Better recommendation or sorting systems. Instead of removing flappy bird games entirely, just put them at the bottom of the search results. Ideally this could be done by machine learning or community ratings, rather than a Google employee deciding they don't like flappy bird games and down ranking them. But even the second option is better than refusing them entirely.
Remove stuff that is actually malicious or breaks rules, not games that aren't original (keep in mind the original flappy bird was incredibly unoriginal itself.)
This is IMO a cop out. The nature of the App Store is such that anything ranked low is never downloaded. A moderation system that drops the ranking of an app is functionally the same as not allowing it in the first place.
The only difference is that rank-dropping lets us pat ourselves on the back for how fair and open we're being when in fact we haven't really made a difference.
That is not the only difference. A down-ranked app may not get any organic downloads from people searching/browsing the App Store. But if a developer is doing their own marketing to direct people straight to the download page in the App Store, then there is a huge difference between "not available" and "hidden at the bottom"
How about ditch the management aspect and go with the open internet? Let everyone decide when and where they get their software. You know, let the people who own their computers actually control what's on them!
Can we put some blame on Windows for that? It's not just that they can download software from wherever, it's that the software can do whatever it wants when it's on the computer, without the knowledge or consent of the user.
The best you get is a generic warning with some variation of "do you 100% trust this program to do whatever it wants?" which is unrealistic even for the most competent users.
But I think that knowledge of securing your computer develops over time as you perhaps make mistakes along the way or threats evolve. Security isn't like an on-off switch. The issue that arises from app stores letting loose and letting people fend for themselves (particularly for an "overlord" like Apple or Google) is that it does nothing to address things like viruses or malware that proliferate due to a large enough population of people who lack that security experience. This ultimately affects the ecosystem as a whole and even those who are particularly cautious. It's like how religiously washing your hands is only going to get you so far in terms of avoiding getting sick when you are surrounded by people who are already sick. Especially now a days where access to personal information can have many entry points due to social networking (e.g. Facebook posts/pictures), unless you limit yourself to a sterile bubble, what effects the ecosystem will ultimately affect you.
Now, this is the question, isn't it? I don't have a solution for it. Not yet, at least :). But in doubt, I would trust a community rather than a controlling entity.
-Misleading Parasitic garbage (e.g. Microsoft Word "Tutorials")
I've come to terms with the fact that Apple and Google can't really keep garbage out of the app store, but I would really love an alternative app store that was garbage free.
But I think there lies the problem. If you leave it to "someone" or to "some entity" then you get a one-sided impartial judgement of what constitutes "good".
Your list is full of big hits. This means that the market responds positively to that. I know people who hates Facebook and would never use any form of Social Media. I respect their view but it doesn't make them "right" as far as the big picture is concerned.
If there's a choice between "someones" and "some entities" and I can find a set curated by critics whose tastes align with mine, that's great.
Right now, the app store is essentially a discount retailer: you can trust that the things sold there range from excellent to "probably not criminal". Sometimes I just want to to go Nordstrom, pay a little extra, and browse through a small selection of things that I can trust aren't total garbage.
I think most (if not all) people would agree with that sentiment. That's why I humbly think that Apple should concentrate in improving their search and maybe implementing better profiling or a better review system. Just because App Store is a mess doesn't make casual, arbitrary and impromptu policing right.
That's my thought exactly, if there were different "stores" to choose from, then they wouldn't have to make this kind of casual arbitrary impromptu policing. The current middle ground is bad for everybody.
-Apple's reputation for 'good taste' will push them to make their store do just that
-Google's openness will allow one (or more) companies to make parallel stores that do just that.
Apple has great taste, but thta doesn't equate with "my taste". More people having a go at it on the Android side makes it more likely I'll find one that works for me.
