Apple is tightening up the rules for its App Store and will start removing abandoned apps in an effort to sharpen quality and improve user experience.
In an email to developers overnight, Apple said it would soon start culling apps that no longer function as intended, are unsupported, and that don't follow the current App Store review guidelines.
It warned coders to take app development seriously and not to submit programs that look "like they were cobbled together in a few days".
"We have lots of serious developers who don't want their quality apps be surrounded by amateur hour," Apple said.
Any app that crashes during the review process will be rejected instantly. Any attempt at gaming the App Store system or cheating during the review process will result in the coder in question being expelled immediately from the Apple developer program, the company said.
Apple did not say how many apps are currently abandoned. At last count the App Store had over two million apps available, with 100,000 new and updated programs submitted each week, the company said.
Starting September 8 Australian time, Apple will begin evaluating abandoned apps. If found lacking, developers will be notified and asked to submit an update within 30 days.
If the developers fail to provide updates, their apps will be removed from the App Store.
Apple also wants developers to stop using "extremely long names which include descriptions and terms not directly related to the app". From this month it will restrict app names to 50 characters.
