14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just announced a new set of regulations for the Windows Store that will finally block fake, spam, and useless apps from becoming available to users on PCs and smartphones, with the company now finally ready to put the focus on quality and not on quantity.
Redmond's main focus will be to eliminate app clutter, it says in a blog post, while also ensuring that apps are appropriately priced, that it's easy to distinguish informational apps such as tutorials and guides, and that apps use relevant titles and keywords.
It's a well-known fact that there were plenty of spam and scam apps in the Windows Store, and we here at Softpedia reported plenty of them in the past, so it's a good thing that Microsoft is finally doing something about this, especially because the experience in Windows 10 should be significantly improved on both PCs and smartphones.
Apps will be removed
Microsoft says that if two apps are considered to be too similar, either when it comes to icons, tiles, titles, or content, they can be removed from the store because nobody likes clones.
“We may also remove apps that do not offer unique content, creative value or utility. For example when there are many apps that do not provide differentiated value (e.g. many flashlight apps with the same look and feel and functionality), some may be removed from the Store. This will help customers access high value content in each of the Store categories,” the company says.
At the same time, Microsoft will also check the price of the app, so you won't be able to charge, let's say, 500 bucks for a flashlight app. The company will look at the price of the other similar apps in the same category, and determine whether your app violates the Windows Store Code of Conduct, and if there's nothing to differentiate your app from the others besides the price, your own can be removed.
This is clearly an important step that Microsoft is making to provide a revamped experienced in Windows 10, but only time will tell if the Windows Store can indeed get rid of all the clutter that's now being offered to users.