No, it is not logical, or even a good idea, for Apple to go around changing ratings on Apps. First of all, it is your App, you have complete control over it. There is no way that Apple should change anything on your application, no matter how much quicker it makes the process. Secondly, this opens up Apple to a whole new can of worms, if they were to go around changing Apps, and whether you like it or not, the ratings is part of the app.
You're nuts.
If you don't like the new rating they give you, then pull the app and resubmit.
At least you then have a fighting chance.
With the current system, you have to be a mindreader.
My solution is for them to let you change it online while they have your app in review...and then release it, once you make the online change.
Either is much faster than what is currently done.
They waited 30 days to notify me on a ratings glitch. They wanted 17+. They know what THEY want, yet want us to read their (*&^% minds?
And then resubmit?
I was pissed too.
They could easily allow us to make the change online and then once seen by them, would release the app for the store. Total process would take less than 24 hours rather than the 15-30 days resubmit...only to have them kick it back again for some other asinine reason. Because it will be seen by a different reviewer who has his own ax to grind.
Apple makes it harder than is has to be.
They're smart.
We're f*cked!
Read between the lines.
Yes, it is frustrating. But you need to remember, Apple have a properly designed process they run through to approve an App. They do it not to minimise time to developers, but for their own reasons. If an app fails a certain process, they stop examining it and send it back. You app may have a number of bugs in it, but if rating is the first thing they look at, they fail it, and stop looking. When you resubmit, they do the whole process over.
You need to understand the workflow the use, and why they do it that way. They do it like this because they are a big company, and deal with big projects.
My main gripe with the review process right now is for app updates. Last week I discovered a crash bug in my app that sneaked through (sucks), I fixed the bug and submitted the update in 10 minutes but my users are still waiting. Updates - especially for critical bug fixes that take minutes to resolve - can't wait this long.
Yes, it is frustrating. But you need to remember, Apple have a properly designed process they run through to approve an App. They do it not to minimise time to developers, but for their own reasons. If an app fails a certain process, they stop examining it and send it back. You app may have a number of bugs in it, but if rating is the first thing they look at, they fail it, and stop looking. When you resubmit, they do the whole process over.
You need to understand the workflow the use, and why they do it that way. They do it like this because they are a big company, and deal with big projects.
That sounds too much like the company line.
No disrespect meant.
But every project I have ever worked on, had the reviewer point out all the bugs they found, and then had either me or someone else correct them.
It would then be reviewed again.
It was never sent back upon finding the first "fault".
Because that is inefficient.
As for the ratings....
Lets see.
One reviewer is a devout Muslim, and the other a Roman Catholic.
My main gripe with the review process right now is for app updates. Last week I discovered a crash bug in my app that sneaked through (sucks), I fixed the bug and submitted the update in 10 minutes but my users are still waiting. Updates - especially for critical bug fixes that take minutes to resolve - can't wait this long.
They will allow you one expedited review - I had a problem much like yours last week (26th), and only noticed a problem when everyone started upgrading at once (problem was with really slow broadband connections causing the app to crash - I think they were on string and 2 paper cup connections).
I emailed the usual appreview address, with "***URGENT*** Expedited Review Required" as the title, and obviously stating why it needs urgent attention - the next version was in the store on 28th August.
So they do have a heart. But you only get one shot at it lol (they said it was a one-time process).
My last update submitted on the 16th was accepted on the 29th. Longest waiting time I've had so far, but at least it wasn't rejected. Was also glad to see I'm getting approval emails again. I hadn't received them for the past few updates.
Hi, I wanted to tahnk you for these helpful informations - getting reviewed seems to be a pain in the ***. This review process seems to be inefficient as hell ...
We have a uploaded our first binary about 8 days ago, so I suppose, we will have to wait another week or two ... or three ... or four
My first application (Drum n Bass) was accepted after just over two weeks of waiting. After all the horror-stories about rejections and endless waiting I must say that wasn't all too bad.
What bums me out though, is that after acceptance the app isn't listed on the front page of the new-apps list, but is buried immediately under 8 pages (or two weeks worth) of apps that somehow got approved faster.
They should order that list based on date of approval, not based on date of submission...
My first application (Drum n Bass) was accepted after just over two weeks of waiting. After all the horror-stories about rejections and endless waiting I must say that wasn't all too bad.
What bums me out though, is that after acceptance the app isn't listed on the front page of the new-apps list, but is buried immediately under 8 pages (or two weeks worth) of apps that somehow got approved faster.
They should order that list based on date of approval, not based on date of submission...
Go in and change the date of your app to the approval date, it will appear on the front page
Well, it looks like the phone calls and emails paid off...well not really, Now I have to re-submit my binary.
"Play 10K Lite 1.0.0 cannot be posted because it is a feature-limited version. Free or "Lite" versions are acceptable, however the application must be a fully functional app and cannot reference features that are not implemented or up-sell to the full version."
