Say I currently have no apps from Google on my iPhone. I am pretty sure that is the case, because I go to the app store, search for "Google LLC" (the developer of Google's apps), and scroll through all the apps by this developer and none is installed. Then I install Google Maps, go to saved places, and it shows a bunch of things I had saved in the past. I delete maps, I install Chrome, and it asks me whether I want to sign in with xxx#gmail.com (my account). How is this possible??? If they were using identifierForVendor, that would get reset when all apps from that developer are deleted, as is described here. PS, no, I am not trying to replicate this creepy behavior in my own app, I am just bothered by this possibility. So from that perspective this question is maybe more suitable for superuser.com, but still, it is pretty much a programming question, and I am looking for an answer that would explain how one would achieve this. But also what we, as privacy-conscious users, can do to limit such behavior.
Related
I've installed google Hangouts, and then installed google Meet (two separate apps).
I logged in on Hangouts, and when I opened Meet, it asked whether I want to sign in with the same account. Same happens on Youtube, Gmail and other google apps.
I don't see this entered google account on "Accounts" tab in iOS Settings, so I suppose they use some reliable device tracking mechanism across all their apps. So the questions I have are:
Which mechanism/APIs are they using?
Does the same account show up to google when I visit google services from Safari and other WebKit browsers?
Although convenient for the end user, wouldn't it be a breach of user's privacy and iOS privacy policies?
Thanks
Apps from the same developer can share files, user defaults, and keychain items. You have to add the right entitlements to the apps and you have to be quite careful as a developer with keychain items, but it’s not difficult.
I don’t think end users can’t see this in any way. Apple could reject the apps if they think the use of this feature is inappropriate but in your case I’d expect no problem.
The feature is also often needed when you add any extensions to your app.
I am building out a iOS & Android app. My app may not fully scale to support users and have some limited functionality out the gates. I wanted to put an invite list on the front of registration like Mailbox did a few years ago.
I was trying to read the Apple app store guidelines to creating a "waiting list / invite list" and couldn't get a clear picture. I assume Android is more flexible on this, so I figured I could start with Apple's guidelines first.
Here is what I can find.
In Apple's docs, it says under 3.2.2 "UnAcceptable"
(v) Arbitrarily restricting who may use the app, such as by location or carrier.
In this specific case, I am not blocking by location or carrier. I am just putting up a wall to use the app since some of my users can use it in a limited form, but I can't open it up to everyone on Day 1.
I understand I can run a "testflight" release, but I wanted to make our app available in the App Store for anyone to download since it will be publicly available, just not fully ready for a million people to hit it. My understanding is that the testflight release requires a bit more work based on their docs and isn't as simple as just putting it in the public app store so anyone can get to it.
Apple has the ultimate authority for approving and rejecting apps in their app store so nothing on SO can really be perfect advice. If you are really concerned about approval, you can try to contact apple developers support. Here are a few things I would advise:
Make sure in the developer notes for Apple when you submit to them you include a free account.
In the notes for the app store let the users know that it may take up to __ hours for their registration to get activated.
My understanding is you are doing this to handle the volume of users as you are launching the app. Be advised though that if you start restricting users too much you will possibly get poor reviews. Only restrict usage if absolutely required. If you run into issues make sure you are communicating with the users so they understand.
Good luck with you new app!
I have been extensively searching through Internet but I could not able to come across so far then I have decided to ask the following question in SOF.
My idea is to implement a selling and buying product in my application. There will be no charge from both sides(seller or buyer). However, I only want to receive user feedback to increase my app reputation in the AppStore.
I would like to know how to check whether or not that an app user rate or leave comment for my application in the App Store. I need to know because I want to give him more advertising opportunities within the app.
Sorry again, I wish to provide a sample code but I could not able to come anything to start with.
As far as I'm aware, there isn't a way to do this. Most apps just direct people to the app store and then assume they rated the app. You can have the user copy and past their review into your app and store it so you can double check that they actually did it. That will ensure more people don't try to cheat the system. Essentially, the more work you make it to unlock the feature, the less likely people are to cheat.
From Apple via #Paulw11's comment:
Developers who attempt to manipulate or cheat the user reviews or chart ranking in the App Store with fake or paid reviews, or any other inappropriate methods will be removed from the iOS Developer Program
link: https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#metadata
I am working on a mobile iOS app that is customized to each client, with their own app icon, startup screen, and a few other changes. Each is then submitted to the app store as an individual app.
This is working just fine so far, but what will happen if there's 1000 clients instead of around a dozen? Does Apple have any rules on quantity, submission rate or uniqueness? Any reviewer would clearly see that the apps are basically the same outside of the branding.
Don't do it. You will get kicked out of the appstore.
Read 2.20 of Apple iOS Guidelines which says that developers that spam appstore with similar apps will be kicked out completely!
Notably developers like AppGratis got kicked for this and many others reasons.
Sorry can't disclose, if you have a developers account though you can check the requirements
from https://developer.apple.com/appstore/resources/approval/guidelines.html
I know this is an old thread but somehow it popped up and the answer selected is not entirely correct. The requester needs the custom B2B program here:
https://developer.apple.com/programs/volume/b2b/
That is specifically made for the purpose she/he asked about: to distribute customized apps to a business without cluttering the app store. There is no cost but your customers will need to join the Apple Volume Purchase Program for Business though that doesn't cost them anything.
The reason I say the accepted answer is partially correct is because obviously one should not spam up the app store with similar apps intended for one business, which is entirely correct. But that does not answer the underlying why they wanted to do this and how they could achieve the result they need which is to use the B2B program.
Problem:
I'm an app developer and my boss asked me how many times one of our iPhone apps was downloaded
What I tried so far:
Apple statistics:There seem to be only daily or weekly data. Furthermore, there seem to be no way to access download statistics from previous years.
Services like www.appannie.com:
This might work, but I don't really want to give them the email and password of our developer account.
Scraping the data automatically (See: automatically-download-sales-reports-from-itunes-connect):
I don't really want to spend time to set up and maintain such a system unless there is really no other solution.
My Question:
Is there a better way? How do other developer find out how many times their app was downloaded?
Services like www.appannie.com: This might work, but I don't really
want to give them the email and password of our developer account.
i use appAnnie, but i didn't gave them my "email and password of my developer account".
in ItunnesConnect apple site you can create a new account with JUST the privilege to see the reports of a single app, and nothing more
P.S.
This may be very useful in case you want to give access to a client or a developer partner to a single app statistics, as you can create a new appAnnie user with access to just an app.
Apple just updated https://itunesconnect.apple.com site you can adjust the date range in the middle of screen (using the slider) or by adjusting the dates on top left corner after navigating to sale and trends screen to see how many downloads you have had.
Well I use Flurry to track installs and session. But you will have to add the flurry to your project.
And We als use AppFigures to track real downloads, but as you stated you can only retrieve so far back as Apple allows it.
AppFigures will also require you to give them your ItunnesConnect account details.
The iTunes connect app has other selection methods, try it.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itunes-connect-mobile/id376771144?mt=8
Services like www.appannie.com:
This might work, but I don't really want to give them the email and password of our developer account.
That, seems like a very good idea!
Why not hire a sales guy to count the numbers for you? But in all seriousness, I'd go with the scraping option. I believe that's the only viable solution for your problem until Apple comes up with an API.
I use AppFigures.com, As #meronix suggested create a new user with privileges you specify. AppFigures gives you daily reports emailed to you every morning, in addition to Nicely done graphs and an entire dashboard of information. I recommend!
Just for your information there is another services called mopapp, it supports several platform.