We submitted an app to the App Store after 2 months of testing and found that if a Facebook profile does not have a current location value, that the information returned from Facebook is null not blank (just something we never tested as all of our testers had locations entered - just a miss on our part).
This is causing our application to CRASH upon login. We submitted a 2.0.1 version that fixed this with an expedite request and we received this from Apple ???? (My question is.. what does the criteria for expediting a review if its not to fix a login crash of your app?)
From Apple: (and of course from do_not_reply#apple.com) so I can't ask them.
Thank you for contacting us requesting an expedited review for your
app, Slimgage.
While we do our best to accommodate requests for expedited reviews,
unfortunately we cannot grant your request at this time as it does not
meet the criteria for expediting a review.
Helping you get your app or update onto the App Store is very
important to us, and we are working hard to process all submissions as
quickly as possible. We thank you for your understanding.
Best Regards,
App Review Team
The expedited reviews is a process based on a queue, just like the standard review. However, you can move “up” the queue with the reason you provide for expedite, or if your app is currently being promoted at the App Store.
e.g. if you just “need it fast” and don’t have a real issue/bug to fix you may be less important to review at the moment.
however, there are some ways you can perhaps skip the process completely, or at least not be in the stress of time constraints your app is being damaged. You can use rollout.io for this - an SDK which allows you to solve quality issues in production instantly, and is fully compliant with Apple's guidelines. (Disclaimer: I'm on of the team on Rollout.io)
You’ll be able to contain the issue, and not wait around for the expedited review to happen.
hope this helps!
Eido,
Rollout.io
P.S This site shows the average approval time on Apple's app store (regular submitting process) - http://appreviewtimes.com/
While this is a rotten place to be, from Apple's point of view, this isn't critical. If your update fixed an issue that was causing user data loss, then they might accept the expedited review. But a simple crash for some users isn't critical to them. I know it is to you and users. But if Apple granted an expedited review for every update that simply fixed a crash then there would be nothing but expedited reviews.
Related
My App update was Rejected and Apple has sent me a message :
Hello,Thank you for submitting your app for review.We need additional time to evaluate your submission and Apple Developer Program account. Your submission status will appear as "Rejected" in App Store Connect while we investigate. However, we do not require a revised binary or additional information from you at this time.While there may be a delay due to high submission volumes, we are working to complete our review as soon as possible. If we notice any issues that require your attention, we will let you know via App Store Connect. If we find no issues with your submission or account, the submission will be approved.We will notify you as soon as there is new information to share. Other review inquiries may be filed via the Apple Developer Contact Us page.
Best regards,App Store Review iOS App 1.1.2
App VersionRejection Reasons:Other Reply to App Review
Has anyone else had the same experience? How can I solve this problem ?
Yeah, I have met this message several times. Typically this means your review may be delayed for more days. Last time we waited for 7 days, and on the 8th day, we wrote a mail asking what's the review progress. Then the apple review team replied and continued its review.
So I suggest you wait patiently and reduce the submission frequency. And better not use private APIs next time.
I'm implementing IAP for SaaS application. I nearly finished with Store Kit's integration, receipt validation and other development related stuff. But I still have 2 more questions regarding Apple's guidelines which I couldn't find answer to on the docs.
The first question: I read on few places on the web that my app should provide minimum functionality even if the user is not subscribed. I offer a SaaS app and I don't want the user to be able to use the app if he's not subscribed. I will allow him to purchase a subscription if he is not subscribed. Is it enough for minimum functionality? (I suspect that these minimum functionality restrictions are old and obsolete, as they sound absurd).
The second question: I want to offer the user a possibility to try the app for free without subscribing at all (Without Store Kit's Free Trial option), because I don't want make the user make a commitment to pay before he tried the app (Apple also doesn't provide a convenient way to cancel the subscription, which may cause abandon-users to be charged even if they don't use the app, which will cause bad reviews etc). So the question is, can I do this without risking my app to get rejected? Does apple allow such kind of Free Trial feature which is managed solely by my server?
Forgive me if this info is somewhere on Apple's docs, but I couldn't find anything related. Thanks!
Okay after sending a query to Apple (Which didn't help me much to understand) and submitting an app to the App Store, I may have an answer:
Apple do allow SaaS apps and did approved my SaaS app. I honestly don't know if they checked my app enough to tell if it is okay but it was approved.
My app implements the Free Trial mechanism without App Store's free trial option. It is clearly written on the registration view controller that the app offers 3 month of free usage without obligation, and then continues without popping and App Store free trial page or something. My app was approved so I guess it is actually okay and within Apple's guidelines.
Hope it'll somehow help someone.
Apple just rejected my app saying the following:
"Upon further review, your app's previous submission was improperly rejected for 11.1. Since the sensor functionality of your app is dependent on the associated hardware, it would be appropriate to offer the sensor functionality to all users through achievements or In App Purchase."
Does this mean, I should resubmit the first version because it was ok?
If not, do I have to implement achievements from the Game Center, or what kind of achievements do they mean?
Any thoughts that can help me to get this app on the App Store?
Thank you
Additional information:
first version
In the first version I had "a kind of"-achievement, where users can provide a code they receive with the purchased associated hardware. And they could buy this functionality if they wanted to test for example the device of a friend or a public one.
Rejected: Because they claimed that the user can bypass the purchase of the function by providing a code.
second version
In the second version I took out the In App Purchase because we do not want that our clients need to pay again.
Rejected: see above.
From my experience with the App Store I can say that except for some definite rules (no pornography, hate speech, etc...) most of the review process and decisions are ambiguous and inconsistent.
In fact Apple's App Store policy is vague on purpose so they can exercise a bit of freedom with App rejections. However, from my own anecdotal experience and research, they've always been fair. I have yet to come across an issue where they've rejected an app without having a valid reason for it.
In your case, I believe your app was rejected the first time around since a user could bypass a purchase through purchasing something outside the App Store environment. This means you could sell your code without going through in app purchases and having Apple get its 30% share. This will most likely get rejected again if you submit it.
I'm a bit unclear on what happened with the second case..
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.
My new boss thinks you can submit an update to app Store and mark it as priority once or twice a year. if your abuse it you lose your privilege?
Is he correct. I've been submitting updates for years and never heard of it?
cheers
You can request a Expedited review, which should be used if you've submitted an app which has been approved but it has an issue that needs to be fixed urgently. As your boss has said they can only be done a few times so be cautious doing them.
Expedited reviews are granted on a limited basis so we cannot guarantee that every request will be expedited.
http://developer.apple.com/appstore/contact/appreviewteam/
Got app reviewed in one day...grudgingly (see email).... Dear APPLE HIRE MORE REVIEWERS!!!!!
Hello .....,
Thank you for contacting the App Review Team.
We understand that situations arise which require an exceptional response, however, we have received multiple expedite requests from .... within a short period of time.
We have made an additional exception for your app and will proceed with an expedited review. We wanted to remind you, however, that expedited reviews are provided on a limited basis, otherwise the process itself becomes ineffective. Please keep in mind that we may not be able to accommodate additional requests in the future.
If your app is rejected during this review, it is not necessary to request another Expedited Review when you resubmit. Once you revise and resubmit your binary (or metadata, in the case of a Metadata Rejection), your app will be automatically returned to the expedite queue.
Best Regards,
App Review Team