Mark Gurman a few days ago turned the rumor around, by raising the possibility that apps may rivals come in future iOS updates. The biggest change on the platform since 2008 would make iOS unrecognizable.
However, this would even open the door to something that often ends up benefiting the user: competition. You should improve the app store so that no competing store can attract too many developers. There’s a point where there will be more room for improvement.
The best version of the App Store isn’t on the way.
It was good to have a single store. We see everything that is so standardized that we cannot realise how improvements can be achieved. As a good example, allow some app applications that are free to download but they demand to activate the subscription while you open them without being able to use anything for free.
These types of apps are popular in the App Store, which profit from mobile purchases that offer free options in order to enter the market for the most downloaded app. But there’s nothing else free for you, for now you’re asked for a subscription from the first time.
A store that doesn’t allow these practices may attract a lot of people, and the App Store has an easy solution: you can force these purchases to be well-marked (see the list of the relevant subscriptions, it’s pretty hide) or prohibit them direct.
The problem of software with a misleading subscription is still there, despite the measures Apple uses to enforce.
Another more serious problem that I can mention, is deceptive subscriptions: there are apps that use a very simple theme that, like giving wallpapers, can be used to attract abusive fees, confuses with contractual messages. Their goal is to encourage less knowledgeable users to subscribe and start paying fees without realizing that.
As well, the makers of these applications are announced in the App Store, and therefore reach attention:
Apple rolled out additional measures in order to relieve the issue, but unfortunately it didn’t disappear completely.
And then, the day that happened with app stores — where users’ reviews — were what set Apple back: advertisements for online betting apps were shown in app tabs to help you from addiction to these bets, or even on apps for kids. Fortunately, this was fixed a few days ago.
These types of cracks are available from other companies to promote their alternative stores. There’s the good news, Apple will improve its rules to stop the developers from opting out. And if we have no doubt win another app store, then that is better.