Developers Able to Respond to Customer Reviews in iOS 10.3 and macOS Sierra 10.12.4 [Updated]

[andy.ringwood]

Following up on my post earlier about having to put in your Apple ID password everytime when posting a review in the App Store, I just went to check and it took me straight to the review page without asking me for my password.

Also, they've changed the main body font size! It's no longer 100px, it's the same size as the title. It's the little things that please me!

 

[atikalz]

Annoying since years. I suggested that several times in the www feedback section and beta feedback tool.
finally they are reading it?

This is good news. One thing I hope they change is, instead of inserting your Apple ID password EVERYTIME you want to submit a review, they allow Touch ID.

 

[DeepIn2U]

This is fantactic! ( I'm an iOS developer )

It has long been difficult to get balanced reviews. People tend to just review an app when they're a bit annoyed with it. Hopefully this will help to get more reviews and balance the content a bit.

Also being able to respond is great. Often you just want the person to reach out, there may be an easy fix already available or you need more info in order to troubleshoot and fix the issue.

Not to mention the, fortunately small number but, malicious reviews.

Moreover many of those frustrated reviews are but non-technical users ... 'app doesn't do what is advertised, jUNK blah blah blah".

What WOULD help more is for every review the following is uploaded:
user device model
user iOS/macOS version + subversion
user device jailbroken

this would go a LONG way for developers troubleshooting and open dialog in reviews ... OOOOOH wait!

• An open Dialog invite in the App Store which interfaces with iMessage!!
• Developer can set an open dialog invite on the main review page for upcoming event
• Developer (and team members can live moderate: block, respond to ALL or invidual commentary so group doesn't see),
• Profanity in all languages restricted and/or auto correted e.g. "F*CK" is replaced with Good Lord or "damn" (along with the abbreviated astericks I've pasted above).
• iMessage is used for collaboration yet ALL members ONLY see the screenname - not necesarily the direct iCloud ID amongst themeselves, yet Apple and Developer can see your Apple ID.
• reason to view Apple ID:
• Threats made - to individuals or all members of the chat or Apple staff
• Allows for Developers to grant free version of an app (upgrade) to AppleID's that have suffered undue issues that cannot be resolved by normal troubleshooting means,
• Developers can actually see and prove a certain app and version was purchsed/downloaded by said user's Apple ID in the region their at as to help troubleshoot.

This basically acts as an interactive platform.
PATENTED Gangster, Inc

how you like THEM Apple's

 

[GoldenJoe]

Useless? Nope, I'm afraid it's not useless. It's something us developers will really appreciate. And so will users.

About the other part of your post that I have bolded I agree completely. App Store has become a rich mans game. Actually, a 'big company' game so to speak. To make some money as a indie developer is still possible, but pretty damn hard. And introducing payed ads on App Store isn't helping either. But don't expect that to bi fixed, since in Apples eyes it doesn't need fixing.

Which is why I don't play in their little hamster wheel anymore.

 

[TheFragMan]

You mean like Android has done for 6 years or so?
I miss the innovative Apple... And we all miss Steve so much everyday.

Sadly, Steve can't come back and save things anymore. Tim needs to really get his stuff together.
I was a die hard Apple fan FOREVER (literally), but it's just not the same anymore..

 

[C DM]

You mean like Android has done for 6 years or so?
I miss the innovative Apple... And we all miss Steve so much everyday.

Sadly, Steve can't come back and save things anymore. Tim needs to really get his stuff together.
I was a die hard Apple fan FOREVER (literally), but it's just not the same anymore..

Literally forever?

 

[Solomani]

About time!

 

[briloronmacrumo]

Would be interesting to read more about how this works on the Mac App Store.

 

[superscape]

I'm not a developer anymore, but even as a user when I see someone post a one-star review where they say "I bought this because I thought it would do X and it doesn't" I wish that I could reply to them and say "Did you see anywhere where it claimed it does X?".

Absolutely! I've been on the receiving end of a few of those in the past.