Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) recently improved the App Store with an update that helps users find more accurate search results. The changes were put into place a couple of weeks ago. The improvement should make it easier to find certain applications even with misspelled queries. These changes could also help application developers with longer titles or strange spellings. Many developers have long complained about how hard it was to have their apps discovered on the App Store.
App Store has limited search and discovery features
Back in February 2012, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) bought up Chomp, a specialty search engine that allows users to find and discover apps. Apple Insider explained, “Apple’s App Store has limited search and discovery features, something Apple has worked to improve. Chomp’s website and mobile app offer term search, sale listings, trending apps, new apps and other categories intended to make it easier to discover specific apps among the library of what is now more than 550,000 titles in the App Store.”
The acquisition likely helped Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) in the development of this update. Mobile applications are vital to Apple’s future and for good reason: mobile phones and tablets are quickly replacing computers and laptops. If the Cupertino-based tech giant wants to stay relevant in the business, it’s necessary to make relevant changes to meet the needs of consumers.
Apple’s App Store versus competitor Google Play
Tech Crunch’s Sarah Perez explained, “The improvement is no small matter when it comes to pitting Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s App Store versus competitor Google Play, which has long since offered a spell checking function. For example, earlier this year, App Store SEO firm SearchMan had looked into the differences between the two platforms, and found that a simple misspelling of the word “calendar” (i.e., spelling it “calender”) led to 100 times more results in Google Play. It seems the only iOS apps returned were those who thought to include the misspelling as one of their keywords.”
Source: TechCrunch
