Here's my paid app -- EasyCalc (Now it's free) App Store link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/easycalc-hd/id815094839?ls=1&mt=8 I uploaded another free version of EasyCalc several days ago. The free version obtains full function with banner ads from admob. I'm shocked by apple today morning. The free app was rejected by apple for reasons as followed. I think apple is very rude to developers. Apple like the apps which look beautiful. I understand the rules entirely. However, whether an app is useful to users,I think it's for users to decide not apple. If users like or hate an app, users can rate it with one to five stars on the app store. Why doesn't apple gives opportunity to users? Why not? Why not? Not every junior developer can develop great and popular apps from the beginning ,right? Apple's reasons are very rude and absurd. So I decide to change the paid app to free app. I hope users tell me this app useful or not. I begin to consider if I should give up developing any app for iOS. --------------- Reasons 2.12: Apps that are not very useful, are simply web sites bundled as apps, or do not provide any lasting entertainment value may be rejected 2.12 We found that your app only provides a very limited set of features. It is a basic calculator with only six themes. While we value simplicity, we consider simplicity to be uncomplicated - not limited in features and functionality. We understand that there are no hard and fast rules to define useful or entertaining, but Apple and Apple customers expect apps to provide a really great user experience. Apps should provide valuable utility or entertainment, draw people in by offering compelling capabilities or content, or enable people to do something they couldn't do before or in a way they couldn't do it before. We encourage you to review your app concept and evaluate whether you can incorporate additional content and features to be in compliance with the Guidelines. For information on the basics of creating great apps, watch the video "The Ingredients of Great Apps".
With a calculator and timer on iOS (the two apps you have released) I don't see what major advantage this holds to be honest. To be fair apple allow tons of clones of games to get through so one minute they appear strict. The next they don't
This is one of the reasons why I hate apple. I'm so pissed off about this. As long as your calculator does not look and function exactly like the one they have preinstalled, users should be able to have the option to use whatever the heck they want on there device. Your calculator has themes. Does the default one have those. Nope. If you want me to send any kind of message in my 5 star review let me know because I will probably agree with whatever you say. I don't understand why they let you release this version and not the ad supported one. I don't care if you get accepted if you make an appeal. This should not have happened in the first place. There are so many completely total crap apps in the App Store that have been excepted that are totally useless. I don't know what I would do if I took the time to learn how to program, make an app, pay apple money to become a developer and get rejected. ... end rant Edit: I just realized that the ipad doesn't even come with a calculator so I think they are even worse than I thought. Ya, there are probably over 10000 calculator apps out there, but I have seen a bunch of flashlight apps that simply turn on the flash on the iPhone and nothing else. Is a calculator with themes useful? Of course. What Apple should be doing is cracking down on deceitful app descriptions and scams. Splashtop Remote Desktop has been on sale for 90% off for the last 3 years for a "limited time". That's some bs! Edit 2: I thought this was funny from the rejection. "While we value simplicity, we consider simplicity to be uncomplicated - not limited in features and functionality." I thought being simple and limited in features and functionality was apples motto. Note to admin, if I am breaking any rules please let me know. I really enjoy TA and the community.
I guess they are saying don't clone what comes with the phone! I don't know if the call was right, but it seems silly to duplicate something that is already there. I haven't got my ipad to check but I will be surprised if it doesn't have a calculator. While I am not sure if they crossed the line I am guessing they thought selling it could be decieving when they offer a free one. Just make your calculator offer functionality they don't.
Thank for your detailed reply ! You're right. As a personal developer,you have to pay Apple $99 a year. It takes about 1-2 months to develop a new app. Usually your apps are rejected because of serious bugs,crash/ private api or other reasons. You just need to deal with the bugs and upload it again. However, it's my first to saw such rude reasons from Apple. I start to hate apple.
Thanks a lot ! I have emailed Apple and Mr. Cook for such rude reasons.But no any reply. I hate apple.
@Dev - it sure sucks that an app you made isn't getting approved by Apple. But to me it seems like they are just trying to be helpful and gave you an advice on how to make the app actually sell. It is nice that they care about their AppStore to keep away the "unnecessary stuff". But then again, it seems very unfair that we have 500 flappy bird clones on the AppStore, but they decide not to sell your app (eventhough you had to pay 99$ for the dev status). @Gov - try to express yourself less offensive next time @Dev - a regular forumer doesn't have a reputation to take care of, but that doesn't mean you don't. Especially on a place like this one. Conclusion: I'm still with Apple on this one though... Just add more features to the app, make something that makes it unique.
Can someone please confirm that the ipad does not come with a calculator or voice recorder? It seems bizarre that Apple would not include it. I do agree that you could improve your app but the same thing could be said about almost anything in the App Store. Maybe you could add customizable button layouts, add more calculator functions, have a section with a bunch of formulas...
iPad comes with a calculator. In any of your home screens swipe up from the bottom of the screen a menu will come up with airplay options, calculator, etc.
This is weird. I swear both of those apps are not on my ipad. I am using the mini with retina 7.0.4. When I swipe up it's not there. If I type cal in spotlight it does not show up. I am definitely not an amateur to ios (had first iPod touch, 3GS, 4s) and I know what I am doing.
See, am I missing something? Maybe it's because I'm on 7.0.4? edit: dang there was an upload error when I tried or post the screenshot. Did some research. It seems that I am right and the ipad is missing more than I thought. http://www.imore.com/missing-apps-found-best-weather-stocks-calculator-and-voice-memo-apps-ipad
The notice from Apple wasn't particularly rude or offensive. In fact, it was respectful and even cited the guidelines to back up their reasoning. It may be the fact that this is your app and you have time and money personally invested in it, that made their rejection seem heavier than the text. Anyway, good luck, going forward!
I agree with this. You might not agree with what they said but in no way were they even a tiny bit rude. There is a difference and they were polite and presented their arguments.
So, now your app is approved... As far as I can see you simply re-submitted the same app, "at the price of free". Afaik you can now update the price of your app, and make it a paid app. You may be under the impression that, what they accept as a free app, they reject as a paid app, but it's more likely that, you just got second time lucky. Your calculator looks neat btw. As to the many many flashlight apps... well it seems like over time their rules get a little tougher, and this matches increased competition between developers, and an increasingly cluttered app market. Apple are a publisher. They operate on a model comparable with (but much much much softer than) Sony with the playstation. If a writer go to a book publisher an their book is rejected (that's usually what happens), well it's frustrating but, that's it; it doesn't mean the publisher is bad, it means they are selective. It is not meant to be a 'fair' or 'democratic' process. And although students in some schools are encouraged to create apps and submit them, the 'kindergarten stuff' is basically clutter that makes good apps harder to find so, feeling frustrated on grounds of being 'more junior' is.. a little weird. As to the many many flappy bird clones. Well, it irked me a little, but flappy bird was a popular, profitable app that got pulled from the store. So there is demand for flappy bird clones, and that is that. Fact is, some of these clones are scaling the charts. A(ny kind of) rejection is always frustrating. I've been through that. But I keep in mind that, more often than not, users are more demanding than Apple are, so they are rarely doing us a disservice by requesting more quality/features That users can't rate apps offered via promo codes... this I find a lot more annoying, because it won't fix anything, just make small devs life harder.
I think thats good. I would rather have the opinion of someone whos bought it rather than promo codes where the users then often write 'hey great game 5 stars' type replies which dont help anyone and make the app store reviews a joke
