App Store Developers See Long-Stalled Submissions Approved in Wake of Guideline Changes

[MacRumors]

One week ago, Apple announced changes to its App Store rules regarding app development using third-party tools, also moving to provide an open look at the guidelines for the app review process. Together the moves appear to have significantly lifted the veil of secrecy over the App Store review process and offered a broader array of developers the opportunity to access the iOS platform.

Bryan Bartow's MePing application

The Los Angeles Times reports on some of the developers who have been pleased to see their long-stalled app submissions suddenly come back to life with Apple's new, more developer-friendly philosophy.

Bryan Bartow, a software developer in Austin, Texas, invented an iPhone application he called MePing and submitted to Apple Inc. in March.

Six months later, it was still in limbo, neither approved nor rejected.

"It just waited in review forever," Bartow said. "I just assumed it wasn't going to be approved, and moved on."

Then, last week, Bartow got a surprise e-mail from Apple. MePing had been approved.

"It magically came through," he said.

Several other developers who had ported their Flash-created apps to iOS and submitted them to Apple months ago are also noted as having seen sudden approvals finally coming through in the past week.

Soon after Apple's announcements, we reported on Sean Kovacs, whose GV Mobile application offering an interface to Google Voice had been pulled from the App Store in summer 2009 for "duplicating features that come with the iPhone". Under the newly-public App Store review guidelines, Kovacs noted that he felt that his application complied with all rules and had received word from Apple that his application would likely be approved if he resubmitted.

Screenshots of GV Mobile+, currently under review by Apple

Kovacs did just that, and his new GV Mobile+ application is now awaiting approval from Apple. We've taken a look at the newly-revamped application now in Apple's hands, and it seems to offer a highly-polished interface for Google Voice users.

Article Link: App Store Developers See Long-Stalled Submissions Approved in Wake of Guideline Changes

 

[Small White Car]

Awesome.

Apple's slowly learning. I think the 'iOS + App store ecosystem' will eventually be great. It's been slowly improving every year.

 

[ChazUK]

It's been slowly improving every year.

It has hasn't it? The last few weeks announcements have been fantastic for the app store IMO.

 

[RalfTheDog]

Now I just need to find a good artist to help me finish my current epic scale project.

 

[G-Whizz! Apps]

An update to our app, G-Whizz! Pro (a Google Mobile Apps app) was "In Review" for 3 months and was finally approved. Interestingly, it contains Google Voice functionality - not sure if this had anything to do with it.

 

[pika2000]

All I want is a native Google Voice app from Google, just like the one in Android so I don't have to go to the web app everytime I want to make a call or initiate a text. It's very annoying when you want to do a quick text, and the data connection is laggy loading the web app. It would be better if it could automatically route phone calls initiated from the native dialer, but I doubt that is possible on the iPhone.

 

[SerenityInt]

Please, please let the SkyFire browser be approved.

 

[Consultant]

The Google Voice App is begging to be rejected though:
http://obamapacman.com/2010/09/google-voice-begs-for-apple-app-store-rejection/

Seriously. Are they blind?

Awesome.

Apple's slowly learning. I think the 'iOS + App store ecosystem' will eventually be great. It's been slowly improving every year.

Um, "eventually be great"? The App Store is the champion of mobile apps.

 

[Don Kosak]

I think they have quite a backlog currently.

My last submission has been stuck at "Awaiting Review" for about 2 weeks now.

I suspect with the rule changes, iOS 4.1, and Game Center, that there has been a flood of submissions.

It would be nice if you had some indication as to how long the wait will be. I have people asking about the app every day, and no timeline to give them. "Could be out tomorrow... Could be out next month... Could be out never...".

 

[darrenbeige]

All I want is a native Google Voice app from Google, just like the one in Android so I don't have to go to the web app everytime I want to make a call or initiate a text. It's very annoying when you want to do a quick text, and the data connection is laggy loading the web app. It would be better if it could automatically route phone calls initiated from the native dialer, but I doubt that is possible on the iPhone.

Apple will not let a user set their own default actions for iOS for a long time. Letting default apps override core functionality like the Phone app is a terrible idea. What happens if you hand over the dialer to a janky VOIP app that doesn't handle 999's correctly? iOS would die.

 

[OllyW]

The Google Voice App is begging to be rejected though:
http://obamapacman.com/2010/09/google-voice-begs-for-apple-app-store-rejection/

Seriously. Are they blind?

That app is not produced by Google. It's hard to believe they would make the mistake of having icons so similar to those on the Apple apps.

 

[2992]

"magically", that's the key word. I guess was the tooth-fairy approving it after such long time, wasn't she? She did the "magic"!

 

[rockstarjoe]

I paid for GV Mobile before it was pulled from the app store... I wonder if I will have to pay for it again?

 

[Small White Car]

Um, "eventually be great"? The App Store is the champion of mobile apps.

'Best' does not = 'Great'

(I do admit it's the current 'best.')

 

[Dooger]

Can't say that lunch with the Master of Lies would be much fun

 

[al2o3cr]

Maybe the LA Times should have found a better example - the MePing thing looks like a 10MB version of a BOOKMARK pointing to ping.fm...

 

[tripjammer]

I paid for GV Mobile before it was pulled from the app store... I wonder if I will have to pay for it again?

It is suppose to be free for the first 24 hours.

After that it will be $2.99.

Get this sucker right when it comes out folks!

 

[davbeck]

My app, "Messenger for Google Voice" has sat in limbo for about 3 months. I received a phone call last Friday from Apple stating that if I would resubmit with a different name that they would most likely approve it.

 

[fredfnord]

The last link in your piece is broken

Broken linkie: https://www.macrumors.com/c.php?u=&t=1284675002

Not that the posters here ever seem to read the comments.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Please, please let the SkyFire browser be approved.

Good luck with that one.

 

[Consultant]

That app is not produced by Google. It's hard to believe they would make the mistake of having icons so similar to those on the Apple apps.

Yeah the article says that it's not by google. But still, anyone who uses a Mac or iPhone for any period would notice that it's odd.

It is suppose to be free for the first 24 hours.

After that it will be $2.99.

Get this sucker right when it comes out folks!

The developer keep changing his mind, so don't hold your breath. (I don't have any problems with him, except for him not sticking with what he says he will do).

 

[twoodcc]

glad to see this. hopefully developers will continue to make great apps for iOS

 

[japanime]

Once GV Mobile+ is released, I will probably never launch Skype again.

 

[Don Kosak]

I think they have quite a backlog currently.

My last submission has been stuck at "Awaiting Review" for about 2 weeks now.

Hah! A couple hours after writing this, my App went into review. Is Apple reading this? Anyway, I think they're going to be swamped with submissions given the new Adobe tools, gamecenter, and the upcoming iOS 4.2 release.

It's a pretty exciting time to be writing Apps on the iOS platform.

 

[CFreymarc]

Those who can't code, code in Flash. Those who can't code in Flash, write web pages. Those who can't write web pages, teach gym classes.