I don't mean to offend, but entrusting every input to a company literally called MITM LLC has a level of absurdity that either greatly entertains or else greatly frightens me.
Apple rejected my dictation app for using the accessibility API
111–120 of 200 posts
Re: Apple rejected my dictation app for using the accessibility API
#112Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sounds like something that would instantly get you banned from the app store if it got noticed.
No, it isn't. A number of developers have done this.
Good thing Apple is well-known for consistently and fairly applying its own App Store rules across multiple, similar apps...
Re: Apple rejected my dictation app for using the accessibility API
#113macOS already has a dictation feature that does this exact thing, albeit in real time. I use it extensively. OP’s description in the linked article doesn’t say much more than this, so what am I missing with this particular app?
Apple's own dictation is quite limited, doesn't handle multiple languages very well, and many open source dictation models simply do better.
Re: Apple rejected my dictation app for using the accessibility API
#114SpaceGremlin (mac alternative to WinDirStat) has a similar thing, where some features only work in the independent "SpaceGremlinPro" version downloaded from their site. However, they do some cool stuff with licensing - you can point it to the app store paid/installed version, and it detects the license and unlocks. If you're worried about people not trusting payment to you, might be worth seeing if you could implemen…
Isn’t it like 15% up to the first or second million in sales?
Re: Apple rejected my dictation app for using the accessibility API
#115Earlier quoted context omitted.
No. Changing one's primary operating system takes time, dedication, and is a lifestyle change, similar to moving somewhere remote. Changing ones AC filter is none of those things. If you and your grandma only rely on the computer for its web browser, then good for you. You have flexibility that is not afforded to most people. But that's not how a person's phone works; phones dig a lot deeper into one's lifestyle, int…
My mother-in-law recently became fed up with Windows and asked me to install Linux for her. I gave her Debian with a Mate desktop. She loves it. Zero problems. It's been a week and she's using it just fine. No lifestyle upheaval.
Your mother in law asked specifically for Linux?
Re: Apple rejected my dictation app for using the accessibility API
#116I recently built a similar app, and so hit the same limitations – I wasn't too upset on Mac, happy to distribute without the App Store (though it's a shame). Where I was more frustrated was how much this limited the potential usability of the iPhone app. Because of app store restrictions it is a far worse app ... though like in your example, still useful to a degree. I can only hope they use the new CEO as an opportu…
I really do understand the desires people have for iOS to be a more open platform, but I'm just gonna say very clearly: I do not want third party apps being able to do what OP's app does. My iPhone is the one computing platform I have where I get the assurance that no third party app can be spying on anything else I do on the device.
Yea, Accessibility features are kind of OS super-powers and you really, REALLY need to thoroughly vet apps that you grant those powers to. These apps need to be actually using Accessibility to provide assistive technology for users with disabilities. I'm usually uneasy about Apple anointing itself the gatekeeper for this, but someone has to do it.
Lots of shady and well-known developers (like Dropbox) are notorious for trying to weasel their way into getting Accessibility permissions, so they can do god knows what with them to your system.
Re: Apple rejected my dictation app for using the accessibility API
#117Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, it isn't. A number of developers have done this.
Good thing Apple is well-known for consistently and fairly applying its own App Store rules across multiple, similar apps...
You're missing the point. We know that countless developers, including the author of the blog post, have received App Store rejections of submissions. On the other hand, to my knowledge, exactly zero developers have ever been banned from the App Store for doing what the commenter claimed would instantly get you banned.
Re: Apple rejected my dictation app for using the accessibility API
#118I actually had the almost same situation by building an offline voice dictation app for macOS and iOS, and in macOS I was confronted with the exact same situation.
However, I would like to point out that Apple isn't totally wrong here because the accessibility API unfortunately is way too broadly scoped, and because of that you literally get access to everything on the computer like you you can screenshot listen and and move the cursor... This is completely ridiculous and the proper engineering solution would actually be to phase out the accessibility API and replace it with something that is narrowly scoped so you can grant specific permissions individually.
However, Apple, being Apple, is obviously not doing anything, and instead says no accessibility permission for anything that isn't demonstrable accessible. Now, there are obviously some exceptions because Apple is not particularly well known for applying its rule consistently and granting big exceptions for itself. However, they do have a valid point on privacy and data protection. And I say that as somebody who ended up distributing my MacOS app outside the App Store because I only got approval for iOS.
That said, I would definitely appreciate if Apple would gradually improve its developer program experience, because compared to its hardware lineup, the developer program is nothing short of abysmal.
Re: Apple rejected my dictation app for using the accessibility API
#119I’ve had lots of inconsistent app reviews from Apple. Just appeal and/or re-word your language and you’ll be ok. Plan on it taking a few weeks to fully sort out.
Re: Apple rejected my dictation app for using the accessibility API
#120Earlier quoted context omitted.
Nobody in my life even notices when they change their 'primary operating system.' They buy a phone based on what looks cool at the time, sometimes it's android, sometimes it's iphone. They move freely between chromebooks, windows, and mac os, because everything is online anyway. It's only 'experts' who have trouble with this.
you are telling me that everyone in your life freely swaps between windows and mac without even noticing a difference? no problems? i call bullshit. i have worked in very big orgs. changing a single icon can cause a deluge of support tickets.
Congrats on your enormous org. The conversation was about families, indicating a non-enterprise environment. Try to keep up.