Apple adds keywords to App Store additions for easier search
Soon after Apple admitted that improvements were needed in helping users locate App Store software, developers have been asked to add a list of keywords for their submitted applications to improve discovery.
In a change revealed to AppleInsider, developers are now asked to enter up to 255 characters worth of keywords, separated by commas, which will be used for search in the App Store on the iPhone and iPod touch.
The addition has been made to iTunes Connect, the service where developers and artists submit their content to the App Store and iTunes.
"It is important to enter keywords for all applications as soon as possible so your application can continue to be successfully located on the App Store," the update from Apple reads. "Keywords can be updated with the submission of a new binary."
With over 65,000 applications currently available in the App Store, it can be difficult for users to find new applications with the current categorization methods. During last week's second-quarter earnings report, Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the company is looking for new ways to categorize software in the App Store.
"As you know, today we do it by type of app and also have show popular apps and top-selling apps, et cetera," Cook said. "We realize there’s opportunity there for further improvement and are working on that."
Analyst Charlie Wolf of Needham & Co. was highly critical of the App Store search last week. He said he still has reservations about the destination due to poor search capabilities and a plethora of $0.99 software flooding the marketplace.
"If the App Store is going to drive iPhone sales, the applications on the web site have to be unique and valuable to shoppers in ways that can’t be matched on competing smartphone stores," he wrote. "In short, they should populate the 'killer app' category, which has been a key driver of hardware sales. To accomplish this will require that the most engaging applications are written for and can be easily discovered on the iPhone App Store."
Behind the scenes, Apple has quietly fixed some problems with the App Store search. Weeks ago, a search for "EA," the brand for Electronic Arts, returned results with 15 games from a company called Digital Chocolate. The reason: In the games' descriptions, the word "each" was abbreviated to "ea."
But now, the first 18 results in a search for "EA" are Electronic Arts games.
In a change revealed to AppleInsider, developers are now asked to enter up to 255 characters worth of keywords, separated by commas, which will be used for search in the App Store on the iPhone and iPod touch.
The addition has been made to iTunes Connect, the service where developers and artists submit their content to the App Store and iTunes.
"It is important to enter keywords for all applications as soon as possible so your application can continue to be successfully located on the App Store," the update from Apple reads. "Keywords can be updated with the submission of a new binary."
With over 65,000 applications currently available in the App Store, it can be difficult for users to find new applications with the current categorization methods. During last week's second-quarter earnings report, Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the company is looking for new ways to categorize software in the App Store.
"As you know, today we do it by type of app and also have show popular apps and top-selling apps, et cetera," Cook said. "We realize there’s opportunity there for further improvement and are working on that."
Analyst Charlie Wolf of Needham & Co. was highly critical of the App Store search last week. He said he still has reservations about the destination due to poor search capabilities and a plethora of $0.99 software flooding the marketplace.
"If the App Store is going to drive iPhone sales, the applications on the web site have to be unique and valuable to shoppers in ways that can’t be matched on competing smartphone stores," he wrote. "In short, they should populate the 'killer app' category, which has been a key driver of hardware sales. To accomplish this will require that the most engaging applications are written for and can be easily discovered on the iPhone App Store."
Behind the scenes, Apple has quietly fixed some problems with the App Store search. Weeks ago, a search for "EA," the brand for Electronic Arts, returned results with 15 games from a company called Digital Chocolate. The reason: In the games' descriptions, the word "each" was abbreviated to "ea."
But now, the first 18 results in a search for "EA" are Electronic Arts games.
Comments
This of course depends on the number of tags and which ones the developers use. Some developers are obviously going to load as many tags as possible to get you to their apps.
But, like I said, it's a good start.
Gamed on day 1.
Guaranteed.
If Apple maintained the list of tags, it might work.
But free-form? Disaster.
And fix one big annoyance - it would be nice to be able to click on an app (or such) and go to it's itunes store page
Soon after Apple admitted that improvements were needed in helping users locate App Store software, developers have been asked to add a list of keywords for their submitted applications to improve discovery. ...
Good move, but still not really much without someone policing it.
Anyone who's ever been involved in online commerce knows that keywords quickly become a game just as the title of the app does. 255 characters is a lot. There's nothing to stop unscrupulous (i.e. - most) developers from including keywords that have nothing to do with their app but everything to do with making it come out at the top of a search. The key is in examining the keywords as they are submitted and either denying/allowing or "correcting" them.
