Microsoft's new Windows Store policy will combat junk apps
It's no secret that Windows Store has serious issues not just with scammy apps, but also with spammy ones. Now, Microsoft is finally addressing that problem by introducing a stricter certification policy for new and existing apps that could clean its catalog enough to make browsing the store less painful. The new policy has four main points starting with eliminating apps with almost identical names and icons, those whose titles don't match up with their content, and those that aren't very useful or unique. Microsoft will also prune away applications considerably more expensive than similar ones in its category.
The company now requires informational apps to be clearly labeled as a "guide" or as a "tutorial," as well, else they risk being purged. Finally, an app's title, description, tags and keywords should all be relevant to what it does, otherwise Microsoft might delete it. These rules sound like they could demolish most clone and junk apps from Windows Store if properly enforced -- let's hope Microsoft makes sure that they do.
