I'm adding the ability for users to share a promo code and link to my app via
NSString *string = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"Share my app ! Use my referral code %# ", self.actualPromoCodeLabel.text];
NSURL *URL = [NSURL URLWithString:#"tel://1234567890x101"];
However, because the app is being submitted now, how can I know what value to include in the NSURL so that when clicked, it bring the app to my app in the apps tore?
This is absolutely the easiest thing you have probably overlooked and once you know the answer you'll slap your forehead and say ohhh, duh!
All apps are unique by their App ID:
A unique number that Apple assigns to the app.
When you sign into iTunes Connect simply navigate to the app in question and as of now (2015 April 5) under the 'General Information' section you will find an 'Apple ID' number under your App Icon
Now you have your unique link to use in sharing circumstances.
Generally, when you share a link to the app store via url it will be in this format:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/appname/idYOURID#?mt=8
Where does this link come from you may ask?
Simple. Apple gave us iTunes Link Maker for you to get your own link to an already published work. You can search for anything in 'iOS Apps' and see the links have the same foundation, the only thing that's different is your app name and app ID #
So lets say your ID # is 123456789 and your app name is Example :
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/example/id123456789?mt=8
Now lets say your app has more than one word in the name followed by a space, you would change the space for a hyphen, so lets say your app name is now Share Example :
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/share-example/id123456789?mt=8
Now all you have to do is include this in any url hyperlinks within your app before you submit to the store.
Now just share!
NSString *appStoreLink = #"https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/share-example/id123456789?mt=8";
NSString *string = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"Share my app ! Using this link : %# ", appStoreLink];
This works in development so you can test as you as go prior to submission. The only downfall to this is that Apple can change it without notice. But a platform with that many apps, I don't think they would alter a prefix/suffix search specific url too often
Related
I'm close to submitting an app to the App Store and would like to include a rating-link in the first published version to present the user an easy way to rate the app or write a review.
So first I generated a new app via iTunes Connect without any further steps - just an empty hull. Inside the app there is an area named “App-Information” with a link at the bottom named “Show in App Store”. Of course this link is not active, because the app is not “Ready for Sale” at this time. But perhaps this link can be modified with GET-Parameters for example, to accomplish this task once the app is ready for sale.
Do you know how I can build an appropriate link for rating/writing reviews before the app is approved?
Then I don't know for sure whether to choose a wildcard App ID or not for a created app. Is the only criterion the need of using a service expecting an explicit App ID? For example, if I would like to store app related data inside iCloud then I would create and choose an explicit ID, and otherwise I also can use an already existing wildcard ID?
And can I first create an App with a wildcard App ID and choose an explicit App ID later when needed? I think I don’t understand the need or advantage of wildcard IDs in common, because a new App ID (explicit or not) is created within a minute with very little effort.
you can use this
itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/app/idYOUR_APP_ID
For versions lower than iOS 7 use the old one:
itmsapps://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewContentsUserReviews?type=Purple+Software&id=YOUR_APP_ID
in code
define YOUR_APP_STORE_ID 545174222 //Change this one to your ID
static NSString *const iOS7AppStoreURLFormat = #"itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/app/id%d";
static NSString *const iOSAppStoreURLFormat = #"itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewContentsUserReviews?type=Purple+Software&id=%d"
[NSURL URLWithString:[NSString stringWithFormat:([[UIDevice currentDevice].systemVersion floatValue] >= 7.0f)? iOS7AppStoreURLFormat: iOSAppStoreURLFormat, YOUR_APP_STORE_ID]]; // Would contain the right link
I am trying to implement a "More apps" button that redirects to the other apps that the same developer have posted on iTunes app store, for example to achieve what I am trying to do with the Temple Run developer the next code is just fine:
NSString* launchUrl = #"https://itunes.apple.com/ro/artist/imangi-studios-llc/id284899742";
[[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:[NSURL URLWithString: launchUrl]];
The think is, that in my case the developer has no other app posted on iTunes yet so I can not search iTunes and right click to copy the developers link...
So my question is the next one:
How can I get the next two information that compose the final link:
1-imangi-studios-llc
2-id284899742
Company / organisation name, could be find using apple membercenter. The url part is probably composed by replacing empty space with "-" and making string lowercase, eg: Imangi Studios LLC becomes imangi-studios-llc
After you add your app at iTunes connect, you will be able to see id. Just open newly created app in iTunes connect and check url. It will look like this https://itunesconnect.apple.com/WebObjects/iTunesConnect.woa/ra/ng/app/284899742 and id will be id284899742
This question already has answers here:
Get itunes link for app before submitting
(17 answers)
Closed 8 years ago.
