Google to Fix Incorrect 1-Star App Ratings in Search Results Next Week

[MacRumors]

Google today acknowledged an ongoing issue causing a number of iPhone, iPad and Mac apps to display incorrect one-star ratings in its search results on the web, and confirmed that a fix should be implemented by early next week.

"I'm happy to share that we've been working hard on providing a solution, and a new fix has been scheduled for the next release, which should be rolling out early next week," wrote Google Search community manager AJ in the Google support forums.

A growing number of developers, including the makers of Dandelion, have reported incorrect one-star ratings in Google search results since late October, despite actually having higher-than-one-star ratings on iTunes.

One of the apps that we have developed - Dandelion App - has an average of 4 star rating on the iTunes store, however when you search it on Google Search, it comes up as 1 star. How does Google generate the average ratings on its search page? Is this an error? The app has more than 1 review - so just interested why it's coming up with the wrong information.

The issue appears to be limited to App Store apps that have not received enough ratings (five or more) to display an average for the current version, a threshold that can take a while to reach for apps that have limited downloads or frequent updates.

Google community manager AJ advises developers that continue to see incorrect ratings in search results after mid next week to report the issue in the Google support forums so the company can continue to investigate.

Article Link: Google to Fix Incorrect 1-Star App Ratings in Search Results Next Week

 

[XboxMySocks]

"Accidentally"

 

[iRikal]

I smell a conspiracy theorist coming to explain it all...

 

[LordQ]

I prefer Bing.

 

[illegalprelude]

There has been a lot of these "bugs" lately that happen to hurt Google's competitors. So many bugs, so many coincidences.

 

[CFreymarc]

I smell a conspiracy theorist coming to explain it all...

Never look for conspiracy where you can find incompetence. However, Google has some very competent people working there. This is not the first time a bug was ignored as it provided a revenue stream.

 

[webbuzz]

I wish google would fix the mobile friendly search results. And by fix, I mean get rid of it.

 

[leftynaut]

What does this have to do with Mac/Apple products? Who cares.

Seriously?

 

[CFreymarc]

There has been a lot of these "bugs" lately that happen to hurt Google's competitors. So many bugs, so man coincidences.

There any false advertising liability or slander liability here?

.

Well said!

 

[MentalFloss]

There has been a lot of these "bugs" lately that happen to hurt Google's competitors. So many bugs, so man coincidences.

I don't think we have to assume that it was done on purpose. Competitors' products just don't have a very high priority in Google's bug tracking system, I assume.

 

[sampaul]

Seems like Google was trolling

 

[btrach144]

The fact that this error works so favorably in Google's favor is exactly why I've stopped using all things Google.

 

[igorsky]

The fact that this error works so favorably in Google's favor is exactly why I've stopped using all things Google.

And this isn't the first time, either.

 

[sampaul]

And this isn't the first time, either.

And won't be the last either...

 

[nagromme]

Wow, this has been going on for a while. My app has 5 stars, and in some searches Google shows that—but in others it shows 1 star. I didn't know if they were pulling bad data from an App Store bug or what; looks like the bug was Google's.

Google has been less than reliable the past 3 years. They're still the best in Search, still my first choice, but not as good as they once were. About once a week now I search for something very specific, spelled correctly—something on Wikipedia even!—and Google will not bring it up, insisting on changing my spelling to show something different. But without SAYING it is doing to (at least when they say so, there's a link to go back to what you really meant). Aggravating.

 

[addicted44]

This wouldn't be as much of a concern if the App Store search and discovery was halfway decent. Despite a bunch of acquisitions, and over 7 years since the introduction of the App Store, it still remains a terrible way to find apps.

 

[ChasSC-Mac-Guy]

I call "Shenanigans".

 

[KALLT]

I can see the problem when Google shows a rating that isn't reflected anywhere. The Dandelion app does not have a one-star rating, neither of the current version nor on average with all versions put together. This should indeed be fixed. However, what I disagree with is that search results should prefer the average rating of all versions above average ratings of the current version. If a current version of an app is rated badly, that is a lot more interesting than an average rating of previous versions that might have been rated better at the time.

Case in point: the Dutch banking app Rabo Bankieren has had a major 'upgrade' weeks ago and has since been universally panned. The average of all versions is still 2,5 stars, but this isn't reflected at all in the current state of the app. Google correctly shows that rating.

 

[Roessnakhan]

I dunno, I cant see it actually being accidental. They were just looking at the wrong value. If you look at reviews for the current version of an app it isn't really representative because it could be a bunch of people complaining that the app crashes, or has a bug. I always check the all versions/all reviews on an app before downloading.

 

[wlossw]

Google spends a lot of time trying to manipulate data in search results to try to combat SEO techniques. They probably have an algorithm to discard reviews that they consider suspect, and as such only show the 1 star review... I deal with this kind of crap everyday...

 

[samcraig]

Does someone want to explain why/how this would "hurt" competitors in Google's favor? I don't see it as a viable argument.

 

[Studioman]

I smell a conspiracy theorist coming to explain it all...

I smell a Google apologist coming to deflect yet another coincidental bug that tends to only affect their competitors. Of course Google is quick to search for and point out bugs in competitors software but not so much on theirs. Odd

 

[BrerBear]

I'm glad that Google has been "working hard" to find the solution.

It took me less than 5 minutes to view the page source and see how Google's page scraping algorithm was interpreting an empty value in the App Store page as a minimum value. A trivial range checking error that even the barest minimum of testing should have caught, if Google actually cared.

/golf clap for Google.

 

[Studioman]

Does someone want to explain why/how this would "hurt" competitors in Google's favor? I don't see it as a viable argument.

Quite simple. Customer does a search for a games they really like, the games really have a much higher rating on iOS, but Google displays them as 1 instead of 5. If this person is shopping for a new device, and plans to play lots of games, Android would appear to have an advantage.

 

[samcraig]

Quite simple. Customer does a search for a games they really like, the games really have a much higher rating on iOS, but Google displays them as 1 instead of 5. If this person is shopping for a new device, and plans to play lots of games, Android would appear to have an advantage.

I sincerely doubt the scenario you've created would have much affect at all. I'm pretty sure that if someone was really THAT interested in a game or games, they would click through to see the listing and read comments. Especially if it was going to make or break their decision on which phone to buy.