Apple Adds Status Updates to App Store Approval Process

MacRumors · Nov 12, 2009, 09:07 AM

Wired reports that Apple has recently rolled out a new feature for iPhone developers, offering a history of status updates for each application submitted for inclusion in the company's App Store.

Quote:

In Apple's Dev Center website, iPhone app developers can view Apple's progress on reviewing their apps from start to finish. When an app is in line to be reviewed, the status will read "Waiting for Review." And when it's actually being reviewed, the status reads "In Review." Finally, when the app is launched, the status will read "Ready for Sale." Each status update is accompanied with a time and date.

While the new system provides only limited updates and does not appear to offer any specific information regarding unusual delays in the review process for a given application, it is regarded as a significant improvement over the previous system in which developers were provided with only generalized wait times for all submissions and generally received no specific updates regarding their applications until review decisions had been made.

Article Link: Apple Adds Status Updates to App Store Approval Process

SAG3194 · Nov 12, 2009, 09:42 AM

wow. took a day to be approved?

lucky.

admanimal · Nov 12, 2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAG3194

wow. took a day to be approved?

lucky.

I don't think that's the case. What happens sometimes is that the full status report that you see there doesn't get populated until after the app goes from Waiting for Review to In Review, so the timestamp on the Waiting For Review is just a few minutes before In Review even though it was probably Waiting for Review for much longer than that.

aardwolf · Nov 12, 2009, 11:58 AM

Here's mine... It's actually getting reviewed 2 days faster than last time:

November 06, 2009 06:37 - Waiting for Review
November 12, 2009 09:55 - In Review

Rodimus Prime · Nov 12, 2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAG3194

wow. took a day to be approved?

lucky.

look at the users. It is Apple and all the timing on it is completely marketing BS. Apple put in an "app" and just put pure BS to make it look like it is faster and no were close to what the truth is.

dejo · Nov 12, 2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodimus Prime

look at the users. It is Apple and all the timing on it is completely marketing BS. Apple put in an "app" and just put pure BS to make it look like it is faster and no were close to what the truth is.

Maybe read the article.

Quote:

Each status update is accompanied with a time and date. (In the screenshot above, the developer’s name and app were omitted for the sake of privacy, and to prevent violating a nondisclosure agreement.)

countrydweller · Nov 12, 2009, 12:43 PM

It'd be interesting to see the status of the google voice app.

admanimal · Nov 12, 2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodimus Prime

look at the users. It is Apple and all the timing on it is completely marketing BS. Apple put in an "app" and just put pure BS to make it look like it is faster and no were close to what the truth is.

No, the "User" field indicates who affected the listed status change. In other words, it should say Apple for any changes related to reviewing the app, regardless of who the developer is. All of the various status changes that my apps have seen so far have Apple as the user.

mtbgtr · Nov 12, 2009, 08:53 PM

"...it is regarded as a significant improvement.."

Significant my arse! With no timelines it means nothing more than before.

Trillian has been "in review" for almost 3 months now with no "ready for sale" date in sight.

wooo · Nov 13, 2009, 01:26 AM

There is absolutely zero excuse for apple to have any "waiting for review" period other than the time it takes for the reviewer to sleep through the night. I'm not kidding. When demand was greater than they could handle (creating a waiting time) they should have immediately hired more people.

ZERO excuse. If there is a backlog, they simply need to hire more help to reduce the backlog. The 2 week waiting period (for a the last 6 months) is either a) completely artificial (ie, trying to weed out crappy buggy apps because the impatient dev will find, fix and resubmit during that time) or b) completely irresponsible (why should an app with a critical update, or an important new feature that's ready and tested by the developer and other users wait... and wait... before apple can even look at it?)

Adding an indicator about where in the process it is only shows what I've found all along with my app... the reviewers spend maybe 10 minutes per app. There is no reason there should be a 2 week delay for that.

I love the iPhone I love the opportunity it's created for developers, but I hate the app store review system.

jb510 · Nov 13, 2009, 02:20 AM

I'm not an iPhone app developer, but this seems nearly pointless. I understood the primary problem with the approval process was a lack of detail or specificity in the rejection notifications. The developers KNOW when their app is in process with Apple and what stage of the review process is really unimportant... the only thing that matters is when it's getting approved or why it's not getting approved.

ArtOfWarfare · Nov 13, 2009, 04:31 AM

If you people are seriously going to complain about this, why don't you complain about UPS's (or any other shipping company's) package tracking service?

