Comments on: The Broken Record Keeps Playing: Why Apple’s App Store Approval Process is Broken

By: Howling Moon Software

Howling Moon Software — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:18:36 +0000

[...] In order to organize any sort of a release, you have to be able to have a set release date. For all the many problems with the App Store review process, Apple could arguably be doing their best. [...]

By: Is Facebook Pulling an Apple With Its Ad Guidelines? | Tech Newz

Is Facebook Pulling an Apple With Its Ad Guidelines? | Tech Newz — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:55:08 +0000

[...] and its platform strategy — just look at the outcry over Apple’s refusal to explain why it’s rejected certain apps from its App [...]

By: Apple Silences Google Voice On the iPhone

Apple Silences Google Voice On the iPhone — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:34:56 +0000

[...] Voice application.” Apple has bandied about the feature duplication defense before, when they rejected Podcaster prior to releasing their own integrated podcast direct search and download section to the [...]

By: Mohd Aika Abdullah

Mohd Aika Abdullah — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 10:33:50 +0000

The solution is simple and has always been part of the software engineering process.

Apple needs to add an additional approval step based on submission of product goals, descriptions and some preliminary design specifications even BEFORE development starts. This way, Apple still has control; only now, since no code is even written yet, an app can be declined without a life-altering negative impact on the developer. Designs can be altered and can be resubmitted. When the product description, goals and specifications are approved, then development can begin!

No more spill, no more mess! A win-win situation.

By: andrew Wulf

andrew Wulf — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:25:25 +0000

I wrote on this exact title:

http://thecodist.com/article/the_app_store_is_a_classic_example_of_a_broken_business_process

By: Step by Step: Apple’s App Store Approval Process | World Boxx

Step by Step: Apple’s App Store Approval Process | World Boxx — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:03:52 +0000

[...] make about as much sense as any other explanation the iPhone- and iPod-maker has offered for why it seemingly rejects some apps for no reason, while letting other similar ones pass without question. Additional mobile software [...]

By: Apple Approves Podcaster App, Provides Another Ray of Hope - TheAppleBlog

Apple Approves Podcaster App, Provides Another Ray of Hope - TheAppleBlog — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:01:12 +0000

[...] was the rejection heard ’round the world when Apple’s reviewers rejected the user-favourite Podcaster app, citing as the cause the [...]

By: 5 (Yes, 5) Landscape Email iPhone Applications Released

5 (Yes, 5) Landscape Email iPhone Applications Released — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:20:11 +0000

[...] approval process, possibly caused by an internal decision on what exactly exactly constitutes “duplicat[ing] the functionality” of Apple’s own [...]

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:45:08 +0000

I often browse the different categories each day to see the new apps available (because the ‘new’ area is never up-to-date) and noticed that the application “Trapster” was recently released. This application is meant to avoid speed traps, traffic cams, etc and even says in the description:
“It’s FREE, and might save you a lot time, embarrassment, and money spent on traffic violation fees and increased insurance premiums”
Does this mean that, because Apple reviews all these applications before release, that they condone law breaking and traffic violations?

How is it that application such as this get approved and ones such as the one Orb.com is trying to release get delayed or rejected (they’ve been waiting on approval for several weeks now)?

AND get this! 4 apps just came out in row that do the EXACT same thing! All version 1 and all but 1 is the same price! The apps are in the productivity and give users the ability to write emails in landscape mode… Mind you a good idea but I thought Apple was supposed to minimize duplicates? (*cough Sudoku *cough)

By: Jan Erik Moström » Sigh, Apple what are you thinking

Jan Erik Moström » Sigh, Apple what are you thinking — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:09:07 +0000

[...] theAppleBlog: The Broken Record Keeps Playing: Why Apple’s App Store Approval Process is Brok… [...]

By: Apple Covers App Store Denials with NDA | The Apple Blog

Apple Covers App Store Denials with NDA | The Apple Blog — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:20:45 +0000

[...] compound frustrations by the rejection of seemingly useful applications like Podcaster for example (and some not so useful apps like Pull My Finger, which I totally would have paid $.99 [...]

By: Organizing Apps on the iPhone | The Apple Blog

Organizing Apps on the iPhone | The Apple Blog — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:34:26 +0000

[...] flexibility in the way I’m able to situate and thumb through the applications on my iPhone. (Think Apple will allow someone to develop something to manage interface tweaks and sell it in the Ap… Me either.) Before I detail the interface customization items I hope to see on the iPhone, I think [...]

By: Daily Apple: iPhone MMS, New Harddrives, Front Row Update | The Apple Blog

Daily Apple: iPhone MMS, New Harddrives, Front Row Update | The Apple Blog — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:40:47 +0000

[...] in response to claims that the Podcaster app’s rejection should have been expected. I’m with Gruber on this [...]

By: Glenn

Glenn — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:55:22 +0000

Roughly Drafted.com has an article that pretty much puts this argument to rest. Apple clearly states in the SDK what apps can and can not do. Evidently some developers don’t read the SDK rules, or go ahead and create the app and then complain because it was rejected “after all the hard work we did in creating this app”. Either way, it is NOT Apple’s problem that it was rejected. If you read and agree to ALL the terms of service of the SDK, which you are supposed to do BEFORE downloading and using it, then don’t bitch because you went off and created something that does not conform to those terms and Apple rejects it. Evidently the creators of the thousands of other apps Apple has allowed are just fine with the process.

Regarding the fart application, I believe Apple was completely proper in not allowing it. As an example, 99.999% of people would consider it “rude, crude, and socially unacceptable” to sit in church at a funeral and use an application like that. It’s something you just DON’T do. Arguments about “pushing the envelope”, “cutting edge”, etc etc just don’t wash in some situations, and if Apple doesn’t want their phone to be a part of acting like that, that’s just fine with me!

