6 ms·

Halide iOS app bug fix rejected after initial approval 18 months ago

68 points by Apocryphon 5y ago

emptyparadise 5y ago
Is there a rule against displaying real hands in App Store previews?
- Apocryphon 5y ago
  Really takes out the human in HIG.
- xuki 5y ago
  Yes. > 2.3.4 Previews are a great way for customers to see what your app looks like and what it does. To ensure people understand what they’ll be getting with your app, previews may only use video screen captures of the app itself. Stickers and iMessage extensions may show the user experience in the Messages app. You can add narration and video or textual overlays to help explain anything that isn’t clear from the video alone. The problem is the inconsistency, most reviewers have no issues but once in a while you get someone who’s strict and get rejected.
  - captainmuon 5y ago
    It kinda makes sense if the app preview is supposed to fill the screen and "simulate" the app. But can you add further videos (not "app preview") to show the real world usage? I imagine apps that for apps that use AR or motion sensors, you'll want to show actual people using the phone...
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
Apocryphon 5y ago
This was the app preview that failed approval: https://twitter.com/sandofsky/status/1502910292048588800 https://twitter.com/sandofsky/status/1502910292048588800
- extheat 5y ago
  Is the app preview supposed to be some fast paced flashy promo video? I think it’s annoying, scammy and tells me little about the app and its functionality to be of utility to me. Going to side with the App Store reviewer on this one.
  - Apocryphon 5y ago
    It looks just like the style of an Apple iPhone commercial, but beyond it, take a look on the App Store. I did, and some of the top/featured apps’ app previews (YouTube, TikTok, Super Mario Run, Discord, Nike Run Club) are really no better. Maybe the video could’ve slowed down its pace a little, but the photo editing jargon is presumably noteworthy to actual hobbyists and professional photographers, who would appreciate the technical specs. Finally, the app preview was rejected for how the preview was framed, sounds like the reviewers were fine with the content besides the formatting.
  - sandofsky 5y ago
    The video shows the color waveform, automatic RAW development, 14-bit image analysis, focus loupe, focus peaking, and more. I suspect you are not the target audience.
    - thih9 5y ago
      Sample size one, but I agree with the grandparent. I take photos with a regular camera and use these features there. I own halide and used it couple of times. I didn't know it had these features and based on that promo video I wouldn't know where to find them or how exactly they work. I'd also prefer a less flashy video; current one reminds me of game trailers that show none of the gameplay.
      - Apocryphon 5y ago
        Have you actually looked at app previews for other apps, especially ones featured on the App Store? They’re mostly all like that, like fast-paced trailers or glossy ads. What you’re describing is more like a tutorial video which does not fit into the time constraints of app previews. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30659070 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30659070
can16358p 5y ago
This happens a lot. I can't count how many times I've submitted my app and went perfectly live, and added many versions with bug fixes and improvements, and on another random bugfix update rejected for something that has nothing to do with that update but something that was introduced many versions ago. Worse, sometimes the issue has usually been solved with whoever was testing the older version, with written conversation there, and the old reviewer is convinced that our app is perfectly okay. Then someone else tests and I need to explain everything over and over again. (No, they don't usually read the notes either) I believe App Store reviewers are Apple's worst employees who can't follow basic steps. Of course not all of them, but many of them are like this.
- sandofsky 5y ago
  I actually don't fault reviewers at all. Given the scope of the App Store, I suspect most are overworked and underpaid. The issue is how this situation is supposed to be resolved. You shouldn't suddenly block a bug fix over an issue that's existed for 18 months. A straightforward solution would be a temporary warning before the block. "Hey, we know you were approved before, but now that we caught it, it needs to be fixed. We're letting this update through, but please fix this problem within two weeks or we will block future updates."
  - hsbauauvhabzb 5y ago
    Great, so now I have to drop everything to appease a flawed bureaucratic practice?
    - iforgotpassword 5y ago
      Do you want to make money from Apple users?
  - can16358p 5y ago
    Yeah that solution would work. Definitely better than the current state.
  - touisteur 5y ago
olliej 5y ago
Technically the App Store model does serve a purpose, but honestly I’m leaning ever closer to “apple should sign any app that has a valid sandbox profile and agrees to follow the privacy rules”, and let people download them from wherever. Because this is getting beyond stupid, and we all know in a couple of days it will have been “re-reviewed” and be fine. Developers should not be dependent on get press over stupid review responses, and simple bug fix releases shouldn’t be needing review at all anyway.
pcardoso 5y ago
Had this happen to me multiple times. App is published, then we do a minor update, like api endpoints and the review fails for something that didn’t change. I get it, perhaps it should have been caught on first review, but it is always very frustrating specially if the update is urgent.
andwaal 5y ago
This happen, but with Apple you get to communicate with a real person. I take this over Googles bot replies, every, single, day.

