after I graduated. The developer came out with a new version, as a new $20 app, and removed the old one. Since it isn't offered anymore searching doesn't seem to be possible.
I think this move is way overdue. The App Store is getting overcrowded with all manner of crap apps not even worth the server space it takes to host them. They serve no purpose except to pollute search results and reduce the visibility of other more relevant and deserving apps.
This likely won't significantly reduce the number of apps, but it's a start, and hopefully, it also snaps the developers out of their sense of complacency and make them more serious about updating and maintaining their apps.
This likely won't significantly reduce the number of apps, but it's a start, and hopefully, it also snaps the developers out of their sense of complacency and make them more serious about updating and maintaining their apps.
Do you know hard it is to train some teachers to use tech like that? Those apps need less updates. I don't care if it's just a pallet swap or a resolution update it cost the school to reteach how to use it. More to change platforms if we can't download the app to new devices.
Or they just never mention it again.
We're in a mature market, aren't we past the 'mine is bigger than yours' argument now? I figure most people know that 'there is probably an app for that' where 'that' equals pretty much anything. And those that don't have an iOS device yet but are in the market for one probably don't care if the App Store has one or two million apps, they're both very large numbers that don't really man a lot (given that the majority of apps are never downloaded).
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Which means they are making Apple no money. I can't see Apple being particularly bothered about this sort of user. They probably aren't the type to spend in the App Store. If reducing their selection of apps encourages them to upgrade, good. If they decide to move to Android, well they weren't spending with Apple anyway so no big loss.
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You continue to use them. If they don't pass the review they will be removed from the App Store, not your device.
They could either be recycled for raw materials, depending on the contents. If they are still functional then they may go to third world markets, by now those devices can be "rooted" aka jailbroken and able to run cracked software. The means of an official marketplace for apps is not in the question, I assure you that.