Since the App Store was created by Apple that developers dream of being able to answer user comments. Either for a wrong assessment (give a low grade for an alleged lack of resources that is there, but the user did not find it; or complain about a bug that has already been fixed, for example) or simply to thank you for the support, without a doubt this interaction between developers and customers is essential.
Google tried to incorporate this possibility into its app store in May 2013; Apple, despite persistent requests from developers, had not waved to this possibility. Until yesterday, when it launched the first beta version of iOS 10.3.
One of the new features of iOS 10.3 is precisely a change in the App Store and the Mac App Store as well, let alone which one finally implements the possibility for developers to respond to user reviews. More than that, we are talking about a new API that makes things a lot easier for users since applications can be classified / evaluated without you having to go to the App Store everything can be done on one screen popup within the application itself!
There are, however, more details about this long-awaited resource that are worth sharing here, such as the fact that developers can only ask for reviews in an app, at most, three times in a period of one year (if the person denies it for the third time or you’ve already done a review, you won’t be bothered anymore).
This new API will, at some point, become the only possible way for an application to request a review. However, Apple has not yet said anything about a possible deadline for all developers to incorporate the API in their apps at least at the beginning, there is no obligation to use it (although the feature makes things a lot easier for users), probably only in new apps.
As we know, whenever an app or game is updated on the App Store, its score / evaluation is zeroed. This is basically so that we, users, can see the evaluation of an application in two ways: the general and the specific version. The general score, for example, may be excellent while the last version may be low due to a serious bug; When making a new version available with the bug fixed, this bad evaluation is “reset” so that another one begins even though all ratings are taken into account in the general summary.
This limit of 3 times in a period of 12 months applies, even, for different versions. Otherwise, it would be easy for a malicious developer to circumvent the system (it would be enough to launch a new version of the app to have three more attempts to achieve a user rating / review.
Another novelty is that when pressing with more force (3D Touch) a review left by a customer, the user can mark it as useful, something similar to what users can do in iTunes, marking a review as useful or not. Regarding the reviews themselves, developers will be able to answer each review only once (the answer will be in some way linked to the review, to have a sense of continuity); both the user and the developer will be able to edit the review / answer, but the idea of ​​limiting it to a review is an answer just to not make this space a chat / support / chat area.
There is still a lot that can be improved on the (Mac) App Store such as the possibility of testing an app for a period of time (determined by the developer) before deciding whether or not to purchase, and more affordable upgrades for those who already have an old version of the app. But undoubtedly responding to reviews was something very, much expected by developers and that will make the app rating space even better.
(via The Loop, Daring Fireball)