I have a requirement for an app to share a link to itself on the app store via social sharing i.e. this sort of thing:
"I've been using this great app, you can get it at: "
Therefore the app needs to know what its app store url will be before it is submitted to the app store, is this possible?
You can use your app ID to construct the URL. You can get the ID from the iTunesConnect page for the app, then construct the URL thus:
#define APP_ID 653451876
NSString* url = [NSString stringWithFormat: #"http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cap-that!/id%d",APP_ID];
See there https://stackoverflow.com/a/12764735/877032
You may be able to make an educated guess using the current format of the iTunes URLs which is:
https://itunes.apple.com/{country_code}/app/{app_name}/id{app_id}?mt=8
Once you create a "New App" in iTunes Connect, you should get your App id, so you could plug it into the URL.
Another alternative, if you have the ability to make a simple HTTP call from your app then you could simply bake the boilerplate portion of the URL into the code (e.g. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/{app_name}/id{app_id}?mt=8), and then when your app launches, reach out to the URL where you've specified the proper id of your app. Save that in NSUserDefaults and construct the URL in code from that point on.
If you do not have a website or custom back-end, you could look into a service like Parse to help you out.
Good Luck!
If you are the developer of the app, in google play store you can know it, for example: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.madfingergames.deadzone
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whawhawhat.referencejquery
You see that there is https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id= and then the Package name
which is something like: com.mycompany.myfirstapp
In the iTunes store an app gets an id so it's not possible.
Here are my requirements:
1. Create links to a single app in the app store 2. Access the links either from inside an app, on the device generally (e.g. mail link) or from a PC (e.g. via facebook share link) 3. Open links using iPhone or iPad running iOS 5+
I have done some digging around and come up with the following options:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=487547243
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/anyValue/id487547243?mt=8
http://itunes.com/apps/seligmanVenturesLtd/mouseTrapFree
http://itunes.com/apps/mouseTrapFree
itms://itunes.com/apps/mouseTrapFree
itms-apps://itunes.com/apps/mouseTrapFree
Just wondering if one (or some) of these are better than other?
Thanks.
Ok, so have done a lot of research/testing and here is my conclusion:
Links you use in your code should not rely on the 'current' name of you app, since this might change over time (e.g. Light Alarm Lite vs Light Alarm Free). Therefore the following 4 are out IMHO:
http://itunes.com/apps/seligmanVenturesLtd/mouseTrapFree
http://itunes.com/apps/mouseTrapFree
itms://itunes.com/apps/mouseTrapFree
itms-apps://itunes.com/apps/mouseTrapFree
That leaves itunes and phobos URLs. I have just tested both URLs via the iOS 6 share functionality (so this might be different on iOS 5, but given numbers are reducing daily for that I dont really mind). I tested accessing via SMS, Email, Facebook, Twitter (on an iPhone 5 and using a Mac).
Both url types produced near identical results, except for the following:
Phobos:
e.g. http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=346542660
+ None
- Sharing this link on facebook created a facebook link without any image... this was the showstopper for me that will mean I use iTunes urls going forward (see below).
iTunes
e.g. http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/appName/id346542660?mt=8
+ When opening link on iphone 'Mail' app the app store opened within the 'Mail' app and no tabs along the bottom appeared, so arguably this creates increased focus on your app
- None
In summary, I will be going with itunes type urls going forward. eg:
e.g. http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/appName/id346542660?mt=8
(Note: you don't have to stipulate the '/appName' in this url, just keeping it as '/appName/' works fine, which means you dont have to worry if you app name changes over time.
Cheers, Charlie
URL/Link to an app on the app store can be created very easily but there are several ways to achieve the end result. First of all we need to be clear on the purpose of the link (For ex. link might be used for Facebook posts or used inside an app for urging users to rate the app through in-app alerts/buttons). We can broadly categorize how we will use the link in 3 categories:
1. We want to use the link publicly outside the iOS (or OS X) domain. Means you can use this link to share on your Facebook wall or you want to embed the link in mail. I said outside iOS domain because your friends who doesn't have iPhone (or any other iOS device) or MacBook they might also use click that link from Facebook or their mail app/client.
2. We want to use the link inside iOS (or OS X) domain. Means when we are certain that our link will be clicked by device using iOS or OS X.
3. We want to send the app user (already a user of our app) to specific section (like review section) of the app on app store.
