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I don’t see how that wouldn’t make sense… It’s not that they decided to set an arbitrary threshold of 3.7M apps, but that they have become more stringent on ap

I don’t see how that wouldn’t make sense… It’s not that they decided to set an arbitrary threshold of 3.7M apps, but that they have become more stringent on app approvals in light of the growth and quantity of apps in their store. I don’t think GP’s comment requires an incredulous snarky response, despite me not doing a great job making this point…

mikeyouse 4y ago
FWIW, I completely got your point. The Android ecosystem is horrible for this kind of thing. There are roughly 200,000 varieties of calculator apps. Why? There should be some criteria to help consumers avoid poorly supported simplistic clones that are often just filled with adware.
- jabbany 4y ago
  Ratings were supposed to be the criteria but we all know how well that worked...
- drekipus 4y ago
  Is there? If 200,000 calculator apps all fulfill your need, what is the problem? Just use one, and if it doesn't, use another. Use the stock one if you want, or ask some friends what they use. I agree rating systems are not an effective measure, and can be gamed, however.
  - randallsquared 4y ago
    There's something to be said for knowing you're using the best available app for something. Obviously, if that means keeping better apps out of the pool, that's a failure. However, one near-guarantee with 200,000 calculator apps is that whatever app you are using is suboptimal: you are definitely not using the one that would work best for your use cases, flow, comfort, or whatever. For some people, none of that matters. For others, the FOMO wears on them.
  - hedora 4y ago
    Most of them probably don't fulfill my needs. They're likely stuffed with ads and spyware, have numberic precision issues, are missing functions I need, are subscription-based etc. These days, I just use F-Droid for this sort of thing.
    - 8note 4y ago
      For a calculator, using a ti emulator for with the ti-89 software is a great time
- Marsymars 4y ago
  Yeah… I’m a relatively sophisticated consumer, and the state of the Play Store means that if I’m looking for any app to “do a thing” (as opposed to an official app for a company), it’s effectively impossible for me to get that app only via my phone. I have to wait until I’m at a desktop with a big screen and mouse/keyboard where I can efficiently browse through reddit comments and GitHub repositories to figure out what’s worthwhile, what’s junk, and what’s spam.
  - nine_k 4y ago
    But that's a problem with Play Store curation, which must not necessary involve rejecting apps. Much like with spam, marking can be enough.
- evandale 4y ago
  > There should be some criteria Aren't ratings and reviews good enough?
  - david_allison 4y ago
    Ratings and reviews are localised. I see different ratings and reviews than you.
- cycomanic 4y ago
  So I just did a quick search on the web for calculator app on the apple store (I don't own an iPhone) and for thr first one I found (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calculator/id458535809 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calculator/id458535809) the same developer already has 3-4 other calculator apps and I see a couple of other calculator suggestions). So there might not be 200,000 calculator apps on the app store but maybe some 100s (?). After maybe 10 or 20 the number doesn't really make a difference any does it? You will not look at them all to see how good they are, it's a function of how well the review/star system works. And yes that is a mess on the play store (is it better on the app store?) A side note, a calculator that tracks my location, and other privat identifiers (see link above) and still charges $5?!
CharlesW 4y ago
My comment was sincere. I'm interested in what the parent commenter believes triggered Apple to start specifically targeting small, independent developers.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- paulryanrogers 4y ago
  Tightening guidelines can be an emergent behavior of an app store's growth. Reviewers' incentivizes likely play a huge role in this, and the power trip they get from rejecting things.
- DiggyJohnson 4y ago
  Well then I do apologize for my bluntness. The sibling comment put it much better: RE: “emergent behavior.” Cheers, it is a good question.
- prawn 4y ago
  You can't picture a meeting where relevant stakeholders decide that there's a glut and it would be better if there are fewer, better apps? Dev relations would say that their contacts believe it's hard to get noticed amongst so many apps. Reviewers would want to see more quality, etc. I can see how it happens. FWIW, I think OP's app looks very decent and would have no issue in approving.

mikeyouse 4y ago

FWIW, I completely got your point. The Android ecosystem is horrible for this kind of thing. There are roughly 200,000 varieties of calculator apps. Why? There should be some criteria to help consumers avoid poorly supported simplistic clones that are often just filled with adware.

jabbany 4y ago
Ratings were supposed to be the criteria but we all know how well that worked...
drekipus 4y ago
Is there? If 200,000 calculator apps all fulfill your need, what is the problem? Just use one, and if it doesn't, use another. Use the stock one if you want, or ask some friends what they use. I agree rating systems are not an effective measure, and can be gamed, however.
- randallsquared 4y ago
  There's something to be said for knowing you're using the best available app for something. Obviously, if that means keeping better apps out of the pool, that's a failure. However, one near-guarantee with 200,000 calculator apps is that whatever app you are using is suboptimal: you are definitely not using the one that would work best for your use cases, flow, comfort, or whatever. For some people, none of that matters. For others, the FOMO wears on them.
- hedora 4y ago
  Most of them probably don't fulfill my needs. They're likely stuffed with ads and spyware, have numberic precision issues, are missing functions I need, are subscription-based etc. These days, I just use F-Droid for this sort of thing.
  - 8note 4y ago
    For a calculator, using a ti emulator for with the ti-89 software is a great time
Marsymars 4y ago
Yeah… I’m a relatively sophisticated consumer, and the state of the Play Store means that if I’m looking for any app to “do a thing” (as opposed to an official app for a company), it’s effectively impossible for me to get that app only via my phone. I have to wait until I’m at a desktop with a big screen and mouse/keyboard where I can efficiently browse through reddit comments and GitHub repositories to figure out what’s worthwhile, what’s junk, and what’s spam.
- nine_k 4y ago
  But that's a problem with Play Store curation, which must not necessary involve rejecting apps. Much like with spam, marking can be enough.
evandale 4y ago
> There should be some criteria Aren't ratings and reviews good enough?
- david_allison 4y ago
  Ratings and reviews are localised. I see different ratings and reviews than you.
cycomanic 4y ago
So I just did a quick search on the web for calculator app on the apple store (I don't own an iPhone) and for thr first one I found (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calculator/id458535809 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calculator/id458535809) the same developer already has 3-4 other calculator apps and I see a couple of other calculator suggestions). So there might not be 200,000 calculator apps on the app store but maybe some 100s (?). After maybe 10 or 20 the number doesn't really make a difference any does it? You will not look at them all to see how good they are, it's a function of how well the review/star system works. And yes that is a mess on the play store (is it better on the app store?) A side note, a calculator that tracks my location, and other privat identifiers (see link above) and still charges $5?!

CharlesW 4y ago

My comment was sincere. I'm interested in what the parent commenter believes triggered Apple to start specifically targeting small, independent developers.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
paulryanrogers 4y ago
Tightening guidelines can be an emergent behavior of an app store's growth. Reviewers' incentivizes likely play a huge role in this, and the power trip they get from rejecting things.
DiggyJohnson 4y ago
Well then I do apologize for my bluntness. The sibling comment put it much better: RE: “emergent behavior.” Cheers, it is a good question.
prawn 4y ago
You can't picture a meeting where relevant stakeholders decide that there's a glut and it would be better if there are fewer, better apps? Dev relations would say that their contacts believe it's hard to get noticed amongst so many apps. Reviewers would want to see more quality, etc. I can see how it happens. FWIW, I think OP's app looks very decent and would have no issue in approving.