Microsoft’s unified Windows Store brings new changes to listings and search algorithms for developers

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Published onJuly 24, 2015

published onJuly 24, 2015

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Part of Microsoft’s new initiative with Windows 10 is to unify Windows users experiences across multiple devices. During Microsoft’s developer conference //Build/ 2015, Microsoft sold its vision of a unified buying experience that would occur in a combined Windows, Windows Mobile, and Xbox Store, eventually. More than directing Windows users to a single purchase point, the combined Store is intended to help developers make money.

As Windows 10 nears its July 29th launch date, curious Windows developers are finally getting answers regarding Microsoft’s progress on its //Build/ 2015 unified vision. According toMicrosoft, the changes to the Store are finally coming. The new Store changes affect lists, search algorithms, a new web experience, and updates to ratings and reviews.

Aside from the most obvious “app gap” compliant, the Windows Store on both PC and Mobile were criticized for their lack of discoverability. Many Windows app developers complained about their app’s lack of surfacing among the sea of copy-cat apps or misdirected tutorial pages that used copyrighted material. With today’s announcement, the Windows team is addressing that specific concern with its new listing and search algorithms.

Microsoft offers a note of caution regarding the new algorithm. Due to the changes being applied to current Windows 8 and Windows Phone data, developers may experience some ranking changes in both Store lists and search results. Microsoft is encouraging developers to evaluate their app’s descriptions and keywords to ensure they are best optimized for the list and search results they would like to be displayed as.

Alongside the new Store found on Windows devices, Microsoft is also putting its Store on the web for easier accessibility. Windows 8 had a version of the Store that could be accessed via the browser, but Microsoft’s new web-based Store now includes listings for media content such as music, movies, and TV shows. The inclusion of Windows Media content now offers a more full-featured Store experience to Windows users on any device.

Once again, Microsoft is issuing some suggestion to help guide developers through this change, which include, adjusting their app descriptions as a heads up about app versions. According to Microsoft, “The app description pages do not include which devices the app works on, nor does it show the app version and last update date. We are working to bring these popular features back in a future update.” To get around this, Microsoft recommends putting the app version in with the app description when apps are updated.

Lastly, Microsoft is addressing the Ratings and Reviews portion of the Store. Now users will be able to read the combined reviews for both Windows and Windows Phone apps together.

We reported on theunified Dev Center dashboardbefore, but it looks like Microsoft is offering a bit more detail in this recent announcement.

Similar to many of the Windows teams most recent offerings, the Store is a “from the ground up” process that is going to take a little bit of time to work out. Hopefully, developers stay on board long enough to see their efforts as well as Microsoft’s pay off.

Kareem Anderson

Networking & Security Specialist

Kareem is a journalist from the bay area, now living in Florida. His passion for technology and content creation drives are unmatched, driving him to create well-researched articles and incredible YouTube videos.

He is always on the lookout for everything new about Microsoft, focusing on making easy-to-understand content and breaking down complex topics related to networking, Azure, cloud computing, and security.

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Kareem Anderson

Networking & Security Specialist

He is a journalist from the bay area, now living in Florida. He breaks down complex topics related to networking, Azure, cloud computing, and security

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