For category 1 and 2 it's best to use this type of URL:
https://itunes.apple.com/app/dots-a-game-about-connecting/id632285588?mt=8
When you embed this link then it can result in several outcomes:
If user clicks on this link from iPhone (from any iPhone app or mail app on iPhone): Your app page on App Store will open directly
If user clicks on this link from any Android Phone or Browser (Chrome/Safari/etc.): Your app page on itunes.apple.com website will open inside default browser. Even if you are opening it on you MacBook it won't open iTunes App Store but will display you app page in Browser itself.
Side Note: There are several places on web where below mentioned sort of link is also suggested:
http://appstore.com/dotsagameaboutconnecting
When you embed this link then it can result in several outcomes:
If user clicks on this link from iPhone or MacBook: Your app page on App Store will open directly. So this link is a bit better for MacBook users as it send users of MacBook directly to iTunes instead of staying within Safari browser.
If user clicks on this link from any Android Phone or Browser (Chrome/Safari/etc.): If user is clicking from PC that has iTunes installed then this link will open your app on iTunes else (on Android devices and PC that doesn't have iTunes) it will open a Apple.com page displaying "Download iTunes" without any mention of your app. Screenshot of that page below:
So If you are not sure about who will click on your link (outside/inside iOS domain) or If you want to be on safer side then I recommend first approach. Read here on how to create specific link for your app.
For category 3 simply use below code in some function/action:
NSString *myAppID = #"632285588";
NSString *url = [NSString stringWithFormat: #"itms-apps://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewContentsUserReviews?type=Purple+Software&id=%#", myAppID];
//iOS7 doesn't approve above format so add iOS7 specific format
if ([[[UIDevice currentDevice] systemVersion] floatValue] >= 7.0) {
url = [NSString stringWithFormat: #"itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/app/id%#", myAppID];
}
[[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL: [NSURL URLWithString: url]];
For details on above code see this answer.
For developers who are developing first version of app and app is still not published on app store there is always a quandary about how to get the right link for your to be published app. For that:
Get your app ID from iTunesConnect. Use iTunesConnect to create your new app - give it a name, description, icon, screenshots, etc. Once app is created on iTunesConnect (without even submitting the app), you can get the Apple ID from the Identifiers section for the app.
You should not have any problems with the following one:
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/notebookpro/id<APP_ID>?mt=8
I believe, it will be opened on all major browsers/OS.
https://itunes.apple.com/app/id##app-id##?mt=8
Replace ##app-id## with real app-id.
For example:
https://itunes.apple.com/app/id346542660?mt=8
Summary
No country code. Ex: gb
No appName, only app-id.
https protocol.
I'm using the itms-apps: approach in our app, which also allows you to select to which "section" of your app the user will land.
So if you want to show them the reviews, this is what I use: itms-apps://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewContentsUserReviews?type=Purple+Software&id=XXXXXXX
and for updating to the latest version of our app: itms-apps://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftwareUpdate?id=XXXXXXX&mt=8
My paid iOS app is under review to be released only in the Japan App Store. I'd like to create the free version with a link to paid version, but don't have the URL of the paid version.
http://itunes.apple.com/linkmaker/ is mentioned in this question, but when I search for my app there, it doesn't show up.
Another option suggested is to create a permalink on our domain, but that will force the user through extra redirects.
iTunes connect gives my app url as starting with "http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dumi-shuki-ying-yu/" Clicking that link gives a warning that it's the app is currently only available in the US (though we released it only for Japan).
I have the SKU and bundle ID, but what can I use for the URL?
This works on my end (Xcode 5 - iOS 7 - Device!):
itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/app/idYOUR_APP_ID
Code snippet (you can just copy& paste it):
#define YOUR_APP_STORE_ID 123456789 // Change this one to your app ID (get it from iTunes Connect)
static NSString *const iOS7AppStoreURLFormat = #"itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/app/id%#";
[NSURL URLWithString:[NSString stringWithFormat:iOS7AppStoreURLFormat, YOUR_APP_STORE_ID]]; // Would contain the right link
Pay attention that we didn't use the app name (isn't needed and it is bad to use because it's subject to change). On iOs 7 you can also use "http" instead of "itms-apps" and that would have same result (won't open safari first like on older OS).
Last important thing is that we haven't used the country data on the link (usually "us" or any other) so the device would select the relevant one. If you do write "us" on the link (like the one you get from iTunes Link Maker) if you open that on Japanese device if could show an alert because store is probably set to Japan and won't open the link.
The link you get in iTunes Connect should work just by replacing http:// with itms-apps://.
That being said this alert is strange, do you have anything linked to your iTunes account set to U.S English? I'm guessing this is just automatic, and once your app is approved this link should work provided the user that clicks the link's iTunes account is associated with the Japanese store.