Dealing with Rejections

tyshcr · 05-07-2011, 01:29 PM

I have built an app for a client. The first version was rejected due to a lack of iOS Functionality. The app used push notifications, but okay...

So I added camera functionality to the app. And now that got rejected.

Ideas ?

**baja_yu** · 05-07-2011, 01:31 PM

Ideas for what? You haven't told us what the app does or what's it for.

tyshcr · 05-07-2011, 02:12 PM

Ideas for what else would constitute "iOS Functionality". Seems beyond me how having Push Notifications, using the Camera and the Photo Library does not constitute having iOS Functionality.

The app is for a large community organization, shows their schedule of events, allows users to connect via Twitter and Facebook, shows photo albums, allows users to upload photos to our server, send push notifications about events and announcements.

**baja_yu** · 05-07-2011, 02:14 PM

Well, if your app is only a webview that loads a webpage with that info, then it'll have to be a lot more than that. What they are basically saying is that the app is too simple.

tyshcr · 05-07-2011, 02:23 PM

It's not a webview. It has a tabbar that loads different UITableViews. On the Photos tab, there is a button in the NavBar that lets you open the cameara and upload pictures.

I have had several apps with less "iOS Functionality" get approved. Basically had an identical app, minus the camera, in the App Store already. Plus you guys know there are literally THOUSANDS of crap apps out there from Mobile Roadie and the likes.

So basically I am just ranting, but if you have anything to contribute, I would appreciate it.

**baja_yu** · 05-07-2011, 02:25 PM

I'm not sure what to tell you. You can always appeal a rejection and try that.

Haraldo · 05-07-2011, 04:07 PM

I assume you're studied the iOS Human Interface Guidelines? Maybe there's a clue in there in terms of Apple's "functionality". Just a thought.

zulfishah · 05-08-2011, 08:45 PM

How about posting the exact rejection reason that Apple sent you? Might be more helpful.

sparkso · 05-08-2011, 09:30 PM

I would suggest just resubmit your app.

SillyHoney · 05-09-2011, 02:07 AM

Is it correct that if you resubmit an app, the reviewer who rejected it will be the one review it again? But if you delete the app, create new app ID to submit it as new then chance is there will be someone else review your app? If so then you may wanna do it. I guess some reviewers just have worse life than the others.

This is because I used to have an app that keep being rejected and I'm pretty sure it's the same guy, based on his voice, that called me everytime I submit a revision.

tyshcr · 05-09-2011, 01:46 PM

Yes, I do suspect that it is the same reviewer, but I have no real proof to support that. I have not spoken to anyone on the phone, just received this email:

Quote:

May 7, 2011 10:39 AM. From Apple.
12.3

We found that the experience your app provides is not sufficiently different from a web browsing experience, as it would be by incorporating native iOS functionality.

While your app content may differ from your web site or other existing sites, the experience it provides does not differ significantly from the general experience of using Safari, as required by the App Store Review Guidelines.

We encourage you to review your app concept and evaluate whether you can incorporate additional features to enhance the user experience. Or, if you would like to share the app with friends and family, we recommend the Ad Hoc distribution method for distributing your app among a selected group of people. See the iOS Provisioning Portal for details on Ad Hoc Distribution.

Alternatively, you may wish to consider building a web app using HTML5. HTML5 is the major new version of HTML and enables audio and video to play natively in the browser without requiring proprietary plug-ins. Using HTML5, web apps look and behave like native iPhone and iPad apps, and using HTML5's Offline Application Cache, your web apps work even when the device is offline. With web apps, you have flexibility to deliver as much or as little functionality as you desire.

If you wish to build an HTML5 web app, you can do so and distribute it directly from your web site. It is not appropriate to resubmit an HTML5 web app to the App Store.

To get started with iPhone or iPad web apps, please review Getting Started with iPhone Web Apps.

For a description of the HTML elements and attributes you can use in Safari on iPhone, check out Safari HTML Reference: Introduction.

To appeal this review, please submit a request to the App Review Board

If my appeal is no overturned, as I expect, then I will create a new App ID and resubmit from there.

tyshcr · 05-13-2011, 02:05 PM

Just an update... I received an email a few days ago, after I requested a further review, and they said they will look into it further.

Then today, I had a different app approved - this has basically the same functionality at the rejected app.

**baja_yu** · 05-13-2011, 02:39 PM

Why are you uploading a second app which is "basically the same" as the other one?

tyshcr · 05-16-2011, 05:49 PM

It is "basically the same" in that it has most of the same functionality, but it is for a different client, so it is branded differently, and has functions in different places.