Well, it’s been a while since I last updated any of my web sites. It’s been a busy and project filled year. I figured since the holiday season is here and the projects at work have been slowing down, it’s time to do some refactoring and redesigning. I know next year is going to be a wild, crazy, and busy ride, so better get what I can get done now. So I started by changing iGolfScorecard.com from a Joomla based site to a WordPress site. Personally, WordPress is much more simple and does everything I need to do, so it was the logical choice. Any way, I set everything up, configured the theme, and organized the site content. Check it out for yourself and tell me if you like it or not.

Okay, now I’m more than a little frustrated with Apple. I submitted Hi Jinx Pro and Lite (v2.0.1) over 6+ weeks ago. This version was a bug fix version that corrected a crashing issue and also addressed some other minor user experience items. Remember, I submitted these two apps on the same day, even within the same hour. It took 5 weeks to get Hi Jinx Lite approved, but no word about the Pro version. Usually, when I submit these apps, they both get rejected or approved within a day or two of each other. Today I received the dreaded rejection letter. This one doesn’t make since to me, because the app was already approved and the rating and description was not updated. The app was rejected because the App Store rating level  was too low (I assume). The rejection letter reads as follows:

Follow-up:  48911984

Dear Mr. Morris,

Thank you for submitting Hi Jinx Pro to the App Store. We’ve reviewed Hi Jinx Pro and determined that we cannot post this version of your iPhone application to the App Store at this time because it is not appropriately rated. Our review indicates that the application content is not consistent with the current rating because it contains alcohol use or references.

Please visit iTunes Connect to resubmit your binary and rate your application appropriately.

Regards,

iPhone Developer Program
****************************

I’m just stupefied!

You have to be kidding me! 6 weeks to reject an app because Apple think “it is not appropriately rated”. This almost makes me want to stop the two new iPhone projects I’m working on and start coding for Android. Just freaking change the rating to the correct level and freaking approve the app. Personally, I feel if Apple wants to put an App rating, the App Store reviewer should create the rating and set it, not the developer.

I guess the main issue I have with this rejection is that this app was already approved at the current rating I submitted last time, 12+. Plus, the Hi Jinx Lite app was approved with the same rating, 12+. This is the second time Apple has approved one of the Hi Jinx apps and rejected the other, when they both have the same functionality. I know the solution is to change the rating to 17+, which I already have. But the thing that sucks is I have to resubmit the app and then wait another 6+ weeks to get another email, hopefully an approval letter. I’m just another frustrated developer hanging on the whim of Apple almighty hand of rejection.

Hi Jinx Pro was resubmitted Aug 31st, 2009. The wait game clock has been reset. Let’s spin the wheel and see how many weeks it taked to get another letter.

Follow-up:  78781984

Hello Apple,

Thank you for submitting Mobile Safari to the App Store. We’ve reviewed Mobile Safari and determined that we cannot post this version of your iPhone application to the App Store at this time because it contains objectionable content which is in violation of Section 3.3.12 from the iPhone SDK Agreement which states:

“Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple’s reasonable judgement may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users.”

Parental Controls have been announced for iPhone OS 3.0. It would be appropriate to resubmit your application for review once this feature is available.

Regards,

iPhone Developer Program

Today, both Hi Jinx Pro and Hi Jinx Lite versions 1.2 were approved by Apple and are in the App Store for download. But wait, where is the email from Apple stating that the apps were approved? Yep, you guessed it, neither one of my dev email accounts have been emailed with the approval announcement. Normally, I’ve received these emails after 3PM and then within two hours, the app is actually available via the App Store. This situation is different though. The app is available for download and no email. I only found out that the app was available after a user sent feedback from the app and I realized the app version was Hi Jinx Pro v1.2.

Could it be that Apple’s mail servers are slow or maybe even my mail server is slow? Could the email be sent, but it was filtered by my spam fitler? I checked my spam filters and even the junk mail box, but no luck. No email from Apple. Hmm, maybe Apple is being more cautious with their acceptance emails, after the Baby Shaker app fiasco? And maybe they will send the approval email after a few days, in hopes that no one is offended with the app? Maybe the App Reviewer forgot to sent out an email? Whatever the issue is, it’s just another ding in the App Review process that gets me frustrated. Oh well, I’ll be waiting for an email, and update this post when it arrives…

I have to vent again about Apple’s App Approval process. Apple sent another rejection email and I’m feeling a little frustrated. Actually, not a little, a lot. A few weeks ago, I submitted another version of Hi Jinx Pro to the App Store. This version included two new characters and a few other minor features. After a 9 day waiting period, Apple finally reviewed the app and sent the following rejection email along with a screen shot of the objectionable content:

Dear JDMdesign,

Thank you for submitting Hi Jinx Pro to the App Store. We’ve reviewed Hi Jinx Pro and determined that we cannot post this version of your iPhone application to the App Store because it contains objectionable content and is in violation of Section 3.3.12 from the iPhone SDK Agreement which states:

“Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple’s reasonable judgement may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users.”