By: Kontra

Kontra — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 04:10:48 +0000

“Some developers demand Apple try to communicate better, lest they assume the worst of the platform vendor. While that sounds plenty reasonable at face value, given the curatorial demands on the fledgling state of the App Store platform and Apple’s overall reliance on product-plan secrecy, we shouldn’t realistically expect Apple to ‘open up’ anytime soon,” as I explain in:

Resolved: Apple is right to curate the App Store
http://counternotions.com/2008/09/15/app-store/

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:05:59 +0000

@Jt: Yeah, they’ve had 100 million DLs – but the problem is that A)They’re new. People are downloading everything they can get for free just to check it out. They’re probably tossing 9 out of 10 of them after five minutes. B)Because Apple’s screening is so arbitrary, you have to download 5 different apps that do the same thing to figure out which one does it the best. We’re not talking about demo DLs vs. purchased DLs. There are no demos, so every download does not equate to a happy customer actually using the app.

Apple needs to either let every app in, be obscenely selective (and consistent with what they let in or not), or preferably just allow app downloads from any Web site and leave people on their own to figure out what’s good and what’s not.

By: James Katt

James Katt — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:57:29 +0000

I do not believe that the Apple App Store approval process is broken.

First, the App Store is the most successful software distributor in the world. The number of apps in the store is growing and growing. It started out with 500 apps, and now there are over 3,000 apps in just 2 months. It went from 30 million downloads in the first month, to 70 million downloads in the second month. Developers on-board the app store are making money. Some are making a lot of money. And the potential for making a lot of money is there.

Second, Apple has provided general criteria for approval. However, Apple also has flexibility in determining what gets approved and not. The general criteria are NOT rigid criteria. Developers are very creative. As a result, Apple has to have flexibility to meet this creativeness. The creativity of developers may, for example, results in applications which are in very bad taste, which may inadvertently cause consumer mistakes such as buying something at an excessively high price. Despite the application meeting the general criteria, Apple has the right to say the App should be disapproved.

Third, it is important for the App store to maintain fairly high quality in its App collection and consumer experience. This is a huge selling point of the App store in comparison to the experience on other platforms – such as Windows Mobile and Palm – where crap apps run amok. Apple needs flexibility in this case – over and above the general criteria – in what gets into the App store.

Fourth, Apple does not have to specify explicitly the process for its criteria over and above the general criteria. The reason is that it is taken on a case-by-case basis. It is highly subjective. And it needs to be.

Fifth, if a developer’s app is disapproved, then modify it so that it may be approved. Differentiate it from what Apple is doing. For example, there are other podcast apps available – not just the one which was disapproved. What made them different and approvable? Why not add the capacity to create your own podcast within iPhone then give it the capacity to upload it to your website. This would make it very different from what Apple is doing. What about not only being able to download a podcast, but other media – such as news video, etc. Then it would not be only a podcast app, but a general media app – such as a browser for general media. Add links to Google Video, etc. Differentiate yourself.

Sixth, the iPhone development environment is the best environment for developing mobile applications. The App store is THE best mobile application store. These are compelling reasons a developer may want to develop for the iPhone. There are tens to hundreds of thousands of iPhone developers. The current 3000 apps are just the tip of the iceberg in what the App store can become. As such, the FEW COMPLAINERS can go ahead an leave. Go ahead, develop for Windows Mobile or Palm or Nokia or Android. The one’s that are left will benefit. As a consumer and developer, I am highly satisfied what the App store. The quality of apps is amazing. I have friends who have downloaded over 100 apps. I have paid for and downloaded more than 40 apps already. This is a highly successful venture. Good riddance to those who aren’t helping the process.

By: GJD

GJD — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 10:53:39 +0000

As a consumer, I would prefer Apple to be more choosy about the apps it lets into the store, not less. Afterall, Apple doesn’t sell any old cr@p in its bricks-and-mortar store, and it’s that same focus on quality which has been instrumental in building the Apple brand.

However, I can understand the point of view of the serious developer – Apple must be very clear on the criteria it uses to screen apps. If Apple were to provide explicit feedback for each rejected app, then at least the developers would have a chance to remedy any problems and the community would have an understanding of what Apple was doing behind the scenes.

But I guess the Apple brand was also built with a generous helping of opaque ‘mystique’.

By: Jalopy

Jalopy — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:25:56 +0000

I think that some kind of 2 part process would be the best. Part 1: Submit and overview of what you app is. Apple approves or disapproves of the concept. Part 2: Submit your code. Apple approves or disapproves the code.

By: devin

devin — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:30:59 +0000

Listen, I haven’t read through the entire SDK rules but I already have a very good idea of the kind of stuff that will fly and the kind of stuff that won’t. Apple made PERFECTLY CLEAR that apps would not be accepted that compete with the iPod software specifically. It should have been pretty obvious to the developer, had they bothered to do any research, that some form of podcast software wouldn’t fly because podcasts are built into the iPod. I could also make a friendly bet that Apple wouldn’t have let an app called “murderdrome”, or the “Psycho” app, through because of their fairly specific non-violence rule.

As for the farting app, give me a freaking break. I am GLAD Apple isn’t letting these waste-of-space apps into the app store. it’s already TOO CROWDED, especially with those damn “e-books”, and it would be far far worse if apple let the fart app through- giving a clear signal that you can do ANYTHING. That $1000 ruby app was a good example of another useless app that was rightfully pulled. In fact, I wish apple would be a lot more selective in what apps make it. I don’t want to have to download 10 different sudoku apps before finding one that’s decent, same goes for dozens of other categories.

Just my.02 of course, I don’t expect everyone to agree. Can’t please everyone all the time.