It’s been a while since I’ve posted a blog and for good reason. Since March, the wife and I have been traveling and taking mini-vacations every other weekend. This weekend, we are flying to Seattle, WA to visit with my sister and to drink some brews at Pike Street Brewing Company. Work has been busy and I have a new dedicated role, as Mobile Applications Guru. My boss likes to call me iJeff, hmmm…

Anyway, what I really wanted to post about is a game that I’ve been thinking of building for some time. It’s similar to the old Atari game call Toobin’, which was one of my favorite games back in the late 80′s and early 90′s. I’m at a point were I’m creating creating levels for the game and building up the content. I really think this game could be big, because it’s pretty fun and has become addictive. It has an endless style of play game and tons of achievement will be added. If your interested in helping me build the level, beta test, or give some feedback, please contact me. You’ll be famous when your name is added to the credits.

So, keep your eyes peeled for a new App coming to the App Store in a month or so. American River Tubing will be hopefully climbing the charts to #1.

Last week I received the dreaded rejection letter from Apple for a new game I created, called Alien Splat. The rejection can be justified and sadly enough, I can agree with it. The rejection letter reads as follows:

Dear Jeff,

Thank you for submitting Alien Splat to the App Store.  We’ve reviewed Alien Splat and determined that we cannot post this version of your iPhone application to the App Store because it does not adhere to the iPhone Application Programming Guide as
outlined in the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement section 3.3.5; “Applications must comply with the Human Interface Guidelines and other Documentation provided by Apple.”

On iPod touch, it is not possible to make the device vibrate, though your application may feature vibration.  When Alien Splat is installed on an iPod touch, the user can turn the vibration switch on or off on the Setting screen.  Please see the attached screenshot.

Please take a look at the system call “sysctlbyname” and the section on “CTL_HW” from the Apple provided iPhoneOS reference documentation. It is necessary to check the machine class and machine type to determine if the device is capable of supporting vibration.

<http://developer.apple.com/iphone/library/documentation/System/Conceptual/ManPages_iPhoneOS/man3/sysctlbyname.3.html>

Furthermore, Alien Splat uses a standard ContactAdd button for an action which is not its intended purpose.   Applications must adhere to the iPhone Human Interface Guidelines as outlined in the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement section 3.3.5.

The ContactAdd button is to be used to display a people picker to add a contact to an item.  Implementing standard buttons to perform other tasks will lead to user confusion.  Please see the attached screenshot.  It would be appropriate to use a custom icon.

Please review the System-Provided Buttons and Icons section of the iPhone’s Human Interface Guideline here:
<https://developer.apple.com/iphone/library/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/MobileHIG>

In order for your application to be reconsidered for the App Store, please resolve this issue and upload your new binary to iTunes Connect.

Should you require more assistance with resolving this issue, Apple Developer Technical Support is available to provide direct one-on-one support for discrete code-level questions.  Please be sure to include any crash logs, screenshots or steps to reproduce this issue in your request.

Developer Technical Support
<idp-dts@apple.com>

Regards,

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

Once I reviewed the iPod Touch vibrate issue, it took 5 minutes to implement an easy fix. As for the Add Contact button, I just created new buttons that look nothing like Apple’s  pretty little buttons. The app was tested and resubmitted the following day, which was last week, Wednesday. Now, the waiting game is on. Will Alien Splat get rejected again or approved?  No one knows, only the all mighty Apple can make that decision.

Well, it’s been some what of an exciting day today for WWDC, new MacBook Pros announced, Snow Leaopard, iPhone 3.0, and oh yeah, a new iPhone 3GS.

As a developer, we get first access to the iPhone 3.0 SDK and GM release, but since there are so many developers trying to download the software and check out what is new, we have been getting the Access Denied from the Apple Developers web site. Oh well, I guess this happens every time something new comes out. I guess I’ll just have to keep clicking refresh and logging in to see when we’ll truly get access to the new software.

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’ve been redesigning Hi Jinx Pro and Lite the last two weeks. This is a complete redesign from the ground up. I’m pleased to announce that I am 95% of the way completed. There are a few minor clean up items that need to be completed and then we’ll be submitted this new version to the Apple App Store (cross your fingers that it gets approved).

The new features for version 2 are as followed:

• Both Hi Jinx Pro and Hi Jinx Lite get two characters from the start, Mr. Richardson and Fabulous Steve.
• All other characters (or examples of characters for the lite version) are now downloadable online.
• Each character has a full description and information about themselves.
• If you download a character and then don’t want them anymore, you can delete the downloaded character.
• The app is now theme based. Basically, you can change the background image. There are 7 different themes to choose from.
• There is a “Setting” area so the user can control the settings of the app, aka Auto Update, Return to Last Character used, Remember Last tab of character, and so on.
• There is an “Instructions” area to explain exactly how to use the app via iPhone or iPod Touch.
• The code base is written once for Hi Jinx Pro and Hi Jinx Lite. I just have to flip one variable before the build and all the differences between pro and lite are built appropriately.
• I used Joe Hewitt’s Three20 library, this saved me time and many headaches.
• I used Jeff LaMarche’s SQLite Persistence Objects library for the database storage, another great library, which saved me time and additional headaches.
• The UI (User Interface) has completely changed and looks entirely better.
• The logo will be changed and look more professional (thanks Joel).
• I added one Easter Egg. See if you can trigger it when v2 is released. It’s a tribute to John Scanlon.