If you believe that you can make the necessary changes so that Hi Jinx Pro does not violate the iPhone SDK Agreement we encourage you to do so and resubmit it for review.

Regards,
iPhone Developer Program

I replied with the following email:

App Reviewer,

Can you be a little more specific of what is objectionable content in the application? The screen shot that was sent has 16 sound clips on it, multiple images, and text. I have no idea what the objectionable content is.

The iPhone SDK Agreement states “Apple’s reasonable judgment” which means the agreement is subjective, so I need to know specifically want the objectionable content is, so it can be fixed/removed.

Please specify exactly what image, text, or sound clip is objectionable.

Thanks,
JDMdesign

I’m not really frustrated that the app was rejected. I’m just irritated with the reviewer. I mean come on. If you state that something is objectionable, state what you are objecting to. Don’t just send a picture and assume I know what is objectionable. I’m almost temped to just resubmit the app with no changes and see if another App Review is not offended and passes the app through. But, I’m sure Apple is keeping notes on each rejection and I would assume the next App Reviewer will take the time to read the previous reviewers notes, plus I don’t think I want to wait another 9 days for a rejection letter.

I’ve stared at the screen shot and tried to figure out what is the objectionable content. I can only come up with the following two issues:

• The top left button has text under it that reads, “No Bra”. Maybe this is objectionable because the user might think the sound clip has something to do with woman’s undergarment aka a bra, when it actually pertains to slang for bro aka brother. Maybe if I change the text to ready, “No Brah” or  “No Braw”, then there will be no confusion? The sound clip is “No Bro”, but the bro part sounds like bra.

• The other option would be the second button on the left side of the second row, which has the button quote as “Get Cheifed”. (This is actually misspelled and should be “Get Chiefed”). The sound clip is as followed: “I hope I don’t get chiefed again tonight.” This is the only real item that I can even think would be objectionable. The Urban Dictionary defined getting cheifed as “after a person passes out at a party, take[s] a marker pen and write[s] all over their face.” There could be a loose connection here with the meaning of the phrase that being chiefed is like being scalped by an Indian or by drawing on a persons face they are mimicking an Indian’s war paint. Either ways, it’s a loose connection.

• Is there something I’m not getting here. I don’t see anything else close that could be considered objectionable. If you see anything objectionable, please comment about it.

Either way, I’m just frustrated with the reviewer not specifically stating what the objectionable content is.

I also submitted a new version of the Hi Jinx Lite to Apple over three weeks ago and today, I got a confirmation from one of their reviewers that they are using one of the new features (user feedback form). The lite version does not have all the Kegger Keith sound clips in it. I have not recieved a rejection letter yet, but only time will tell. I believe what all this has taught me, is one thing. I need to find a way to push updates (new characters and sound clips) to the Hi Jinx app without the subjective App Reviewers approval. I’ll be waiting for the next rejection letter and in the meantime, be working on pushing my own updates to the Hi Jinx app.

UPDATE: Apple approved the Lite version yesterday (4/7/2009). It took 22 days for approval. Hi Jinx Pro was resubmitted yesterday with the buttons labeled at “No Bra” changed to “No Braw” and “Get Chiefed” chagned to “I Hope I”.

I’m not sure if I’m just being impatient, if Apple has been dragging their feet, or if Apple is just under staffed and can’t approve applications fast enough. Either way, the Apple App Approval process sucks. It’s slow, inefficient, subjective, and big brother-ish. Based on conversations with dozens of developers, the average review time for an app to get accepted or rejected is about five days. To me this is too long and should be 1-3 days. I understand that Apple needs to control the overall apps that are pushed out to the iPhone and iPod Touch users, but having to wait for an app to be approved over a week really sucks. I feel like I’ve called Apple support and the representative placed me on hold and then went on a smoke break (I know I used to work in a support environment), or that I emailed customer service about an billing issue and they reply with a canned answer asking me more questions about how great of a job they performed. Just approve the apps already!

I have two apps in the App Store, Hi Jinx Pro and Hi Jinx Lite. Both of these apps are soundboards which simply play a prerecorded sound clip. The Pro version is $0.99 and the lite version is, of course, free. I first submitted the Pro version and it was approved within 4 days. There was an update (v1.1) submitted and this took 5 days for an approval. I submitted the lite version and it took over three weeks to get it approved. It first was rejected with the following email reply:

Dear Mr. Morris,

Thank you for submitting Hi Jinx Lite to the App Store. We’ve reviewed Hi Jinx Lite and determined that we cannot post this version of your iPhone application to the App Store because it contains objectionable content and is in violation of Section 3.3.12 from the iPhone SDK Agreement which states:

“Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple’s reasonable judgement may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users.”

