Apple has published new information that can help developers create high-quality apps that make it to the App Store.
Given Apple's reputation for secrecy, information posted in the new Common App Rejections page on Apple's developer website is a welcome respite for developers who continue having their apps rejected but without receiving an explanation for the rejection.
The first among the ten reasons posted by Apple is incomplete information entered in the app description, which accounts for 14% of all app rejections. Apple advises its developers to include all details to review an app, including a valid demo username and password for apps that require signing in, a video demo for apps that require hardware, and the developer's updated contact information.
Apps that are found to have bugs are also rejected. Apple says 8% of all rejections are because of developers sending apps for review before taking the time to clean them up for bugs.
Apple also rejects apps that "do not comply with terms in the Developer Program License Agreement." While this sounds like an umbrella term Apple used to avoid having to be more specific, the other reasons could be more helpful to developers. For example, apps that contain irrelevant and/or misleading information are shelved, and so are apps that do not adhere to Apple's spartan design guidelines.
"Apple and our customers place a high value on simple, refined, creative, well thought through interfaces," explains Apple on its webpage. "They take more work but are worth it. Apple sets a high bar. If your user interface is complex or less than very good, it may be rejected."
Other reasons for rejection include different app names in iTunes Connect and on the Apple device, apps with placeholder text or images, inappropriate ratings and apps submitted for review while still in beta mode. All in all, these ten reasons cited by Apple account for 58% of all rejections, but Apple did not specify the other reasons that make up the remaining 42%.
Granted, Apple does not provide reasons for rejection to individual developers. But this could finally be the first step toward streamlining what many Apple developers see as a lengthy and unpredictable app review process.
A small survey conducted by Tapdaq shows that 50% of independent Apple developers say they would switch to developing for other platforms if they were able to generate as much revenue as they do from developing for the App Store. Even former Apple executive Jean-Louis Gassée, who worked for Apple in the 1980s, is so frustrated with the App Store, which he calls an "impenetrable jungle."
The Apple App Store contains more than 1.2 million apps. In July, Apple announced the App Store earned record-breaking revenue but did not specify the numbers. App analytics service Distimo estimates the App Store's monthly revenue to be $870 million.
