Have you ever browsed the Windows App store and found it next to impossible to find anything remotely close to what it was you were looking for (like those droids)? Well don’t worry, because you were not alone. It turns out, A LOT of people were experiencing the same thing. Because of this, Microsoft had been receiving a lot of consumer grief with the most common one being that people were “finding it more difficult to find the apps they were searching for; often having to sort through lists of apps with confusing or misleading titles,” writes Todd Brix, Microsoft General Manager in a release on the Windows website. It turns out, this struck home for Microsoft and they are now diving in head-first to rectify this issue.
Following an in-depth look into the App Certification Requirements, Microsoft discovered that their policies were too loose-ended and that allowed for apps to get through that either had misleading names or were not a representation of what they claimed to be. With Microsoft continuously looking for ways to improve their customer service overall, they knew they would need to ensure that consumers are receiving an “easy access to amazing app experiences while keeping developer friction to a minimum.”
In order to completely purge all the “fake” apps from the Windows App Store, Microsoft is striving to create and enforce stronger, but transparent policies that will govern their certification and overall store experience.
Microsoft Implements Three Major Changes
In order to quell the infection that is bogus apps, Microsoft has implemented three major changes to their Windows App Store Certification Requirements, this being the first step towards ensuring apps are named and described in a way that does not misrepresent their purpose. These three major changes have been;
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Naming – to clearly and accurately reflect the functionality of the app.
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Categories – to ensure apps are categorized according to the app function and purpose.
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Icons – must be differentiated to avoid being mistaken with others.
Fully aware that this revision will be an ongoing process, Microsoft has already begun applying the changes to all new app submissions as well as any existing app updates. Microsoft has also been conducting full reviews of apps already in the Windows Store in an effort to identify apps that do not comply with the modified requirements. Despite the cooperation of most app developers agreeing to make the required changes, others have unfortunately been lass receptive to the changes resulting in the immediate removal of 1,500 apps so far.
Microsoft is continuing the review process and they want to ensure all users that, despite there still being a lot of work left, they are working to rectify the issues. They are asking anyone who is experience issues within the Windows App Store to report it to them by either emailing them at reportapp@microsoft.com or to use the “report concern to Microsoft” link in the Windows Store.