It would be appropriate to remove the “Wiffle” sound byte from your application.  If you believe that you can make the necessary changes so that Hi Jinx Lite does not violate the iPhone SDK Agreement we encourage you to do so and resubmit it for review.

Regards,
iPhone Developer Program

Okay, one of the sounds had the following sound clip:

I am going to get familiar on your rectum with a wiffle ball bat.

I guess that can be considered offensive or obscene, but first of all, the Pro version has this clip already and it was already approved twice. How did it get by on the Pro version? This is the subjective part of the app approval process. I know of other apps that have more offensive material, specifically these other apps have curse words in their sound clips. How did those apps get approved? Either way, I’ll play the game and change the sound clip, which now only says “wiffle ball bat”. I resubmitted the app and then 6 days later received the following email:

Hello JDMdesign,

Hi Jinx Lite cannot be posted because it is a feature-limited version.  Free or “Lite” versions are acceptable, however the application must be a fully functional app and cannot reference features that are not implemented or up-sell to the full version.

Please upload a new binary and correct metadata using iTunes Connect <http://itunesconnect.apple.com/>.

Regards,
iPhone Developer Program

As you can see from the greeting in the email, a different Apple approval representative was reviewing the app or the original reviewer used was different canned template reply. The entire reason for having a lite or free version companion to a paid version app is to allow the user to try out the app and then go buy the full version of the app. Most all the pay apps have a sibling free or lite version in the app store and all of them have some kind of link or reference to the paid version. I was just flabbergasted when I got this email. The reviewer also attached a screen shot of the app, for which they were referring to when they stated the app was feature-limited. If you clicked on any character besides Mr. Richardson, you would goto a screen showing the character and gave you a single sound clip. This was a way to show the users that other characters were available in the Pro version. Other apps do the same thing… I figured I would play the game again and change this part of the app. I removed the character selector and just added the screen for sampling other characters to the about screen and took out the pitch for purchasing the pro version. I did keep a button (or two) which link to the pro version. After rebuilding the app, it was resubmitted to the all mightly god, Apple and its app approver disciples. After another 6 days, I finially got the approval letter stating that Hi Jinx Lite was available for download. Thank god, I mean thank Apple.

Since then, I have submitted a second version of Hi Jinx Lite, which has been waiting for approval for over two weeks. The only difference in the add is the graphics, a feature for allowing uses to send comments back to me, and two clips, promoting new characters in the Pro version (Kegger Keith and Nigel Smith). I also submitted another version of Hi Jinx Pro, which I have been waiting 5 days and counting. This will be a test, as I have not removed the wiffle ball bat reference from the Pro version. I wonder if the all mighty App Reviewer will be offended by this sound clip or if they will get the joke and push it through the door? Only time will tell.

A few weeks ago, I registered for the 360iDev iPhone Conference in San Jose, CA. I’ve been playing around with the iPhone SDK for some time and I’m really looking forward to attending the conference. I hope to have one of my apps in the iPhone App Store in a few weeks. I’ll post updated  from the conference, which will be in early March.

Check out the conference information at http://www.360idev.com/

Well, the wife wanted to get a new game for the Wii, so yesterday I got Mario Kart. We played for about 2 hours yesterday and plan on playing again tonight.

Someone evaluated some terrible stock investments, and came up with a position outlook for the next years investments..

“If you had purchased $1000.00 of Nortel stock one year ago, it would now be worth $49.00.

With Enron, you would have $16.50 left of the original $1000.

With WorldCom, you would have less than $5.00 left.

If you had purchased $1000.00 of Delta Air Lines stock you would have $49.00 left.

If you had purchased United Airlines, you would have nothing left.

But, if you had purchased $1000.00 worth of beer one year ago, drank all the beer, then turned in the cans for the aluminum recycling refund you would have $214.00.

Based on the above, the best current investment advice is to drink heavily and recycle.

This is called the 401-Keg Plan.”

Just think positive, or make better investments next time.

The price of the iPhone has come down to $399, just after two months of being out. Many people are upset that they lost $200, but I’m not really concerned. This was just the price of being an early adoptor or as I tell the guys a work, the price of being kewl…

I just wanted to thanke all the people that complainted to Steve Jobs and for Mr. Jobs giving all the early adoptors a $100 rebate. Thanks.

“…we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store.”

Full Article