You wake up one day and decide to get out of bed, pick up your phone, and download some of the best mobile apps that you’ve always wanted on your device. Maybe you’re looking for an adventure game, maybe you’re searching for a dictionary, or maybe you just want something to help you get through the day. Whatever your reason is, you get down to business and begin searching for the perfect app.
As you’re browsing through the Google Play store or Apple’s App Store, you stumble upon a fantastic looking mobile app with amazing reviews. You decide to give it a go and discover that it’s actually very hard to find apps that offer real value. For some reason, most of the top apps on both stores are free with ads, and the developers behind them have made off with millions of dollars. You’re slightly outraged that the developers have ripped you off, but in the grand scheme of things, you realize that this is just the way the App Store (iOS) and the Play Store (Android) work. You’ve just become a bit disillusioned.
The Dark Side of the App Markets
If you’ve ever shopped on either of the app stores, you’ll know that third-party sellers can pop up with false reviews. This is called fraudulent reviews, and it’s something that the App Stores are very good at detecting. While most people will happily spend their hard-earned money on an app that they genuinely think is worth it, others are more than willing to go the extra mile and trick the system. When an app is reviewed with a five-star rating but the reviews aren’t trustworthy, you’ll often see them marked as fraudulent.
Last year, the App Stores introduced a new algorithm that tries to pinpoint the level of detail and authenticity in app reviews. With every update, they adjust the algorithm in an attempt to weed out the bad apples and maintain a positive review score.
Gambler’s Rage
On the flip side, you’ll find many high-quality gaming apps on both the iOS and Android app stores. For decades, people have used gaming apps to help them manage their winnings and losses. For example, the hit game Candy Crush has been around for years and is one of the most popular games on both the App Store and the Google Play store. It’s one of the few mobile apps that truly deserve the five-star rating.
Although most gamers would agree that Candy Crush is an incredible game, it doesn’t exactly fit the “toy” description that the iOS App Store offers. In fact, some have accused the app store of purposely hiding or denying the existence of certain games that they believe will be unpopular. While the accusation may be a bit extreme, it does indicate a level of unhappiness among the gaming community regarding the way the App Store handles the verification and approval of applications.
Where Do I Sign Up?
If you’ve ever shopped on either of the app stores, you’ll know that the terms and conditions are absolutely insane. As an iPhone user, you’re used to hitting the register button, providing your email address, and waiting for the developer to send you a confirmation email. Sometimes this can take a while, and it’s certainly not a flawless process.
On the contrary, finding an app on the Android store requires you to navigate an incredibly long and confusing terms and conditions page. This is because Google insists on controlling almost every aspect of how you use the app, including what data you can and cannot upload. Naturally, this causes a major uproar among the app’s users because quite often, they aren’t made aware of these restrictions until they’ve already provided their email address and launched the app.
Why Do I Have To Give Away My Phone Number?
If you’ve ever shopped on either of the app stores, you’ll know that providing your phone number is something that you have to do once you’ve registered. On the contrary, you have to actively seek out the confirmation email from the developer, which can often take a while. Naturally, this causes a lot of irritation among the registered users, as they have to spend at least a little bit of their time doing something that serves no other purpose but to keep them informed about their new app.
Privacy Issues And Backlash From Law Enforcement
On the subject of privacy, you’ll find many apps on the iOS App Store that are completely free. However, if you want to remove all traces of the app from your device, you have to pay a small fee, often between $0.99 and $4.99. Naturally, this can be seen as controversial, especially since a lot of these apps contain personal information that you don’t want someone else to see. When you consider that almost all of these apps are free, it’s not hard to see how users are irritated by this additional step.
In some instances, developers have explicitly stated that they don’t want their apps to be removed from a user’s device, so they offer a one-click exchange service, where you can give your phone to a professional cleaner in order to have the app deleted. Naturally, this can be seen as an invented privacy issue that only people with serious apps will fall for. Despite this, lots of people still prefer this option to having their privacy compromised because it’s much more convenient for them.
Gamblers Anonymous
On the subject of law enforcement, you’ll find many apps on the iOS App Store that are explicitly designed for gamblers. Naturally, this is a watered-down version of what the gambling industry has offered for decades, and it’s clearly not designed with any other purpose in mind. These apps often contain Gambling Alcohol and Drugs, and they can often be found within the Mister Games category. Let’s not forget about those famous gambling apps that were partially banned in the UK as they were considered to be predatory, especially since they actively charm children with artificially animated characters.
Which Countries Can I Use This App In?
With every Android update, the Google Play Store changes the list of countries that you can use this app in. If you live in Hong Kong, you’ll notice that most of the apps in the Mister Games category are either banned or restricted. The same goes for the iPad as well. If you want to use these apps, you will need to visit a private network in the country in question.
Final Takeaway
If you’ve ever shopped on either of the app stores, you’ll know that it can be incredibly frustrating. Not only do you have to navigate an absurd amount of terms and conditions, but you have to do so while trying to find a perfect app for your needs. Naturally, a lot of the time, this is pure trial and error, and you’ll end up with an imperfect app that you’ll have to delete later. Despite this, you can find a lot of value on the App Store and the Google Play Store, especially since they continue to adjust and improve their algorithms.