Thanksgivings is coming up,
why don't you thank Apple for once rather than complain?

johnnyjibbs · Nov 13, 2009, 05:33 AM

I noticed the new 'Waiting For Review' status last week. To be honest, like most of the other 'new' features in the app store submission process, it doesn't really add anything and still leaves developers with an indeterminent review queue time with no real idea of how long it will take.

aardwolf · Nov 13, 2009, 08:05 AM

"In Review" doesn't necessarily mean "in review". Mine moved from "Waiting for Review" to "In Review", but has been there for over 24 hours. It's a 100 page eBook, for crying out loud... and it's using the Stanza engine.

bstpierre · Nov 13, 2009, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtOfWarfare

If you people are seriously going to complain about this, why don't you complain about UPS's (or any other shipping company's) package tracking service?

Thanksgivings is coming up,
why don't you thank Apple for once rather than complain?

UPS offers an expected delivery date as well as the current status and history. I think all the developers would love that.

Nov 12, 2009, 12:43 PM	#7
countrydweller macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2009	It'd be interesting to see the status of the google voice app. __________________ iPhone 4 32GB
	0

Nov 13, 2009, 01:26 AM	#10
wooo macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2006	There is absolutely zero excuse for apple to have any "waiting for review" period other than the time it takes for the reviewer to sleep through the night. I'm not kidding. When demand was greater than they could handle (creating a waiting time) they should have immediately hired more people. ZERO excuse. If there is a backlog, they simply need to hire more help to reduce the backlog. The 2 week waiting period (for a the last 6 months) is either a) completely artificial (ie, trying to weed out crappy buggy apps because the impatient dev will find, fix and resubmit during that time) or b) completely irresponsible (why should an app with a critical update, or an important new feature that's ready and tested by the developer and other users wait... and wait... before apple can even look at it?) Adding an indicator about where in the process it is only shows what I've found all along with my app... the reviewers spend maybe 10 minutes per app. There is no reason there should be a 2 week delay for that. I love the iPhone I love the opportunity it's created for developers, but I hate the app store review system. __________________ Student, dad, maclover and creator of ooTunes media server: http://ootunes.com and the ooTunes Radio iPhone app http://ootunes.com/app/
	0

Nov 13, 2009, 04:31 AM	#12
ArtOfWarfare macrumors 68040 Join Date: Nov 2007	If you people are seriously going to complain about this, why don't you complain about UPS's (or any other shipping company's) package tracking service? Thanksgivings is coming up, why don't you thank Apple for once rather than complain? __________________ Battery Status - On the Mac App Store The only app that'll estimate when your wireless devices will need their batteries changed. Like it on Facebook!
	0

Nov 13, 2009, 05:33 AM	#13
johnnyjibbs macrumors 68030 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London, UK	I noticed the new 'Waiting For Review' status last week. To be honest, like most of the other 'new' features in the app store submission process, it doesn't really add anything and still leaves developers with an indeterminent review queue time with no real idea of how long it will take. __________________ johngriffithsapps.com - Scribblz for iPad \| Todooz \| Grocery Checkout
	0

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Nov 12, 2009, 09:42 AM	#2
SAG3194 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009	wow. took a day to be approved? lucky.
	0

Nov 12, 2009, 11:58 AM	#4
aardwolf macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2007	Here's mine... It's actually getting reviewed 2 days faster than last time: November 06, 2009 06:37 - Waiting for Review November 12, 2009 09:55 - In Review
	0

Nov 12, 2009, 08:53 PM	#9
mtbgtr macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2009	"...it is regarded as a significant improvement.." Significant my arse! With no timelines it means nothing more than before. Trillian has been "in review" for almost 3 months now with no "ready for sale" date in sight.
	0

Nov 13, 2009, 02:20 AM	#11
jb510 macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2007	I'm not an iPhone app developer, but this seems nearly pointless. I understood the primary problem with the approval process was a lack of detail or specificity in the rejection notifications. The developers KNOW when their app is in process with Apple and what stage of the review process is really unimportant... the only thing that matters is when it's getting approved or why it's not getting approved.
	0

Nov 13, 2009, 08:05 AM	#14
aardwolf macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2007	"In Review" doesn't necessarily mean "in review". Mine moved from "Waiting for Review" to "In Review", but has been there for over 24 hours. It's a 100 page eBook, for crying out loud... and it's using the Stanza engine.
	0


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