So last week I listed a few reasons why the android marketplace really had some issues from a developer perspective – well its apple’s turn. We have had a few apps out there (including a top 5) as well as helped a few launch – definitely don’t know that much (I don’t think anyone does), but here are some quick thoughts.
First the iPhone marketplace is huge and that’s amazing, but as developers getting apps to it has some “blocking issues” as we say….
1. approval process – this is like a big black box – sometimes you get right through and other times you just keep getting bounced for the most trivial of reasons (i.e. inappropriate use of a “Plus” symbol when not related to adding contacts). You can resubmit the same app with no changes and get through or can re-submit an app that has been approved and not get through. It’s infuriating. When I was living in Holland there was a scandal because the dutch government outsourced its testing process to a private firm for drivers licenses. The firm got paid (as well as charged a testing fee) every time someone took a test. It was discovered that this company was purposely failing people on the subjective portions of the test so they would have to re-apply. We know (or at least are pretty sure) that apple is outsourcing some of their approval unit testing, so conspiracy theorists warm up your engines.
2. App Store date – Not knowing when your app will be approved is very tough. You cant time any marketing to it or really make any plans. Once it has been approved it can just appear starting a few pages back as your approval date and when you start appearing have a gap. There are a couple of tricks to dealing with this, but they don’t work consistently.
3. Caching inconsistencies – When you first launch an app, you have 24-48 to get it some traction. In these first hours you app will display, then disappear then display again. This doesn’t happen with every app, but when it does (Ahhhhh…..)
4. List Economy – The lists really need more of reddit or digg algorithm – if for some reason bad app makes it to substantial position, it can just stick there not allow for rotation and thus making very hard for other apps to get daylight.
5. Reviews – Apple had definitely made strides in this dept but it still has tons of issues – a good reading on the problems – http://news.cnet.com/apples-mobile-app-review-system-needs-overhaul/ —
I can't blame you for this. I've been having the same thoughts but am trying hard to shrug it off. Hopefully, our beloved Apple would not bury itself deeper now that they're aware of the issues, and instead reclaim their gleaming status.
bless you, useful content
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