The Apple App Store suggests 'search as you speak'.
How to perform a search in the app store?
Today, when I opened the App Store on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, I came across a new notice under the search bar inviting me to “search like you speak.” I hadn’t seen this option before, and to be honest, I missed the note about the iOS 18.1 update mentioning this functionality. According to the information, the update that Apple released in October allows searching in the App Store to use a more natural language, making it easier to find what you’re looking for. This change isn't limited to the app store; it has also been implemented in other areas like Photos, Music, and Apple TV.
While some users noticed this new interface in October, I had only observed the same simple messages in search as before. However, when asking others, several mentioned they hadn't seen the new notice either, although in one particular case, restarting the app made it appear. Additionally, some social media posts from other users who noticed it for the first time have started to emerge.
The notice in the suggestion box suggested trying phrases like “Apps that help me exercise,” so I decided to give it a try. When I searched for “emulators that include multiple consoles,” the first result that appeared was the Delta app, a multi-console emulator. In another attempt, I used “Apps that only emulate individual consoles,” which led me to PS Remote Play, PlayStation, and Xbox services, while it ended up with Gamma, a PS1 emulator. However, when I asked for “video games that can help me exercise,” the results weren’t what I expected, though I might never have found that option otherwise.
Overall, it seems that this improvement is a positive step. Although Twerk Race 3D isn’t an app that would really help with exercise, the search seems to work in its essence. Previously, I never felt that the App Store search was useful beyond finding an app whose name I already knew. Moreover, searching with typical one- or two-word terms didn't offer the same variety as reformulating searches using a more natural language.