App developer and rip-off app hunter Kosta Eleftheriou’s newest discovery is an actual doozy, an iOS app that refuses to function earlier than you give it at the very least a 3-star overview within the App Retailer. Though the UPNP Xtreme app — which claimed to let customers stream video to their TVs — now seems to have been pulled, we have been in a position to confirm that it generates the App Retailer score field the second it opens. You’ll be able to’t dismiss the rankings field, nor are you able to faucet the 1 or 2-star rankings, Eleftheriou stated. We verified this conduct, however some different users report they have been in a position to dismiss the dialog field or depart a decrease score.
That is simply the most recent scammy app to have been unearthed by Elefheriou, who’s been waging a warfare in opposition to them after his personal Apple Watch keyboard app, FlickType, was overtaken by expensive apps with pretend opinions. Eleftheriou says Apple has eliminated over 100 apps on account of his studies, however it’s regarding that the multi-billion greenback firm isn’t catching these scams throughout its App Retailer overview course of.
Should you suppose you’ll be able to belief App Retailer rankings, you haven’t been paying sufficient consideration.
That is the iOS *system* score immediate, not a customized look-alike one.
The worst half? This trick is EXTREMELY simple for any developer to do, and never restricted to this app.
— Kosta Eleftheriou (@keleftheriou) May 25, 2021
The UPNP Xtreme app’s conduct immediately contradicts among the finest practices Apple lists on its developer web site, which states that builders ought to “keep away from displaying a request for a overview instantly when a person launches your app.” Usually, builders are allowed to immediate for a score as much as there instances in a 365-day interval.
Apple’s overview course of has been below significantly intense scrutiny lately due to Epic Video games’ lawsuit in opposition to the corporate. Central to the dispute is the 30 p.c fee Apple takes on many App Retailer funds and in-app purchases. Apple argues it wants the fee to run the App Retailer and create a secure atmosphere for customers. However that argument will get undermined fairly shortly if apparent scammy apps are in a position to slip by way of Apple’s overview course of.
Apps like those found by Eleftheriou not solely hurt clients who find yourself downloading scammy software program and may get tricked into paying for difficult-to-cancel recurring subscriptions. It additionally harms authentic builders who need to take care of apps which are prepared to play soiled to get the great opinions wanted to stand up the App Retailer’s rankings.
Eleftheriou filed a lawsuit in opposition to Apple earlier this yr, arguing it exploits its monopoly energy over iOS app to generate income on the expense of app builders and shoppers.
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