Comments on: Apple Changes iPhone App Store Customer Review System

By: BabyPhone

BabyPhone — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:16:52 +0000

The main screen of Babyphone shows the current status, the microphone sensitivity and the threshold for triggering the alarm. If the Microphone's display reaches or exceeds the set threshold, the previously defined phone number will be called. After completion of the call and the expiration of the delay Babyphone will reactivate itself again.In the settings you can enter the number to call. In addition, there is a sleeping interval with an adjustable delay in minutes, after which Babyphone will reactivate itself again.

By: Merf

Merf — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:56:22 +0000

I think they also need to require the version number of the app they are reviewing. Sometimes they show the review but the developer has responded and the current version no longer has the problem.

By: John B. Kendrick

John B. Kendrick — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:47:48 +0000

Good decision and good job by Apple, from a user that has downloaded over 40 apps so far. You can see some of my app reviews and other iPhone information at http://johnkendrickonline.com/index John

By: iphone skins

iphone skins — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:37:58 +0000

Agree with the chorus above - it's about time!

By: cherryhead25

cherryhead25 — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:57:23 +0000

I'm with Apple on this one. There are way too many one star reviews from competitors and people just wanting to say I wouldn't pay $9.99 for this app.

By: JLP

JLP — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:38:11 +0000

This new policy should help keep competitors from promoting their apps in their competition's review section (unless they buy the competing app). This practice was especially distasteful.

By: scottb

scottb — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:45:21 +0000

Good for Apple. I'm sick of bogus "reviews" And not to be crass, but some of you need to understand what "censorship" is. I do NOT want the opinion of someone that says a $50 app is too expensive unless they've BOUGHT & USED it! Reviews have no value if it's just idiots spewing opinions based on nothing more than being bored. Sadly, good software may be overlooked by people when they see low ratings. It's the same with music, movies, etc. The difference is you can watch trailers and sample songs before buying - most of the iPhone/iPod apps have no trial versions (if paid) while a few do offer "lite" versions.

Scott

By: OregonFarmer

OregonFarmer — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:28:19 +0000

Yea for Apple. This should decrease the crap perhaps. Now if they could convert the reviews into a filterable, searchable forum, that would help out immensely. If you read the reviews through iTunes, you can't even copy and paste text - at least from my Mac I can't.

By: emeus

emeus — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:55:43 +0000

Yet another thing apple overlooked. Maybe next they will have an epiphany to add copy and paste to the iPhone!!

By: Keil Miller

Keil Miller — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:35:25 +0000

Now delete all if the reviews and start over. Bout time for this. Lots of "didn't buy it because it costs 3$."

By: iPhonemilk

iPhonemilk — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:58:46 +0000

it's about time, this needed to be like this on day 1.

The reviews are not a forums for chatting nuff said

By: John

John — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:19:38 +0000

Way to go Apple. I support this all the way. I am tired of reading meaningless rants of why an app should be free. If you own an app, then your review is relevant to me.

This is why Apple is so success at whatever it puts its hands on. Little things like this makes sense and improves user experience,

Another example I love from Apple is that on any Apple sale receipt, Apple puts the date that you can return the product for a refund. Now, how many companies out there do this? I can't think of one. All companies out there would pray that customers will forget that a refund policy is in effect for the first 15 or 30 days they have. Why remind them so they can return. Not Apple.

In the past 7 years, Apple products are the greatest in the world. So they don't have to worry about return policy too much. Apple has the LOWEST return rate for a refund in the world.

Now that is a great experience for both Apple and consumers.

I used to be an Apple hater and loved Microsoft. Not ashamed to admit it.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:48:18 +0000

I think this is the right move. And as Rene Ritchie very eloquently explained, it is not censorship of any kind. When I'm looking at apps in the store, I can read the blurb and look at the screenshots as well as anybody else. So why on earth would I need to read somebody else's take on those things? And the sort of person who wants to shoot his mouth off about something he has no real understanding of is not the sort of person whose opinion I value.

By: patrick b

patrick b — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:48:01 +0000

Good job apple. I think the app store is really starting to mature

By: Jeremy Sikora

Jeremy Sikora — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:05:44 +0000

@Jill what is the point of someone who has not downloaded the app simply saying "it sucks" and rating it the lowest possible. Does that make sense to you?

Also I don't want to waste my time having to look at "Not downloader" comments. Nor does anyone else more than likely.

By: Jill

Jill — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:58:58 +0000

"Reviews" and "opinions" are both EXTREMELY useful.

Why not make everyone happy and allow both?

Just mark every response with "this user HAS downloaded this app"... VS... "this user has NOT downloaded this app".

"Downloader" or "Not downloader" would be perfect.

By: Dalekkiller

Dalekkiller — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:22:21 +0000

Great but can Apple also stop having apps in the UK store that are only for use in the US. There are so many traffic camera apps for US cities and location based apps that will not work in the UK.

By: Rene Ritchie

Rene Ritchie — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:18:03 +0000

@jozso:

Censorship is overused and under-understood. Apple is offering to publish reviews of apps. That's it. If you've tried it and hate it, Apple will publish your review. If you haven't tried it, but have an editorial type comment to make -- you gotta do that on your own site, on your own dime, to your own traffic.

Just like you can't force NBC to broadcast your living room, or the New York Times to carry your column, you can't force Apple to host and give audience to anything anyone wants. They're publisher, and this isn't censorship, it's -- about time -- editorial responsibility.

By: Tommy

Tommy — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:39:58 +0000

Makes sense to me.

By: jozso

jozso — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:36:26 +0000

Good move in terms of who can submit a review. But do we really want any censorship in term of what anyone says and why they give a 1-star rating? Course not! The app store has enough controversy as it is.

By: Sanchez

Sanchez — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:28:41 +0000

About time. Any app costing more than $10 gets 1 Stars from people appalled at paying that much for them. And a lot more of them are just from people that don't think the applications functionality is useful for them.

By: Eddie Sherman

Eddie Sherman — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:25:33 +0000

Great idea. That in conjunction with sites like ours make buying apps a much more informed decision. Check out our review site!

By: frog

frog — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:23:02 +0000

Makes sense.