In an email sent to registered developers, Apple today announced that as of Sept. 7 it will begin “an ongoing process of evaluating apps” and removing any apps that “no longer function as intended, don’t follow current review guidelines, or are outdated” with a goal of improving the quality of apps in the App Store and making it easier for users to find apps which meet their needs.
The announcement notes that the review will cut across all categories on the App Store, and developers of apps that don’t meet the criteria will be contacted to be given a 30-day window to make any necessary changes in order for their app to remain on the App Store. Apps that are completely non-functional — that is, those that crash on launch — will be removed immediately.
Apps that are removed will only be taken down from the App Store’s catalog, and users who have already downloaded a removed app will be able to continue using it and even take advantage of in-app purchases.
In the same email announcement, Apple also stated that it will be limiting the names of new apps and updates to no longer than 50 characters to help provide more accurate search results, noting that in the past, “some developers have used extremely long app names which include descriptions and terms not directly related to their app” and that these longer names “provide no user value.” The email directs developers to the App Store Product Page for more guidance in this area.
