Filed under: Software, Developer, iPhone, App Store, SDK
Schiller defends App Store approval process
Well here we go. Up until now, we've heard a lot from developers about how much of a mess the App Store's approval process is, from people who've been rejected outright to people who've been forced to resubmit to people who've just given up completely. But we haven't heard much from Apple, and now Phil Schiller has spoken with Business Week about what it is about the App Store's approval process that has devs pulling their hair out.The verdict? Schiller says the process is in place for a reason. About 90% of the apps submitted merely have bugs or technical issues, and he says for the most part that devs are happy to get that feedback (though TechCrunch doesn't buy that for one second). But the other 10% of the apps Apple denies are simply what they deem "inappropriate," which could be anything from problematic coding (code that steals passwords or other private information), or app content that doesn't belong on the store, from porn to apps that help break the law or steal in some way. Apple is also vicious about trademark defense -- Schiller says that "if you don't defend your trademarks, in the end you end up not owning them."
That all sounds fine and dandy (ok, well, the "inappropriate" label is a little unclear -- that's broad enough that Apple could fit almost anything under that umbrella, which is a bit troubling), but what about all of those angry devs? Unfortunately, Schiller doesn't address at all the idea that Apple might someday allow devs to release apps that haven't been through their approval process, on the App Store or anywhere else. As far as Apple is concerned, it seems like they're keeping their grip on what gets released, and anyone who doesn't like it is welcome to go elsewhere.
[via TheAppleBlog]
Which is probably fine... for now. As long as devs release content on the store and the App Store remains the premiere outlet for mobile phone applications, Apple doesn't have much to worry about. Individual developers may raise problems, but as long as Apple is on top, they're free to dismiss those issues as extreme cases, and say that 90% of App Store interaction is simply Apple fixing bugs. Maybe Schiller even believes that devs enjoy the process.
But you have to think that if Apple continues to go slow and make mistakes with App Store approval, eventually the whole thing will come to a head. More developers will leave the platform, and other phones will benefit. If it ever gets that far, Apple will have to take a serious look at their process and figure things out from there. It's doubtful that they'll actually open up the platform -- much more likely would be a refining of the process and the rules surrounding it. Which is really all developers are asking for in the first place.
Unfortunately, it's not likely that will happen any time soon. The iPhone has a nice hold on the market, and even with the few high-profile developers that have split so far, the App Store is still doing brisk business. Schiller doesn't have to address individual developers like Rogue Ameoba directly -- for now, there's always more where they came from.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
kmcgrady90 said 11:08AM on 11-24-2009
Business Week published the interview article on the 22nd Nov. You're a little late on this one. I've read commentary on it on 3-5 sites already and you're only reporting it now. Step it up TUAW.
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Dan Woods said 1:53PM on 11-24-2009
Yeah, TUAW is always pretty slow on the news.
I think I could get an iPhone App approved in less time than it takes TUAW to publish time-sensitive news.
Odineye said 2:00PM on 11-24-2009
It's pretty clear that this isn't a "breaking news" blog. Perhaps you should moderate your expectations.
mikehild said 3:06PM on 11-24-2009
Big deal, they don't mention something the second an article is published. I, for one, wouldn't have even known about this if it were not for TUAW posting about it today and I'm not going to start whining about how I could have heard about this yesterday instead.
Frank said 3:29PM on 11-24-2009
well, it *IS* an apple-related blog, though, and this is definitely apple-related news. i understand the frustration with news getting posted in a timely manner. it just seems like articles pushing product are posted faster and with more regularity than actual news about things. (but i still love ya, TUAW)
kmcgrady90 said 4:05PM on 11-24-2009
Frank, that is what I meant. I like TUAW but they post way too much promotional/product stuff and news gets written up late.
Charli said 4:50PM on 11-28-2009
frankly this isn't really news. there are easily 1000 apps submitted every week, probably 4-5 times that even. even assuming that half of those are merely updates that's anywhere from 500-2500 apps any given week. with perhaps half of those rejected for one reason or another.
and out of all of the rejected apps over all these weeks, perhaps 100 were written by folks that mouthed off about being rejected.
not exactly the mass censorship etc that is being tossed at Apple.
onedollarbill said 11:21AM on 11-24-2009
The process is slow for sure. I have been waiting for an 3rd party app to get up on the site. The company publishing the app was told the ETA was Nov. 11th and here it is the 24th and still nothing more than a comment that the approval was imminent. Blah
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kmcgrady90 said 11:50AM on 11-24-2009
Apple DOES NOT give ETA's. The only info they give you is the percentage of apps being reviewed within 2 weeks. They never talk specifics.
steve said 11:28AM on 11-24-2009
"About 90% of the apps submitted merely have bugs or technical issues"
90% of the apps submitted have bugs or 90% of the rejected apps have bugs?
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Jordan said 11:35AM on 11-24-2009
No one is arguing the fact that Apple needs a review process. What people are arguing is that Apple's review process is slow and unfair. This is just lame corporate speak foaming out of Phil's mouth.
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iMeow said 12:23PM on 11-24-2009
Ummm... Yes they are. Apple needs to stop this approval crap and create an open platform.
Jordan said 12:30PM on 11-24-2009
So you think the app store should be anything goes?
I think there should be a review process to check for malicious code and inappropriate content. Beyond that it should be open. I should be able to use any web browser I want. I should be able to use any mail program I want.
Apple's process is unfair, there's no doubt about it, but they need something in place to protect from malicious code otherwise we all know what will happen.
timepilot84 said 2:10PM on 11-24-2009
They're not checking for malware or bugs. Or at least not very well. There's already been software that has acted in a less than savory manner that Apple gladly distributed. I don't know how many buggy apps I've downloaded in the last year and a half. If they're looking for anything other than copyright infringement, or duplication of their core functions, I'm not seeing it.
Jordan said 3:24PM on 11-24-2009
No, buggy apps is one thing. That's the developers fault and rests solely on their shoulders.
I'm talking about malicious code that will hijack iphones or steal sensitive information. This is the only thing, besides clearly set and defined inappropriate content guidelines, that Apple should be checking for.
John said 11:38AM on 11-24-2009
If nothing else, total (ironically) Big Brother control of the platform is an interesting experiment.* Apple claims it increases quality; developers claim it stifles innovation. In the end it probably does a bit of both.
As a developer, I voted with my feet (and wallet), selling my iPhone long ago.
It will be interesting to see how well the total-control model holds up after Android has more market share.
*If Apple tried this experiment on the Mac, I'd format and use Linux.
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liuping said 6:03PM on 11-24-2009
Apple is only doing for the iPhone what all video game consoles have been doing for years (strict SDK guideline, reviews for approval, etc)
I don't know why developers are so "up in arms". I guess they are just used to the "wild west" of PC game development where there are no rules or restrictions.
Connie said 12:12PM on 11-25-2009
I wish they HAD some restrictions over on the WinMo side. I moved to iPhone from that environment because many of the apps I bought were *very* expensive yet sometimes they failed to be even minimally bug free. (Well that, plus the horribly stagnant interface that hadn't changed for years. Anyway.....)
iBearTouch said 11:39AM on 11-24-2009
I am still upset they rejected my "iBikini" app that features a chick in a black bikini when you turn her upside down the bikini disappears... I am sure I'd sell a million. ;-)
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CaptHatch said 11:59AM on 11-24-2009
Linking to Tech Crunch is like saying, "I don't believe in journalism on the web."
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