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NIN Reaction to iPhone App Store Rejection

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Re: NIN Reaction to iPhone App Store Rejection

#41

Post by joecode »

jetako wrote: post #19

Can anyone chime in on the app store review procedure? Is each app assigned an individual review monkey, or is it passed through multiple hands? Methinks Apple needs better screening and performance evaluation of their app store employees. All it takes is a few jackasses in the mix for this to happen. Their rejection policy clearly leaves certain things open for interpretation.

Based on my server logs, it appears there are multiple levels of review. The pattern I usually see is a little interaction after a few days of submitting, then a little more interaction right before approval. In one case, my app got rejected for an interface issue, and it looked like more people were involved. So it seems to be a "red-flag" kind of system.

Re: NIN Reaction to iPhone App Store Rejection

#43

Post by hboon »

biafra wrote: post #39
hboon wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's right. And jail-breaking is not officially supported (that's an understatement) but it works pretty well. So it's a minus for the iPhone. But then, that's why I said for most consumers, the iPhone is much better. Because for them, the official distribution mechanism is what matters. The reason why I mentioned the tethering app is that it is not totally open as advertised, although there's more than 1 valid way…

Yes, the Android Market is not open. But the Android OS nonetheless is. If you buy the Android Dev Phone 1, you can modify and compile the source as you wish and flash it onto that phone. No "hacking" necessary. If you buy a locked-in version from t-mobile you kinda have to "hack" it to flash what you want. But either way you can install apps without the Android Market. You can get that tethering app here: http://cod…

Just thought I clarify:

I'm not saying the Android Market is not an open market. In fact I think it is. It is just not completely open as advertised, if there is such a phrase. And it is definitely more open than Apple App store.

What I am saying is that the App Store along with the iPhone as of now is much better for the majority of consumers. And by that definition, they exclude people who can modify and compile from source :) There are easier ways of course, to distribute/install apps for Android other than through Android Market. You can install from flash drive or even through the browser. But remember, majority of consumers.

I have this thought after developing for the iPhone and investigating Android (I have the Dev Phone and I decided not to) - if you look at the current mobile landscape, it is a new battle ground for Apple. It is like the OS wars again. Instead of Windows/OS X/Linux, we have WM/iPhone OS/Android/Palm Pre. The other platforms may have existing market share (Symbian and BlackBerry), but personally I think these are the ones that will dominate. But instead of how things worked out the last 2 decades which almost killed Apple (and I think on the desktop Macs will continue to be a minority), the iPhone platform has a fresh chance to fight again, and this time, being proprietary, in the sense of the OS not being licensed for other hardware, allows it to have a very distinct advantage over other platforms like WM and Android.

Having said that, while I believe the iPhone platform is the leader now, hopefully it will work out to be more or less evenly spread out, with WM/iPhone/Android/Palm all having significant market share, providing choices, competition and encouraging innovation.

Re: NIN Reaction to iPhone App Store Rejection

#44

Post by plusbryan »

joecode wrote: post #41
jetako wrote: post #19

Can anyone chime in on the app store review procedure? Is each app assigned an individual review monkey, or is it passed through multiple hands? Methinks Apple needs better screening and performance evaluation of their app store employees. All it takes is a few jackasses in the mix for this to happen. Their rejection policy clearly leaves certain things open for interpretation.

Based on my server logs, it appears there are multiple levels of review. The pattern I usually see is a little interaction after a few days of submitting, then a little more interaction right before approval. In one case, my app got rejected for an interface issue, and it looked like more people were involved. So it seems to be a "red-flag" kind of system.

Yes, for some apps, the first-stage approval is clearly done by someone fairly non-technical, just reading from a list of things they need to deny apps for. I've had first-level reviewers deny apps for really silly things, in some cases where the problem was the reviewer's command of the english language, rather than the app itself. Resubmitted with no changes and it went through 6 days later.

Oh and there are no appeals at this stage. This isn't a democracy. Resubmit the binary and get to the back of the line, scruffy.

But if you do get forwarded on, it seems to take about 2x as long, and get you to someone inside Apple who knows a thing or two.

Re: NIN Reaction to iPhone App Store Rejection

#45

Post by mis »

hboon wrote: post #20
stanleydrew wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The g1 running android is pretty great. I've been using it for four months and have very few complaints, plus it's a completely open-source system. The new software update provides an onscreen keyboard if you don't like to type on real keys, but I think having the choice to use a tactile keyboard is really nice. I'll also never own an iphone.

It claims to be a completely open-source system. Wasn't there a case where a tethering app was pulled out by Google from Market due to telco pressure? Of course being Android, with a few more steps, you can add an alternative "market place". But that's besides the point, it is not completely open even though it claims to be. At the moment, no, experience-wise for the consumer , it is almost always worse than the iPho…

It was pulled by T-Mobile, not Google. You can still get the app if you aren't on T-Mobile.

And of course, you can install any .apk you like.

Re: NIN Reaction to iPhone App Store Rejection

#46

Post by flashgordon »

ice5nake wrote: post #38
axod wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sure Apple will miss you terribly. An app was denied. Big deal. No great loss. If you really want to run the app, jailbreak your phone and run it.

Apple wants to make it illegal for you to jailbreak "your" iPhone.

There has been quite a few reports on this (even a patent?). But can this be legal? Wouldnt this be similar to car manufacturers outlawing fixing your own cd/mp3/casette players in your cars?

Re: NIN Reaction to iPhone App Store Rejection

#47

Post by hboon »

mis wrote: post #45
hboon wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It claims to be a completely open-source system. Wasn't there a case where a tethering app was pulled out by Google from Market due to telco pressure? Of course being Android, with a few more steps, you can add an alternative "market place". But that's besides the point, it is not completely open even though it claims to be. At the moment, no, experience-wise for the consumer , it is almost always worse than the iPho…

It was pulled by T-Mobile, not Google. You can still get the app if you aren't on T-Mobile. And of course, you can install any .apk you like.

How did T-Mobile do it without Google doing it for them?

Re: NIN Reaction to iPhone App Store Rejection

#48

Post by dinkumthinkum »

HolyoakeD wrote: post #42
klon wrote: post #32

It's sad that Apple can get away with this. Somehow competition is not working like it should in this market.

That's how Apple has always set it out to be. They lock everything down so that competition can't grow properly..

Yeah, but that was the other person's point. Apple is still successful. Therefore, competition is not the panacea to solve all the worlds ills, since Apple is behaving so poorly yet we all just pony up the cash for iPhones anyway. :)
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