that developers have been noticing significant changes to the search algorithm in Apple's App Stores. Previously, Apple's search meant that results were found through the use of key words and app names. Now, Apple's search appears to be getting more intelligent.

The report uses the example of a search for the word 'traffic', which would normally bring up games such as Traffic Rush because the search term is in the name of the app. Now, though, developers have reported that typing in traffic can bring up actual traffic or navigation apps.

Ben Sann, founder of BestParking.com, first alerted TechCrunch to the change, after noticing that his Best Parking app has moved to the top of a number of searches that it wasn't previously ranking highly in before. In a search for "sf parking," for example, Best Parking was above other apps that had a closer name match to the search term.

Sann believes that the new search algorithms are down to the volume of app downloads. "Best Parking has pulled ahead of apps with better names but fewer downloads."

If Sann's theory proves to be true, it's good news for developers of apps that have a broad audience, but localised map apps, for example, will be pushed down to the bottom of search results.