We have seen countless cases of inconsistencies promoted by the approval team of the App Store. So far, “it's okay” after all, they are human beings who, like us, can make mistakes. The problem is that a lot of us (users and developers) simply do not understand.
A recent example was the case involving PCalc. Apple asked the developer to remove the calculator widget from the app by the way, one of the coolest things about the app with the argument that widgets in the iOS Notification Center cannot perform any calculations.
The problem is that there is nothing in the rules of the App Store mentioning such a limitation and most likely Apple came back in its decision because of this. Now, two more developers are experiencing problems with their apps: the Agile Tortoise (app Drafts) and Panic (app Transmit iOS).
Drafts
In the first case, Apple contacted developer Greg Pierce and asked him to remove the buttons to create a draft and open the app (that is, make the widget practically useless). Also according to Pierce, Apple representatives said that widgets in the Notification Center should basically serve to show information.
If that were a general rule, fine. The problem that is not. Several apps use widgets in the Notification Center as a means of interaction to create content or take actions, such as Evernote, Swarm and many others. The problem here, again, is Apple's “two pesos, two measures” issue.
But, via Shutterstock.
Pierce went there and did exactly what Apple asked: he removed the buttons and submitted the application again for approval. What happened? He was again rejected, but this time for another reason (no use). Let's face it, the company needs to decide
Transmit iOS
The other case (from Panic) also involves a button: that of sharing. In summary, Apple said that Transmit iOS can download any content from iCloud Drive.
However, content upload can only be done when such content is created by the application itself. As Transmit iOS basically “transmits” information from one place to another (it doesn't create anything), Apple asked that the share button be removed based on rule 2.23 of the App Store, which says that “Apps must follow the Data Storage Guidelines on iOS or they will be rejected. ”
The problem is that, as we can see, the page in question says absolutely nothing about iCloud Drive. Although Panic was wrong and had to end this integration of Transmit iOS with iCloud Drive, the removal of the button ended up also reaching other services like Box, Dropbox, etc.
That's because the share button is controlled 100% by iOS, so there is no possibility to customize the thing and take, for example, just the option of iCloud Drive.
Apparently the App Store approval team likes a controversy
(via MacRumors, TUAW, MacStories)
