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App Store doesn't accept “too simple” apps

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Re: App Store doesn't accept “too simple” apps

#91

Post by skrtskrt »

jaywalk wrote: post #64
Jonovono wrote: post #9

Yep, I got this rejection when I made this tipping app ( https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tip-69/id1460610078 ). I went on to add OCR detection for receipts so you don't have to type in the amount, I added more tipping modes, I added split bill functionality, and eventually added an entire social network with the ability to share your receipt for the world to see, like or comment on. Must have spent months trying to get…

I have no love for Apple's walled-garden, and I absolutely appreciate 69 jokes, but this app is stupid.

the first apps I remember on iOS were a beer glass that poured out beer when you tipped the phone, and a lightsaber app that made sheeewwwww sounds when you swung the phone around. We loved them

It's ok to make stupid apps as long as you're not scamming.

The oh-so-serious nature of the current online experience sucks

Re: App Store doesn't accept “too simple” apps

#92

Post by DiggyJohnson »

CharlesW wrote: post #85
koheripbal wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The real reason is that they don't want more apps. There are too many, so any small independent dev has an uphill battle getting their app approved.

> The real reason is that they don't want more apps. There are too many… Is your thought process here that 3.7 million apps is where Apple decided to draw a line in the sand?

I don’t see how that wouldn’t make sense…

It’s not that they decided to set an arbitrary threshold of 3.7M apps, but that they have become more stringent on app approvals in light of the growth and quantity of apps in their store. I don’t think GP’s comment requires an incredulous snarky response, despite me not doing a great job making this point…

Re: App Store doesn't accept “too simple” apps

#93

Post by CharlesW »

Jonovono wrote: post #9

Yep, I got this rejection when I made this tipping app ( https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tip-69/id1460610078 ). I went on to add OCR detection for receipts so you don't have to type in the amount, I added more tipping modes, I added split bill functionality, and eventually added an entire social network with the ability to share your receipt for the world to see, like or comment on. Must have spent months trying to get…

I'm honestly blown away that Apple approved an app to suggest "funny" tip amounts in a thread where we're complaining that that Apple's standards are too high.

Re: App Store doesn't accept “too simple” apps

#94

Post by menzoic »

dylan604 wrote: post #65
cowtools wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Ran into the exact same problem with a very simple camera app I made. >[...] >(Just by posting this, now I fear I broke some kind of TOS, and can never publish an iOS app again?) This is how your loyalty to Apple's racket is rewarded. This is your prize for buying hundreds of dollars of their equipment and paying hundreds to license their development kit and get your software reviewed for their locked-down phones.

> paying hundreds to license their development kit hundreds or hundred?

After year 1

Re: App Store doesn't accept “too simple” apps

#95

Post by Apocryphon »

worble wrote: post #81
SturgeonsLaw wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Maybe some people do want a "too simple" app In fact, aren't these preferable? I just want a weather app that shows me the current weather and a forecast, without any social bullshit, accounts, ads, etc. Also, if iOS users have that "one app" they can't live without, surely it makes them stickier? Why would Apple want to limit the chances of hitting that spot with their users by curbing the number of apps available…

Exactly this, one of the things that really struck me about apps on fdroid is just how simple they are. They do one thing, and (usually) do it pretty well, probably because the developers probably don't have the time and resources to do anything more than that. But that's perfect for someone who just wants the thing on their phone to do what it says on the tin.

I'm convinced that if iOS was opened up to third party app stores, a potentially popular store wouldn't be a Facebook/Google monopoly store that exists solely for user tracking, but rather something boutique and niche like F-Droid (except maybe without the FOSS focus). The current App Store is huge and unwieldy, its search and discovery UX dated. There's ample room for third party app stores that specialize in high-quality design, or high-functionality minimalism, or privacy and security. They might even have higher standards than the official App Store.

Re: App Store doesn't accept “too simple” apps

#96

Post by mikeyouse »

DiggyJohnson wrote: post #92
CharlesW wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The real reason is that they don't want more apps. There are too many… Is your thought process here that 3.7 million apps is where Apple decided to draw a line in the sand?

I don’t see how that wouldn’t make sense… It’s not that they decided to set an arbitrary threshold of 3.7M apps, but that they have become more stringent on app approvals in light of the growth and quantity of apps in their store. I don’t think GP’s comment requires an incredulous snarky response, despite me not doing a great job making this point…

FWIW, I completely got your point. The Android ecosystem is horrible for this kind of thing. There are roughly 200,000 varieties of calculator apps. Why? There should be some criteria to help consumers avoid poorly supported simplistic clones that are often just filled with adware.

Re: App Store doesn't accept “too simple” apps

#97

Post by strongpigeon »

jiggywiggy wrote: post #77

App store submissions are a pain in the ass. And a mess. The appstore connect website keeps giving timeouts and errors. One client took me 2 hours to create all products manually. Scripts wouldn't run. I submit around 5-10 apps per month. Much more more automized updates, same codebase, sort of same content. The process is pretty standardized. 50 procent is accepted no problem. 50 procent is rejected. They refer to v…

Seriously, what's up with App Store Connect crapping out so often. It's just generally so slow too.

And the IAP thing you mention... Happened to me except they approved the app without the IAPs?! Users would just see these IAPs as unavailable until I had to resubmit a whole new build.

Re: App Store doesn't accept “too simple” apps

#98

Post by awinter-py »

US legislature has been flirting with 3rd party app stores for a while https://www.macobserver.com/news/open-app-markets-act/

As an alternative, would be interesting to offer third party review for the existing store. Offer pay-to-expedite, more transparency, preapproval before people start building, clearer guidelines on competition ('too many flashlight apps already').

Re: App Store doesn't accept “too simple” apps

#99

Post by CharlesW »

akmarinov wrote: post #22

And that's why we should open up stores by law if necessary. Apple shouldn't be the one to tell me what kind of apps I can have on the device I've bought with my money.

> Apple shouldn't be the one to tell me what kind of apps I can have on the device I've bought with my money.

I'm confused. Did you buy an iPhone not knowing that it's not a general purpose computer?

Re: App Store doesn't accept “too simple” apps

#100

Post by cortesoft »

joeld42 wrote: post #4

I don't agree with apple that this should be rejected, but it does seem like something that would work better as a web app. Also then it would be available to people on other platforms as well.

I honestly sometimes wish apple had kept to its original plan of only having web apps instead of native apps. I hate constantly being told to download some app for something that works perfectly fine as a website.
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