It seems unlikely to me that Apple will go to that level given the hassle they get already about being over-controlling.
So, how many developers do we think will submit 'fart' or 'torch' as a keyword for their app?
Their submission process, I hope, includes checking the keywords for relevance.
I wish they'd make changes to the ratings process too. I ignore the ratings since any jerk can rate down an app, and I'd like to ignore reviews that most users found not helpful.
So, how many developers do we think will submit 'fart' or 'torch' as a keyword for their app?
or "tits" and "ass" lol
Soon after Apple admitted that improvements were needed in helping users locate App Store software, developers have been asked to add a list of keywords for their submitted applications to improve discovery.
In a change revealed to AppleInsider, developers are now asked to enter up to 255 characters worth of keywords, separated by commas, which will be used for search in the App Store on the iPhone and iPod touch.
The addition has been made to iTunes Connect, the service where developers and artists submit their content to the App Store and iTunes.
"It is important to enter keywords for all applications as soon as possible so your application can continue to be successfully located on the App Store," the update from Apple reads. "Keywords can be updated with the submission of a new binary."
With over 65,000 applications currently available in the App Store, it can be difficult for users to find new applications with the current categorization methods. During last week's second-quarter earnings report, Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the company is looking for new ways to categorize software in the App Store.
"As you know, today we do it by type of app and also have show popular apps and top-selling apps, et cetera," Cook said. "We realize there?s opportunity there for further improvement and are working on that."
Analyst Charlie Wolf of Needham & Co. was highly critical of the App Store search last week. He said he still has reservations about the destination due to poor search capabilities and a plethora of $0.99 software flooding the marketplace.
"If the App Store is going to drive iPhone sales, the applications on the web site have to be unique and valuable to shoppers in ways that can?t be matched on competing smartphone stores," he wrote. "In short, they should populate the 'killer app' category, which has been a key driver of hardware sales. To accomplish this will require that the most engaging applications are written for and can be easily discovered on the iPhone App Store."
Behind the scenes, Apple has quietly fixed some problems with the App Store search. Weeks ago, a search for "EA," the brand for Electronic Arts, returned results with 15 games from a company called Digital Chocolate. The reason: In the games' descriptions, the word "each" was abbreviated to "ea."
But now, the first 18 results in a search for "EA" are Electronic Arts games.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
This may somehow result in confused and unclear searches which will affect the user experience. Apple should improve on this.
Analyst Charlie Wolf of Needham & Co. was highly critical of the App Store search last week. He said he still has reservations about the destination due to poor search capabilities and a plethora of $0.99 software flooding the marketplace.
"If the App Store is going to drive iPhone sales, the applications on the web site have to be unique and valuable to shoppers in ways that can?t be matched on competing smartphone stores," he wrote. "In short, they should populate the 'killer app' category, which has been a key driver of hardware sales. To accomplish this will require that the most engaging applications are written for and can be easily discovered on the iPhone App Store."
Charlie sounds like a normal person. However, the killer apps he speaks of have all been pulled from the App Store or rejected. Starting with GV Mobile. Apple is going to have to grow some balls. I love my iPhone for many reasons, the first and largest being it is compatible with my Mac. The second was for great app's.
Apple continues to revolutionize and innovate
+1! Find me a device in the laptop / phone / music player category that can truly beat Apple.
So, how many developers do we think will submit 'fart' or 'torch' as a keyword for their app?
In all honestly IMO, 2/10 . Better apps have been developed for the iPhone/iPod Touch recently.
The best way to improve the App Store is to improve the apps. IMO, $.99 apps are killing the app store. There should never be anything on the App Store home page except exceptional apps. Crap apps should be consigned to the app ghetto. Apple needs to use better editorial judgement about what they choose to display in their storefront.
Apple should carefully check the apps through vigorous tries to see if it is useful for the consumer, and ban unwanted apps that crash and spoil the iPhone's user experience.
Why doesn't Apple take a page from its own itunes and make multiple ordering strings you can use to sort the apps?
Keywords search is a good start, but I think Google Police need to be called for help. After all, they are the kings of search. Make the call Steve!