News
Archive of all the latest news and blog posts
iPhone App Approval Process
Apples highly feted application store has been under immense scrutiny of late. With the cost of applications spiralling downwards amidst a flurry of competition, investigations by the FCC and the banning of certain applications, the guys at Apple are currently executing a developer focused damage limitation exercise. Please don’t misinterpret this post as a vitriolic rant, as both a developer and a user of the iPhone, I am a huge fan of the platform. However, I do feel that in order to ensure the longevity of the application store, a degree of transparency and openness is required.
Recently, Joe Hewitt, the developer responsible for the pending Facebook 3.0 application has waded into the murky waters over the debate. His wording is succinct and uncompromising as he suggests that the approval process for apps needs to be abolished. For any of you who are interested, yet unfamiliar with the approval process, it goes a little something like this:
1) Developer conceptualises and creates an application
2 ) Developer submits the application to Apple for approval
3 ) Apple review the application for subsequent approval or denial
4 ) Developer waits for up to two weeks for response
The overall process seems to be causing quite a stir as numerous apps such as Spotify being banned ‘unfairly’. With the latest Facebook 3.0 application currently limbering its way through the approval process, Mr Hewitt made the following assertion: “I have only one major complaint with the app store, and I can state it quite simply: the review process needs to be eliminated completely”. Hewitt continues to suggest that the platform should be made open, much like the Internet itself or an alternative mobile platform such as ‘Google Android’.
Apple has defended its stance on the approval process stating that there is certain security considerations associated with the use of certain applications. Hewitt suggests that the most alarming task performed by any application would be to access the users address book. However, Apple could easily insist that the application would ask permission to achieve this, much like it does with location tracking. Hewitt indicates that Apple have adopted a ‘guilty until proven innocent’ philosophy.
So, what can be done to solve these issues? Well, firstly, Apple could employ increased numbers of approval staff to speed up the overall process. Secondly, they could create a unique status for ‘trusted developers’ to separate the boys from the men. Finally, it wouldn’t be so hard for Apple to employ and ‘innocent until proven guilty’, giving developers the benefit of the doubt until something actually occurs.
Here at Waracle, as iPhone application developers we are constantly looking for innovative and bright application ideas. Based in Dundee, Scotland, we are here to help assist your applications journey from the conceptual stage to revenue generation. Give us a call on (01382) 529528!
Log in to Facebook to post your comment
