Comments on: A Better App Rating System http://blog.afewguyscoding.com/2010/04/app-rating-system/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=app-rating-system Thoughts on computer science and software from [self] Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:20:09 +0000 hourly 1 By: David Stites http://blog.afewguyscoding.com/2010/04/app-rating-system/comment-page-1/#comment-720 David Stites Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:23:37 +0000 http://blog.afewguyscoding.com/?p=130#comment-720 I don't think that the ratings should go away, but they need to be re-worked. For example, I was just looking for an app that could create a photo slideshow with music. I know that you can do it with iPhoto and Keynote, but I wanted to see if there were any apps on the App Store that got high ratings. The ratings were all over the place and didn't give me a good feel for how the app truly was. Some of the users rated it 5 stars and some rated it 1 star. The ones who rated it 1 star were not very descriptive, because, like I said in my post, typically users don't rate the application unless they are un-installing it and the only reason they are doing that is if they don't like it. I think that the reviews need to somehow become more objective rather than subjective. Perhaps if they were able to screen the reviews (not necessarily only show good ones, but rather filter out ones that say "this app sucks"). That way, good or bad, I can get the best possible information. I don’t think that the ratings should go away, but they need to be re-worked. For example, I was just looking for an app that could create a photo slideshow with music. I know that you can do it with iPhoto and Keynote, but I wanted to see if there were any apps on the App Store that got high ratings. The ratings were all over the place and didn’t give me a good feel for how the app truly was. Some of the users rated it 5 stars and some rated it 1 star. The ones who rated it 1 star were not very descriptive, because, like I said in my post, typically users don’t rate the application unless they are un-installing it and the only reason they are doing that is if they don’t like it.

I think that the reviews need to somehow become more objective rather than subjective. Perhaps if they were able to screen the reviews (not necessarily only show good ones, but rather filter out ones that say “this app sucks”). That way, good or bad, I can get the best possible information.

]]> By: Rohit Choudhary http://blog.afewguyscoding.com/2010/04/app-rating-system/comment-page-1/#comment-702 Rohit Choudhary Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:32:16 +0000 http://blog.afewguyscoding.com/?p=130#comment-702 Hi David, Couldn't agree more with you on these aspects! I know how tough it gets to move your app ahead on the rating table. I have a question, though on your thoughts of the rating system - are you suggesting that the ratings and reviews should move out of the itunes ecosystem? Besides, the total time spent on any app is available with the developer, and therefore developers can have a say in identifying genuine cribs, and the ones that are written with waving hands!! Please feel free to converse on email. Thanks Rohit Hi David,

Couldn’t agree more with you on these aspects! I know how tough it gets to move your app ahead on the rating table. I have a question, though on your thoughts of the rating system – are you suggesting that the ratings and reviews should move out of the itunes ecosystem? Besides, the total time spent on any app is available with the developer, and therefore developers can have a say in identifying genuine cribs, and the ones that are written with waving hands!!

Please feel free to converse on email.

Thanks
Rohit

]]> By: David Stites http://blog.afewguyscoding.com/2010/04/app-rating-system/comment-page-1/#comment-115 David Stites Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:32:46 +0000 http://blog.afewguyscoding.com/?p=130#comment-115 As far as getting your ratings up, there is no magic bullet and unfortunately, once your ratings are low on a particular app, there is no way to "reset" them unless you release the app under a different name. However, for the future, I can assure you that having bugs will certainly decrease your rating. While browsing some of the comments, I noticed that some of the users rated the application poorly because it crashed. Fix those first. That is the easiest way to boost your rating and create a lot more happy users. Then focus on what your users are saying for desired features. You also might want to consider disclosing the fact the application is free, however the actual service is not. If you would like, A Few Guys Coding can take care of cleaning up and fixing your application. Please contact us through email or phone! As far as getting your ratings up, there is no magic bullet and unfortunately, once your ratings are low on a particular app, there is no way to “reset” them unless you release the app under a different name.

However, for the future, I can assure you that having bugs will certainly decrease your rating. While browsing some of the comments, I noticed that some of the users rated the application poorly because it crashed. Fix those first. That is the easiest way to boost your rating and create a lot more happy users. Then focus on what your users are saying for desired features. You also might want to consider disclosing the fact the application is free, however the actual service is not.

If you would like, A Few Guys Coding can take care of cleaning up and fixing your application. Please contact us through email or phone!

]]> By: ann http://blog.afewguyscoding.com/2010/04/app-rating-system/comment-page-1/#comment-110 ann Sat, 21 Aug 2010 02:39:52 +0000 http://blog.afewguyscoding.com/?p=130#comment-110 Any ideas to get our ratings up? We had some problems with the first release and it's killing us! Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Any ideas to get our ratings up? We had some problems with the first release and it’s killing us! Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

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