Apple Tightens Reins on App Store, Weeds out Abandoned Apps

By S. Rina / 1472907599
(Photo : GettyImages/CarlCourt) Apple is eliminating abandoned apps from its App Store.

Apple is carrying out deep cleansing of its App Store. The tech giant is scheduled to hold its special event on September 7, where it is expected to introduce the latest iPhones and iPad. Ahead of the event, the company has updated its App Store review guidelines to ensure smooth alignment with iOS 10.

Apple is targeting abandoned apps and is seeking to remove them from the store. Besides apps which have not been updated in a long time, Apple is looking to prune apps with long descriptive names. The new guidelines require app titles to be 50 characters or less. According to PC Mag, apps which do not fulfill the requirements of modern hardware are also liable to be removed.

The most stringent condition Apple has set is related to crashing apps. While in most of the other cases, Apple will notify developers to change their apps to conform to new guidelines, if an app crashes while being tested by Apple, it would be immediately removed from the App Store. Developers have 30 days to comply with the requirements.

According to Apple, developers also need to offer appropriate subscription models. New guidelines allow for one time in-app purchases as well as ongoing subscriptions. App makers are also allowed to offer a single subscription for multiple titles in certain cases.

Apple also issued guidelines for iMessage sticker packs and Sirikit. The company recommends that apps should integrate only those Siri extensions which are directly related to their main functions. Apple has sent an email to its developer community explaning its new guidelines.