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Apple Changes App Ranks, Rejects Pay Per Install

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the playing-in-their-garden dept.

tlhIngan writes "Recently, Apple changed their App Store ranking algorithm to stop ranking apps by download counts and instead use something else, akin to the recent Google changing of their Marketplace ranking algorithm to give more weight to apps' actual usage. As a side effect, Apple has also started rejecting pay-per-install apps ('freemium' apps that request the user to install companion apps to earn in-game currency). These apps were often used to game the charts by artificially inflating the download count and raising the ranking of the app in the App Store. No word on how companies like TapJoy (one of the largest 'culprits') will react."

7 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. "Freemium"? by Gizzmonic · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Seriously, "freemium"? That has to be the worst mangling of the English language since "doorgasm."

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    (-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
    1. Re:"Freemium"? by tgd · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'm surprised anyone on Slashdot is old enough to have had doorgasms. Or floydgasms. Or stonegasms.

      Although, you've gotta give to to kids today. Given my choice, I'd prefer a gagagasm anyway.

    2. Re:"Freemium"? by fean · · Score: 3, Insightful

      While I agree that Freemium isn't new, I don't think that it meets your definition for 'crippleware'. For instance, Dropbox, Pandora and Rhapsody both offer free services that are enough for a majority of users. Dropbox has a 5-9% rate (depending on who is giving the numbers) of paying customers... the rest are using the free product. The free product isn't crippled, or have 'anti-features'... The only thing you pay for is additional space. Rhapsody offers free stations, and a limited ability to listen to specific songs. Pandora gives free stations, and a limited ability to skip over songs you don't like. Hell, even Redhat offers it's OS as 'Freemium'... you get 'premier support' if you pay for it ;-)

      Demo != freemium
      Shareware != freemium

      Economics evolves as well, trying to keep up with technology. Things change, regardless of how much grumpy old men complain about it.

  2. Re:Well, I doubt they'll like it. by baldass_newbie · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What choice do they really have? Apple is Judge, Jury, and Executioner when it comes to their App Store.

    Right? I can't believe some store owners want to have a say in what they sell.
    Isn't this America?!?!?!?!

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    The opposite of progress is congress
  3. Ignore the apple haters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Ignore the apple haters, as you should in any thread. They experience an inverse effect of the JOBS RDF, where their personal reality bends and distorts until Apple is always wrong. It makes them do dumb things like promote flash and hate unified, consistent UIs.

    Anyway, I'll be glad that Apple is changing their rank system. Searching for apps in the interface is useless because companies gaming the system put endless piles of utter, complete crap. If browsing on the phone pretty much only the hand-picked featured items are worth a look.

  4. Re:Well, I doubt they'll like it. by mjeffers · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How is this different from what any store does? If I go to Sears I may not be able to buy the same stuff I can get at Target. Walmart may choose not to stock albums by certain groups or NC-17 videos. In a slightly closer model, I can't get all the xbox arcade games I want to play on my WII or even my PC.

    Given that there are other smartphones out there with other stores, in what way is Apple's behavior different from any retailer. They choose what they stock. If you don't like it, go somewhere else.

  5. Re:Well, I doubt they'll like it. by mjeffers · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Then again if you are fully aware with the situation and buy the device knowing its limitations then more power to you.
    And. If you are an idiot who spends money on things with no information other than "It looked cool and all my friends have it."
    Then you got what you deserved.

    While I wouldn't call people idiots I think this is the key point. Right now you either are saavy enough to know what you're getting and not buy an iPhone/iPad if it doesnt fit your needs or not techy enough that you'll never miss what you don't have.

    I also think ever since the early days of video games we've let this into our lives repeatedly. If I wanted to play Sonic, I needed a Sega. If I liked Mario Bros more, I bought NES.

    In my experience, the decision was basically similar to this. I got an iPhone because it did what I wanted and had a large and established app store. I knew it wouldn't have everything but nothing does. If the value of having something not availble though Apple is high enough, I can switch phones.