Apple Easing Up on iPhone Developers? Letting Private API Usage Slide Temporarily
After a series of high profile complaints, it seems that Apple is making efforts to improve the App Store experience for their developers. After taking a hard line against the use of private application programming interfaces (APIs), iPhone developer Vimov reports that they have had a relatively positive experience in seeking approval for an update to their iSimulate app.
Despite inadvertently leaving in a programming call to a private API, they were pleased to find the update had still been approved and they were simply warned to address the issue in the next update:
This past week, Apple made further efforts at improving the lines of communication with developers by offering an RSS news feed for developers with news and tips about App Store submissions.
Despite inadvertently leaving in a programming call to a private API, they were pleased to find the update had still been approved and they were simply warned to address the issue in the next update:
Thank you for submitting your update to iSimulate to the App Store. During our review of your application we found it is using a private API, which is in violation of the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement section 3.3.1; 3.3.1 Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs. While your application has not been rejected, it would be appropriate to resolve this issue in your next update.
In the recent past, such an oversight would have resulted in an automatic rejection that would have cost the developer weeks of time going through the re-approval process.This past week, Apple made further efforts at improving the lines of communication with developers by offering an RSS news feed for developers with news and tips about App Store submissions.
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28 months ago
That's nice. It makes life easier for everyone. Although, I really don't understand why they limit the API's you can use in the first place.
28 months ago
I've just had the same message on an update I sent through a week or so ago. Admittedly, the Private API we used was an oversight, and should have been changed before we submitted v1 in August, but I think this is a great developer relation route for them to take. The issue was so easy to fix, but our app is still on the store until the next update, which won't be very long.
Well done Apple.
Well done Apple.
28 months ago
I've found BlackBerry apps to be more useful than any of the apps on Apple's store. They should model the business after RIM's, in my opinion.
28 months ago
Interesting. Apple also has apparently approved ustream which allows live streaming (over 3G as well).
Slightly related, I had a new app of mine Music God approved in around 8 days (typically it took 2 weeks to hear anything back from them).
Slightly related, I had a new app of mine Music God approved in around 8 days (typically it took 2 weeks to hear anything back from them).
28 months ago
I've found BlackBerry apps to be more useful than any of the apps on Apple's store. They should model the business after RIM's, in my opinion.
Can you please highlight some specific examples?
28 months ago
We had an app rejected two days ago "MagiCam" for use of private APIs - using augmented reality on 3.0. The issue was that we weren't using any private APIs. It was a false positive rejection based on Apple's new private API checker. We submitted our code showing it to Apple, they unrejected the app and approved it the following day.
28 months ago
Can you please highlight some specific examples?
Easy: Solitair, Freecell, Texas Hold Em
28 months ago
That's nice. It makes life easier for everyone. Although, I really don't understand why they limit the API's you can use in the first place.
This is something I'm trying to understand as well. Can a developer give us some examples of API's Apple restricts you from using, and why that rule is in place?
28 months ago
WebOS, Blackberry OS, WM, and Android all allow applications to be installed outside of their official app stores without hacking the phone. It allows greater freedom to install apps that the stores might not want, such as adult oriented applications. Not just pornography either, something that'd normally be censored due to bad language or adult situations (drug wars type games).
Apple should allow applications to be installed outside of their iTunes app store. Put up a disclaimer "Hey if you do this we can't be responsible for the content, it could be malicious, etc etc" and let us have at it.
Apple should allow applications to be installed outside of their iTunes app store. Put up a disclaimer "Hey if you do this we can't be responsible for the content, it could be malicious, etc etc" and let us have at it.
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