During a recent conference call, Apple’s Tim Cook said the company was looking for ways to improve upon the searching of apps in the App Store. Apple took the first step today by asking developers to compile a list of keywords to help end users find their app. Developers can submit up to 255 characters worth of keywords, separated by commas. This is common practice amongst websites to help aid in search engines finding appropriate material within a site.
“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.”
This system would work if you could count on developers to use proper keywords. It won’t take long before developers are screaming foul, as some will likely use keywords to game Apple’s new search feature. One has to wonder if keywords will be the subject of review, but likely not. This opens the door for misuse, not unlike the dispute between these two fart app developers.
[AppleInsider via tipb]
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Of course, the potential for abuse is there and can already be seen in developer’s app descriptions: “if you like , you’ll like this app!”
If the keywords are not reviewed and they are invisible to customers, then end users will still get bogus search results, but will now have no clue WHY the ubiquitous fart app shows up when they search for “chess”.
But, I like the idea of having a sanctioned method for developers to submit keywords. Hopefully, Apple is segregating the keywords as a step toward moderating the deceptive search result manipulation techniques that already encumber the App Store experience.