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Apple has recently made some changes to the App Store in regards to the way the reviews section will work. In the past, and since the App Store was originally launched anyone was able to write a review for any app they choose whether they actually used it or not.

This had been causing a flood of bad reviews and poor one line reviews that was potentially hurting the sales of some apps. Well thankfully Apple has made a change and now in order to review an app you must have already downloaded it.

While it sounds like this should have been the policy from the beginning, I suppose a little late is better than never at all. Of course in the long run I am not sure this will fully correct the problem, and in fact I would go as far as saying that it will only take care of half of it.

This new rule may help get more accurate reviews for paid apps, because someone may think twice about paying for something just to be able to write a review. But a free app is just a quick and easy download and a ‘user’ can easily download the free app write their crazy or misleading review and then delete the app from their iTunes. Of course on the flip side, I rarely check the reviews for free apps, because if I download it and decide I don’t like it then I can also easily delete it.

I guess if nothing else it will at least stop people from offering those reviews that say nothing more than “I would buy this app if it was…” and of course you could fill in that ending with any lower price or just the word free. I would say nice work Apple, but like I already mentioned it seems this should have been the policy from the beginning.