Ok, someone help me with this because I am a little confused.
I do not have any advertising in my app, no Admob, Ad this or Ad that. I had a pop up when the player touched a feature that was part of the Paid version, it would ask them if they would like to purchase... if they chose to, it would take them to my iTunes Store page...if they purchased... Apple would make their 30%.
This is the part I don't get. I'm not allowed to promote my own Paid version within the Free version....BUT... I am allowed to make money from the Game (without Apple making a dime) by instering i.e. Admob Banner Ads...WTF! I don't get it.
Anyway, I hope to re-upload the binary today/tomorrow.
Thanks for your patience in this post everybody... I'm sure we all have our "little house of horror" stories when it comes to the Apple Review Board.
Well, it looks like the phone calls and emails paid off...well not really, Now I have to re-submit my binary.
"Play 10K Lite 1.0.0 cannot be posted because it is a feature-limited version. Free or "Lite" versions are acceptable, however the application must be a fully functional app and cannot reference features that are not implemented or up-sell to the full version."
Ok, someone help me with this because I am a little confused.
I do not have any advertising in my app, no Admob, Ad this or Ad that. I had a pop up when the player touched a feature that was part of the Paid version, it would ask them if they would like to purchase... if they chose to, it would take them to my iTunes Store page...if they purchased... Apple would make their 30%.
This is the part I don't get. I'm not allowed to promote my own Paid version within the Free version....BUT... I am allowed to make money from the Game (without Apple making a dime) by instering i.e. Admob Banner Ads...WTF! I don't get it.
Anyway, I hope to re-upload the binary today/tomorrow.
Thanks for your patience in this post everybody... I'm sure we all have our "little house of horror" stories when it comes to the Apple Review Board.
This kind of thing makes me laugh, I mean OF COURSE you're trying to upsell your full version, it's that the point of putting time into making a Lite version and giving it away at no cost? My advice would be just have an "Upgrade" button on the very front of the app that leads to a page telling the customer all about the full version with a Buy Now button. That seems to be the only thing they allow.
Well, it looks like the phone calls and emails paid off...well not really, Now I have to re-submit my binary.
"Play 10K Lite 1.0.0 cannot be posted because it is a feature-limited version. Free or "Lite" versions are acceptable, however the application must be a fully functional app and cannot reference features that are not implemented or up-sell to the full version."
Ok, someone help me with this because I am a little confused.
I do not have any advertising in my app, no Admob, Ad this or Ad that. I had a pop up when the player touched a feature that was part of the Paid version, it would ask them if they would like to purchase... if they chose to, it would take them to my iTunes Store page...if they purchased... Apple would make their 30%.
This is the part I don't get. I'm not allowed to promote my own Paid version within the Free version....BUT... I am allowed to make money from the Game (without Apple making a dime) by instering i.e. Admob Banner Ads...WTF! I don't get it.
Anyway, I hope to re-upload the binary today/tomorrow.
Thanks for your patience in this post everybody... I'm sure we all have our "little house of horror" stories when it comes to the Apple Review Board.
Hi
Did you read my reply to you last post? You can put a buy button to a link of your free version. Download my lite version of Matchem - Animalz ( iTunes Store )and you will see you can put a buy button but you can't say have a high score button and when you press it it says 'only in the paid version' you have to remoove the button, everything in the lite version has to work.
I have now resorted in sending follow-up emails to appreview twice a day to try and get them to look at my app agian.
they took 20 days to reject it for using an image that looks to much like a polaroid picture and now I am supposed to go through the review process agian? My app is only good through november and at this rate it wont be approved in time to be used.
This is a major let down and making me think twice about developing anything else for the iphone.
Go in and change the date of your app to the approval date, it will appear on the front page
Yeah this is very important. I was able to change the date within an hour of them sending the approval notice, and it resulted in ~200% jump in sales the first day the update went live.
For a few of my previous updates, they weren't sending the emails, so I'd miss the window to change the date, and my app/sales wouldn't get the extra 'bump'.
Got a rejection email, due to a minor technical screwup on my part. But instead of a canned rejection that usually has you scratching your head wondering just what they want me to change, it gave CLEAR instructions on how to correct the problem. Step by step, as if it were a recipe. Then they also gave a contact site for technical problems should we need more help. Now that was a pleasant surprise. It was a non-canned response.
On the negative, I resubmitted the binary using Application Loader, and it never showed "in review".