68 points by Apocryphon 5y ago

emptyparadise 5y ago

Is there a rule against displaying real hands in App Store previews?

Apocryphon 5y ago
Really takes out the human in HIG.
xuki 5y ago
Yes. > 2.3.4 Previews are a great way for customers to see what your app looks like and what it does. To ensure people understand what they’ll be getting with your app, previews may only use video screen captures of the app itself. Stickers and iMessage extensions may show the user experience in the Messages app. You can add narration and video or textual overlays to help explain anything that isn’t clear from the video alone. The problem is the inconsistency, most reviewers have no issues but once in a while you get someone who’s strict and get rejected.
- captainmuon 5y ago
  It kinda makes sense if the app preview is supposed to fill the screen and "simulate" the app. But can you add further videos (not "app preview") to show the real world usage? I imagine apps that for apps that use AR or motion sensors, you'll want to show actual people using the phone...

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

Apocryphon 5y ago

This was the app preview that failed approval: https://twitter.com/sandofsky/status/1502910292048588800 https://twitter.com/sandofsky/status/1502910292048588800

extheat 5y ago
Is the app preview supposed to be some fast paced flashy promo video? I think it’s annoying, scammy and tells me little about the app and its functionality to be of utility to me. Going to side with the App Store reviewer on this one.
- Apocryphon 5y ago
  It looks just like the style of an Apple iPhone commercial, but beyond it, take a look on the App Store. I did, and some of the top/featured apps’ app previews (YouTube, TikTok, Super Mario Run, Discord, Nike Run Club) are really no better. Maybe the video could’ve slowed down its pace a little, but the photo editing jargon is presumably noteworthy to actual hobbyists and professional photographers, who would appreciate the technical specs. Finally, the app preview was rejected for how the preview was framed, sounds like the reviewers were fine with the content besides the formatting.
- sandofsky 5y ago
  The video shows the color waveform, automatic RAW development, 14-bit image analysis, focus loupe, focus peaking, and more. I suspect you are not the target audience.
  - thih9 5y ago
    Sample size one, but I agree with the grandparent. I take photos with a regular camera and use these features there. I own halide and used it couple of times. I didn't know it had these features and based on that promo video I wouldn't know where to find them or how exactly they work. I'd also prefer a less flashy video; current one reminds me of game trailers that show none of the gameplay.
    - Apocryphon 5y ago
      Have you actually looked at app previews for other apps, especially ones featured on the App Store? They’re mostly all like that, like fast-paced trailers or glossy ads. What you’re describing is more like a tutorial video which does not fit into the time constraints of app previews. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30659070 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30659070

can16358p 5y ago

This happens a lot. I can't count how many times I've submitted my app and went perfectly live, and added many versions with bug fixes and improvements, and on another random bugfix update rejected for something that has nothing to do with that update but something that was introduced many versions ago. Worse, sometimes the issue has usually been solved with whoever was testing the older version, with written conversation there, and the old reviewer is convinced that our app is perfectly okay. Then someone else tests and I need to explain everything over and over again. (No, they don't usually read the notes either) I believe App Store reviewers are Apple's worst employees who can't follow basic steps. Of course not all of them, but many of them are like this.

sandofsky 5y ago
I actually don't fault reviewers at all. Given the scope of the App Store, I suspect most are overworked and underpaid. The issue is how this situation is supposed to be resolved. You shouldn't suddenly block a bug fix over an issue that's existed for 18 months. A straightforward solution would be a temporary warning before the block. "Hey, we know you were approved before, but now that we caught it, it needs to be fixed. We're letting this update through, but please fix this problem within two weeks or we will block future updates."
- hsbauauvhabzb 5y ago
  Great, so now I have to drop everything to appease a flawed bureaucratic practice?
  - iforgotpassword 5y ago
    Do you want to make money from Apple users?
- can16358p 5y ago
  Yeah that solution would work. Definitely better than the current state.
- touisteur 5y ago

olliej 5y ago

Technically the App Store model does serve a purpose, but honestly I’m leaning ever closer to “apple should sign any app that has a valid sandbox profile and agrees to follow the privacy rules”, and let people download them from wherever. Because this is getting beyond stupid, and we all know in a couple of days it will have been “re-reviewed” and be fine. Developers should not be dependent on get press over stupid review responses, and simple bug fix releases shouldn’t be needing review at all anyway.

pcardoso 5y ago

Had this happen to me multiple times. App is published, then we do a minor update, like api endpoints and the review fails for something that didn’t change. I get it, perhaps it should have been caught on first review, but it is always very frustrating specially if the update is urgent.

andwaal 5y ago

This happen, but with Apple you get to communicate with a real person. I take this over Googles bot replies, every, single, day.