The list of features are long and it’s only been two weeks. Thanks to Joe Hewitt and Jeff LaMarche for the use of their libraries to speed up the engineering time. I have one more feature that might have to wait until version 2.1 or 3.0, but I might just add it to the mix. The feature is to allow the user to create their own characters and then they can submit them to me online. Jimmy Chones and I can then approve the voices and then allow other users to download these user created characters. I figure it should take about a week or two to add the feature. I’ve included some screenshots of the new version, enjoy.

Click here to review the entire gallery

Well, we finally got a message back from Apple yesterday (they always seem to send emails after 4PM) and yep, you guessed it, it’s a rejection email. Hi Jinx Pro v 1.2 was rejected a second time because of two sound bytes, “So Faded” and “Get Faded?”. This was the million dollar question we wanted to get answered from the previous rejection email. We finally now know that the Hi Jinx Pro v1.2 was rejected for two sound bytes (ones we did not even think were objectionable).  Thank you to the second App Reviewer for being specific in the rejection email (if I know your name or could inform your managers, I would write a kudos letter for you). Apple sent the following rejection email:

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.”  Please refer to the soundbytes, “So Faded” and “Get Faded?”, as examples of objectionable content.

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

Now, if the first App Reviewer would have been specific enough in their first email, we would have been able to correct these issues and would not have wasted a week and a half waiting for another rejection email. Since the first email was not specific, I could only guess what was objectionable, and I guessed completely wrong. I never realized that “Faded” was a reference to drug use. I’ve always used the reference of getting faded as getting drunk or wasted from drinking too much, but after checking with Urban Dictionary, “Get Faded” is referred to as followed:

A phrase used to offer someone to smoke marijuana or to let other know that you are high.

Lets look at the clips; “So Faded” plays as “Titus got so faded Thursday night” and “Get Faded?” plays as “Want to get faded?”. These quotes don’t seem too obscene, but since they could be references to drug use, I can see why Apple would consider them objectionable. So, back to the drawing board again. I’ll see if I have some clips that I can replaced these two with, else I’ll just have to wait a week or two, when I will hopefully have Hi Jinx Pro v2.0.0 ready for release. The nice thing about version 2 is that the characters will be downloadable. We just have to complete coding and get the app approved through Apple, which, who knows if that will happen.

UPDATE: We resubmitted Hi Jinx Pro and Lite version 1.2 to the Apple App Store today (4/16/09). Let’s see how long it takes to get them approved or if we get another rejection letter. I’m working on version 2.0, which is about 75% completed and will resolve all these issues with characters needed to be approved.

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”.

Apple approved the Hi Jinx Lite application last Friday and it is now available for download for FREE from the App Store. With this version you get only one character, Mr. Richardson, but he’s a blast when people don’t know who’s calling.

Hi Jinx was designed to be used while your iPhone is connected to an active phone call. Just place the call on speakerphone, tap the home buttons, tap the Hi Jinx app, and then select a character and play any number of sound clips. The caller won’t know whom they are talking to. The clicks are loud enough (at full volume) for the microphone to pick up.

The App Store is filled with games and a lot of them are free too. If I remember correctly, when I attended an iPhone Developers Conference a few weeks ago, one of the presenters stated that 50% of the apps are in the games category. I would expect that most app reviews would be about games then, but from me you’re only going to get a few. I enjoy playing games but can’t find the time to play them all the time. BeerPong and Shoot (a few others) are the only iPhone game apps that I actually play when I find time. I’m not exactly sure why I enjoy playing them, but one reason is probably because I have not reached the end or know that there is an end to these games.

Usually games that have an ending or that can be completed, become just that, completed. If a game has endless levels or an unachievable end then it draws my attention and BeerPong has done just that. Another item it like about BeerPong is that the game play uses the combination of touch and the accelerometer to allow the user to try and sink the balls into the cups. It also simulates your drunkenness as you advance levels by making you accuracy a little off. The action continues during game play because the clock it ticking with every second and this makes you hurry your shots and/or feel the pressure. I find myself constantly trying to beat my high score and that is one reason way I have not deleted this free game. You can even play in two player mode which allows each player to toss a ball and then the other person follows right after. It can be fun, but it would be nice if the game used wifi or bonjour for game play. If you are looking for a fun game to play when you have a little free time, I recommend downloading BeerPong and playing a few levels.

The other day, a friend informed me of a new app that was currently free in the Apple app Store, so I downloaded BargainBin. I remember reading about the app and how Apple rejected it a few times because Apple stated that it was duplicating the App Store features. The nice thing about this app is that it tracks the price drops of apps on the App Store. This means you will know when you can download a paid app for free, half price, or even lower. All the time, developers are lowering their price to draw more attention to their app. I’ve personally thought about doing the same for my app, Hi Jinx Pro (since Apple has taken over 3 weeks to approve the lite version and they still have not approved it). The BargainBin app has a simple and slick interface for viewing these bargain apps. I found that you have to check once every day or so, else you might miss out on a free app. Either way, I like this app and recommend that you download it ASAP before you have to purchase it. Even if you have to purchase it, it’s still worth the $2.99 price tag.