Will apple approve an app for beta testing without app icons? - ios

I'm waiting for the design team to finish app icons, I'm wondering if I can save time and go ahead and post the first version of the app for Apple review so we can start beta testing it.
Clarification: I'm not talking about publishing my App to the store but send it for initial review to start beta testing.
EDIT
There is some controversy about Apple testing or not beta binaries but it seems they do it according this
Your app must pass Beta App Review before you can invite your external testers to test it (see Submitting an App for Beta App Review). The build will be available to them for 30 days after the invitations are sent.
TestFlight Beta Testing

Without app icon you are not able to upload the build. Application Loader will show you the error to add icons in the build.
The error message would be like below.
Missing recommended icon file - The bundle does not contain an app icon for iPhone / iPod Touch of exactly '120x120' pixels, in .png format
More information :
You can/could upload another version of your app on a private store, and since there are no guidelines/prerequisites there, you could upload without a fully finished app. It would require an Entreprise account, and wouldn't "save" you much time in the review process, but it's a different way to beta test your app.
The cycle we use where I work is : upload an entreprise version for the company to test, and then submit an appstore version. This way, you have 100% control over your entreprise versioning/beta testing, and so on.

Related

App is Ready For Sale and beta testing rejection notification is still showing

I have created one application. Then I have uploaded app on the store and set it for Beta testing on TestFlight.
After that Apple rejected app because of wrong credentials I have provided to login into app.
Then I have made some changes in UI and features and then decided to test app manually.
So I have tested app with my friends and colleagues.
After that I have uploaded app on itunesconnect for making live to user and not on TestFlight (No need to test now).
Now app is live on the store Ready For Sale, but still it is showing red notification for beta testing rejection on the app icon.
How to remove that ?
Here are screenshots, I have added :

Uploading development phase application on TestFlight for testing gives alert email from Apple

I have received below email from Apple. I am not able to understand why did I receive it. Shouldn't development phase applications be uploaded on TestFlight for internal testing? I haven't submitted app for beta review.
From:  Apple
Date: 11/5/15, 7:47 PM
2. - FUNCTIONALITY
2.9 Details
Your app appears to be a pre-release, test, or trial version with a limited feature set. Apps that are created for demonstration or trial purposes are not appropriate for the App Store.
Next Steps
Please revise your app to complete, remove, or fully configure any partially implemented feature(s).
Resources
If you would like to conduct a beta trial for your app, you may wish to review the https://developer.apple.com/app-store/testflight/“>TestFlight Beta Testing Guide.
In general when you upload your app to TestFlight it runs the Apple App Store checks and gives you warnings against them. Since Apple bought TestFlight it has become more of a testing platform for the App Store. If you want to get Ad Hoc builds out to a limited set of users when the app isn't fully completed yet I would suggest using something like HockeyApp:
https://www.hockeyapp.net

Waiting for beta App Review on Testflight

I had uploaded my App successfully to TestFlight, 5 days ago(with new version and new build number). Which is already uploaded on App Store (But with its Older version).
Now i have added external user to test it and select the build to test and then click on save button, then it is showing "Waiting for beta App Review".
I don't know why user is not added directly rather app goes into "Waiting for beta App Review", and how much time it will take to approve?
Please help me if anyone has faces such issue.
Once you add another user (ie not your apple id), then it must be reviewed by Apple first to ensure the app is safe (contains no malicious intent) for the users testing it.
Normally takes a couple of days for apple to turn around and approve.
There is a distinction between iTunes Connect users and people in TestFlight.
When you upload build, and it shows up, then it becomes visible to your users. But there is an approval process (presumably automated) before TestFlight users see the announcement (assuming it is approved).

Appstore release affecting TestFlight testers?

Say for example internal and external testers under TestFlight are testing the application. Then a live Appstore release that was uploaded previously gets approved. Will the current testers get the new app update which will override the current test build?
Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
Testing
Once you accept your invitation, you’ll be able to download a beta version of the app you’ve been invited to test. If you already have the live app installed on your device, the beta version of the app will replace the live version. When you’ve downloaded the beta app, you’ll see an orange dot next to its name that identifies it as a beta. TestFlight will notify you each time a new build is available and provide instructions on where to focus. You can easily offer feedback by tapping the Provide Feedback button in the App Details view in TestFlight. An email automatically opens with pertinent app and device details, and you can add additional details and screenshots.
The beta period lasts for 60 days, starting on the day it is released
to testers. In TestFlight, the number of days remaining appears below
the Open button for each app.
If a beta app has In-App Purchases, you do not have to purchase them,
as In-App Purchases made with beta builds are free within the context
of the beta version.
Quote from this link
Tester won't get notified whether the original app is approved by Apple or not. If the app is approved, then user have to download app via App Store. But if tester downloads app from App Store, then it's gonna override the test version.
Apple developer site says
When the app becomes Ready for Sale in the App Store, testing automatically stops on earlier builds, and you will be unable to view or test them.
Refer this link
I think the tester will get an email saying the app has been updated and approved. Since the normal upload will be notified by an email, but haven't tried it ,
TestFlight testers will get notification by email and after app live beta version of app will be unavailable and when they update their app they get live update app.

How to release testflight beta version to external users?

Having submitted a beta version of my IOS App trough Itunes Connect and Testflight to INTERNAL users, and selected it for testing to EXTERNAL users, it displays "waiting beta app verification" (from Internal users) and I don't know how to release the app for EXTERNAL User. (see pict enclosed).
It did worked on past version but I don't know how ... times, upload from Internal users, approval from them (but don't know how).
Need to re-test then submit my app quickly, any help welcome !
NOTE : Apple displays help on old itune connect versions, and don't see where this can be done. See here
Apple says:
Upload a build for the app. See Uploading a Build for an App.
Add App Description and What to Test to the build. This step is optional for releasing your builds to internal testers, but required
when submitting your app to Beta App Review for external testing. See
Add Metadata for your Prerelease App.
Distribute the app to internal testers.
Submit the app for Beta App Review, and distribute it to External users.
You need to have every build reviewed from apple for distribution to external testers.
I'm not sure how it worked earlier, but for now
All builds distributed to external testers must pass through an Apple review. While these reviews do not fall into the same queue as those submitted for App Store release, they can take time.
In other words, you have to use button "submit for beta app review" ;)
You can find guides here: Ray Wenderlich or kyleclegg.com

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