14 DAY TRIAL // It's really hard to understand how come so many spam apps arrive in the Windows Store these days since Microsoft's priority should be offering users more high-quality programs, but here's another item that could really trick you into believing that you're getting the real deal.
The so-called “VLC media Player” is an application that obviously uses the name of the much more popular VLC tool which is already available on both the desktop and Metro, most likely in an attempt to get as many downloads as possible.
While the program is free and you won't lose anything but time if you decide to download it, it still makes one wonder how come that Microsoft actually approves such listings in the store.
If you're still having doubts that this app shouldn't be in the store, here's its official description:
“Vlc media player is them most popular media plAYER MY APP WILL GUIDE YOU TO INSTALL VLC IN YOUR PC OR TABLET WITH SHORTCUTS AND TRICKS.”
There are three different screenshots shown to visitors, two of which are called “splash scrren” and “installation stepls,” while the first photo is actually an upscaled version of the official VLC logo.
It's pretty obvious that Microsoft should pay a lot more attention to the overall app quality offered to users and remove such entries from the store. The company told us in a statement some time ago that it would indeed do that for future apps, but as you can easily notice, no improvement can be seen.
Here's Microsoft's statement in full:
“We strive to make the Windows Store an excellent experience for Windows 8 users. We routinely review apps based on performance, ratings and user reviews and take steps to remove apps if they do not meet our certification guidelines.
“We are aware of the issue and are actively removing apps that offer little value or confuse customers, and will continue evaluating our submission process to make sure Windows offers the highest quality app catalog available. With regards to trademark infringement, with every app there is an option to report the app for violating the Windows Store’s Terms of Use. If a company feels a Windows Store app is infringing on their copyrights or trademarks, they should report the app and we will take immediate action to determine if the app should be removed from the Windows Store.”