Spent all day uploading it along with some new binaries...all of which where successfully uploaded multiple times each all day...but they never showed " in review" status. After 8 hours they still showed as "upload binary". So, tried doing it through iTunes Connect, which usually solves that problem, but is glitchy. Maddeningly, here it would go on endlessly without ever confirming in any way...ie without completing the upload. These are all binaries sized 5 MB to 8 MB...nothing too large. Finally after giving up late last night, a few hours later at midnight suddenly they all showed as "in review". My experience prior to this was that " in review" status shows up right away after the binary load. So, my thoughts on this are...another glitch...that could easily have been corrected by Apple the way Ebay does it.
"Thank you for uploading your 'auction' or 'binary'. It may not show live for a few hours.....etc etc."
That way we don't panic and wonder what the (*&^ is wrong now.
So simple, yet Apple makes it so obtuse.
Thank you Apple reviewers. I know your job is difficult, and I don't envy your position...between a rock and hard place...AKA as between Jobs, Schiller and the developers. It is at best a thankless job...so let me say Thank You!
Got approval on the above after 13 days. So I now have one that falls within the 95% 14 days approval period.
This Keyword rejection must be a new thing, I just spoke to 2 other developers that got rejected for using games as their keywords.
FFS Apple .... The public can't even see the damn keywords so what harm is it doing!
Not to mention the fact that there are so many apps in the store with completely generic "names" so you better not use "shooter" or "FPS" to describe you game, those are apparently trademarked!
They finally got back to me...twice within 24hrs. Once last night to reject me...then today to tell me they have the new binary, explain WHY they rejected it...and basically...sit and wait again bi@tch
It only took an hour to fix what they held back for 35 days.
They finally got back to me...twice within 24hrs. Once last night to reject me...then today to tell me they have the new binary, explain WHY they rejected it...and basically...sit and wait again bi@tch
It only took an hour to fix what they held back for 35 days.
I hope all the fuss is worth it!
after 20 days i got the rejection notice and I resubmitted my app and have started emailing them because my app is only good through november and needs to be reviewed as soon as possable.
No word from apple as of yet.
I called the phone number and they basicly said send an email if I want and I just have to wait out the review process agian (another 20 days?)
Should I plan on having a 6 month apple review period when choosing to make an app? I thought 4 months would be enough time to have it reviewed, accepted and everything with enough time for people to learn about it and download the app. I guessed wrong.
Last edited by MikesTooLz; 08-31-2009 at 08:50 PM.
I know there has been a bit of willthey?/wontthey? about the app keywords referencing another app but I'd like to let everyone know they will reject your app even for the mention of the most generic keyword. For example, I put the word "Shoot" in my keywords because there is a gun in my app.
The Apple overlords decided that was far too close to the name of a best-selling iPhone game to allow that to go through so they sent me a rejection (after 17 days...) stating that it would be appropriate to remove "iShoot" from my keyword description when I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ISHOOT IN THE KEYWORDS.
I know there has been a bit of willthey?/wontthey? about the app keywords referencing another app but I'd like to let everyone know they will reject your app even for the mention of the most generic keyword. For example, I put the word "Shoot" in my keywords because there is a gun in my app.
The Apple overlords decided that was far too close to the name of a best-selling iPhone game to allow that to go through so they sent me a rejection (after 17 days...) stating that it would be appropriate to remove "iShoot" from my keyword description when I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ISHOOT IN THE KEYWORDS.
I feel like punching a baby right now.
But I won't...
maybe.
lol, im so excited that my first app is reaching the end! but now after reading quite a few of thses posts, my excitement seems to be dying cause of the fact that my app will have to wait in the 5% group along with the other 90% of people who have to wait in that group too lol.
lol, im so excited that my first app is reaching the end! but now after reading quite a few of thses posts, my excitement seems to be dying cause of the fact that my app will have to wait in the 5% group along with the other 90% of people who have to wait in that group too lol.
I know, isn't it amazing? It's like once they know they're going to reject it they just hang on to it for an extra two weeks, just to keep you from sending another in.
Also, on a related note, I have to say that I thank god for this forum every night because if I didn't have a bunch of people to vent to who are going through the exact same thing I'd probably go postal.
I know there has been a bit of willthey?/wontthey? about the app keywords referencing another app but I'd like to let everyone know they will reject your app even for the mention of the most generic keyword. For example, I put the word "Shoot" in my keywords because there is a gun in my app.
The Apple overlords decided that was far too close to the name of a best-selling iPhone game to allow that to go through so they sent me a rejection (after 17 days...) stating that it would be appropriate to remove "iShoot" from my keyword description when I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ISHOOT IN THE KEYWORDS.
I feel like punching a baby right now.
But I won't...
maybe.
OK...this is really getting crazy.
So if I use words like Baby, Girl, etc etc...all normal English language words, they will reject because another app may have the word in the name.
For example...iGirl.
WTF...how are we supposed to know every app in the store and its name?
This is far worse than the parental rating crap. You know...where they say...Guess how puritanical I am. If you guess right, I will OK your app.
With the key word thing, you will step in it every time.
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