Should Apple have stricter regulations regarding the frequency of app updates for app developers

[Nerdy Keith]

There have been quite a few times when I've purchased an app on iOS to only realise that I cannot use it anymore. I'm not just talking about free apps, a lot of the time this has occurred with paid apps. The reason this happens is due to the third party app developers neglecting to update their app from 1 year to over 5 years in some cases. To me it seems that Apple are being to lenient in that regard.

Would it not make more sense for Apple to update their regulations for developers so that if they fail to update any app in over 12 months that it is removed pending a 3 month notice period? After all it saves Apple a lot of money as refunds have to be issued when customers purchase apps that don't and faulty apps are not really helping anyone.

What are your views on this? I'm considering sending my thoughts to Apple directly as a point of feedback, but I'd like some views from Mac Rumers before hand.

 

[iFanaddic]

All I personally want is a broader compatibility checklist. Such as this;

Compatibility

• iOS 7,8,9,10 & 11
• Splitscreen
• Widget
• Siri
• 3D touch
• TouchID
• Apple watch
• Small complication
• Big complication

• Purchase includes iPad app: Yes/No
• App includes ** days trial

That or let us try before we buy, that can’t be hard?

 

[TraceyS/FL]

There have been quite a few educational apps recently I wanted to buy since they hadn't been updated in years I knew they'd not work in ios11. It's been frustrating because I could really use them.

 

[atmenterprises]

No. If the app developers want their apps to languish, so be it. Smart customers won't buy another product from the same developer later.

 

[CobraPA]

That or let us try before we buy, that can’t be hard?

Not exactly the same, but you seem to be able to get a refund in iTunes now if an app doesn't work or do what you expected.

 

[max2]

This is a interesting subject. I would have to say no. Though what do I know.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

... a broader compatibility checklist...

I fully support your view.

 

[lexvo]

Yes it would be great if Apple had some rules regarding actuality for apps in the appstore.

On the other hand, I always check when an app was last updated. If it is too old I don't buy. And an recent (few months) last update also is an indication of the commitment of the developer.

 

[DeepIn2U]

There have been quite a few times when I've purchased an app on iOS to only realise that I cannot use it anymore. I'm not just talking about free apps, a lot of the time this has occurred with paid apps. The reason this happens is due to the third party app developers neglecting to update their app from 1 year to over 5 years in some cases. To me it seems that Apple are being to lenient in that regard.

Would it not make more sense for Apple to update their regulations for developers so that if they fail to update any app in over 12 months that it is removed pending a 3 month notice period? After all it saves Apple a lot of money as refunds have to be issued when customers purchase apps that don't and faulty apps are not really helping anyone.

What are your views on this? I'm considering sending my thoughts to Apple directly as a point of feedback, but I'd like some views from Mac Rumers before hand.

Personally I'd like to see the following mandatory setup:

Apps should be updated upon every major iOS upgrade cycle (10.0, 11.0 etc) and if more than 6mths lacking suspend downloads if and only IF corrupted performance occurs.

Restrict developers from releasing 2 different versions of the SAME application when primary function is the same - especially at a cost. Restrict such developers from doing so when the previous & current application requires an update for the major OS cycle.
Example:
- TweetBot 3 didn't get an iOS 10 update, instead the developer released TweetBot 4 at a $10CAN cost and barely any new features!
- Apple Watch App [Seriously? This is a heavily communicative app nobody wants 50 tweets draining the battery of their Apple Watch and nobody will use the Watch to reply to Twitter Tweets more than once at a time).
- Top highlighted feature: Universal iPad support; well so did TweetBot 3.
Desktop App is nice as well.

^ Great application but I really don't applaud the pump & dump like behaviour of the developer. Yes I did pay for the application, twice (previously on former icloud account, again on current icloud account).

 

[sracer]

There have been quite a few times when I've purchased an app on iOS to only realise that I cannot use it anymore. I'm not just talking about free apps, a lot of the time this has occurred with paid apps. The reason this happens is due to the third party app developers neglecting to update their app from 1 year to over 5 years in some cases. To me it seems that Apple are being to lenient in that regard.

Would it not make more sense for Apple to update their regulations for developers so that if they fail to update any app in over 12 months that it is removed pending a 3 month notice period? After all it saves Apple a lot of money as refunds have to be issued when customers purchase apps that don't and faulty apps are not really helping anyone.

What are your views on this? I'm considering sending my thoughts to Apple directly as a point of feedback, but I'd like some views from Mac Rumers before hand.

No. I don't agree. For a few of reasons:

Software that is well written and serves its intended purposes doesn't need to be updated for the sake of updating. This would require developers of those apps to simply have a "null" update to satisfy the requirement. That's not helpful to the develop, Apple, or the customer.

Apple doesn't provide an App Store means for a separate upgrade charge vs a full-price purchase. That means that updates are free to those who purchased in the past. How much incentive is there to update a $1.99 app with no specific way to charge for the update? (maybe an IAP for the update) but that leads to the next point...

The "culture" of the iOS ecosystem is around cheap/free apps with free updates. Many of those who attempted to recoup some of the cost of the update by charging for it have been met with criticism... often times harsh criticism.

The 64-bit-only requirement for iOS apps has effectively purged those old apps from the store. It reset the clock.

A better solution to the issue rests with Apple. I'm no fan of Microsoft, but one thing they understand is the responsibility of maintaining backward compatibility. (desktop Windows, mobile is a completely different story)

Apple needs to improve backward compatibility with older apps. But because of the way iOS is structured (requiring the apps themselves to embed support for OS-level functions within the app), that makes it extremely difficult and effectively impossible. An example of that is split-window multitasking. As it is today, apps must include support for this capability (which is traditionally an operating system function).

Having said that, there are some inherent limitations in the iOS ecosystem that will prevent it from doing things that we take for granted in other venues, like the desktop.