Apple again allows promo codes for mature-rated apps

Posted:
in iPhone edited January 2014
In a move that is sure to please many developers, Apple has decided to again grant promotional codes to mature App Store software rated for ages 17 and up -- a distinction that still includes all browser-embedded apps.



While Apple has not officially announced the change, developers who spoke with The Unofficial Apple Weblog said their mature apps are once again entitled to promotional codes. Such codes allow up to 50 free downloads for developers to distribute however they see fit, such as for publicity or promotion.



While some software's mature rating is clear -- such as for violent or sexual content -- Apple has also decided to rate all apps that come with an embedded Web browser for ages 17 and up. Apple caught the ire of many developers who discovered they were unable to generate promotional codes for their mature apps.



Among those developers was the creator of Instapaper and Tumblr, Marco Arment. Among other issues, he expressed discontent that all Web-capable applications must come with nudity warnings.



With iPhone OS 3.0, Apple added an age rating system for applications. This not only allows parents to set appropriate application access for their families, but also opens up the potential for developers to release applications with adult content.



With a huge number of developers creating software for the App Store, Apple's practices and secrecy in how it rates and approves apps have been the subject of great scrutiny on the Internet. But TUAW sees the promo code concession as a step in the right direction for Apple and the App Store.



"There are still a number of issues with -- as well as improvements to -- the development process that need to be addressed, however, I believe it is an good sign to see that Apple is indeed listening and willing to make some changes to the process," the report reads. "It may only be one small step in the long road ahead, but I think many of the affected developers will agree that it was a step in the right direction."

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 11
    All i can say is: LOL...





    PS: I am an iPhone Developer.
  • Reply 2 of 11
    stephendstephend Posts: 29member
    A small correction: Apple does not rate applications. Developers have to rate their own programs. Where it gets confusing is that Apple will then reject the application if they deem that the developer picked the wrong one.



    You might ask, then, why does Apple not rate the applications themselves? I wish I knew...
  • Reply 3 of 11
    pg4gpg4g Posts: 383member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stephend View Post


    A small correction: Apple does not rate applications. Developers have to rate their own programs. Where it gets confusing is that Apple will then reject the application if they deem that the developer picked the wrong one.



    You might ask, then, why does Apple not rate the applications themselves? I wish I knew...



    Because ratings came in with 3.0. When the switch was done, it was done telling all the thousands of developers to do theirs themselves, rather than apple employing someone to set everyone's.



    Why they still have it on new updates to applications, however... is beyond me.
  • Reply 4 of 11
    abster2coreabster2core Posts: 2,501member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stephend View Post


    A small correction: Apple does not rate applications. Developers have to rate their own programs. Where it gets confusing is that Apple will then reject the application if they deem that the developer picked the wrong one.



    You might ask, then, why does Apple not rate the applications themselves? I wish I knew...



    60,000 and counting. Just how do you suggest they do it? How long would it take a reviewer to rate just a single app? Considering that many of the apps are free, just how much do you think it would it cost to Apple to employ such?



    More important, Apple is not stupid. If they decided to do the rating, there would be deluged by tons of 'objections' and repeated blogs of criticism from sites such as this, now matter which way they judged.



    As anybody that knows anything about human nature, we tend to lean on the conservative side when we are asked to rate or evaluate ourselves.



    Any intelligent developer is going to think twice before he/she under-rates an obviously adult-rated app, realizing that their's could be de-listed for a considerable length of time or completely.



    Apple know this. They have told us (iPhone developers) that we are the better judges for rating our products; however, it is obvious that if we are going to attempt to skirt or undermine the system, we better be prepared to consider the consequences.



    Quote:

    With a huge number of developers creating software for the App Store, Apple's practices and secrecy in how it rates and approves apps have been the subject of great scrutiny on the Internet.



    Interesting, that of the 100 or so fellow ADC members that I have met, not one of them fits the above pattern.
  • Reply 5 of 11
    stephendstephend Posts: 29member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Abster2core View Post


    Any intelligent developer is going to think twice before he/she under-rates an obviously adult-rated app, realizing that their's could be de-listed for a considerable length of time or completely.



    If a developer deliberately tries to undermine the system then, you're right, they deserve a rejection. However, the problem here is not with adult-rated apps. It's with any app that has a UIWebView being required to be rated 17+. The most famous case of a rejection along these lines was by the developer of Instapaper.



    As far as I know, Apple never told anyone that this was its interpretation of the rules. I would never have interpreted them that way.



    Worse, Apple didn't say, "You got the rating wrong, I fixed that for you and published your update." Instead they outright rejected the update, sending the update to the back of the review queue, however long that is these days.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Abster2core View Post


    They have told us (iPhone developers) that we are the better judges for rating our products; however, it is obvious that if we are going to attempt to skirt or undermine the system, we better be prepared to consider the consequences.



    I think pretty much everyone would agree with that in principle. However, we're not talking about a developer trying to undermine the system. This was a developer failing to follow an undocumented rule.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Abster2core View Post


    Interesting, that of the 100 or so fellow ADC members that I have met, not one of them fits the above pattern.



    As noted above, this affects pretty much any app with a usable UIWebView.



    Now, this particular issue won't affect me as I read about it and will be able to change the rating of my app before submitting an update. However, what's to say that I won't be the first person to be affected by the next arbitrary and undocumented rule that Apple dreams up?
  • Reply 6 of 11
    abster2coreabster2core Posts: 2,501member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stephend View Post


    If a developer deliberately tries to undermine the system then, you're right, they deserve a rejection. However, the problem here is not with adult-rated apps. It's with any app that has a UIWebView being required to be rated 17+. The most famous case of a rejection along these lines was by the developer of Instapaper.



    As far as I know, Apple never told anyone that this was its interpretation of the rules. I would never have interpreted them that way.



    Worse, Apple didn't say, "You got the rating wrong, I fixed that for you and published your update." Instead they outright rejected the update, sending the update to the back of the review queue, however long that is these days.



    I think pretty much everyone would agree with that in principle. However, we're not talking about a developer trying to undermine the system. This was a developer failing to follow an undocumented rule.



    As noted above, this affects pretty much any app with a usable UIWebView.



    Now, this particular issue won't affect me as I read about it and will be able to change the rating of my app before submitting an update. However, what's to say that I won't be the first person to be affected by the next arbitrary and undocumented rule that Apple dreams up?



    My comments were made in response to a query as to why Apple doesn't do the ratings.



    Let's give Apple a break.



    For certain, nobody, but nobody ever, could have or would have
    • Predicted the overwhelmingly success of the iTunes App Store

    • Foresaw the up take by the developer and would-be developer community

    • Realized the legal and moral obligations that would arise from creating a simple cell phone app

    • Tabled in advance the necessary infrastructure required to service the extensive demand

    • Documented every rule to cover every possibility throughout the entire process

    For sure, there are some growing pains.



    Actually, based on the fact that only a handful or so developers out of tens of thousands that may have been so inconvenience, it is in itself a testament that Apple is on the right course and has done virtually the impossible. I doubt that nobody else could have achieved such accomplishments with such minor encumbrances, if the tried.



    Obviously, some are disheartened and question the decision making. But based on my connections and experience, it is like what we call in medicine, an idiosyncratic reaction, i.e., an adverse effect in 1 in 10,000. But in these cases, it didn't kill anybody.
  • Reply 7 of 11
    I am so glad Apple isn't a Puritan church and that dancing is the work of the devil.
  • Reply 8 of 11
    trajectorytrajectory Posts: 647member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stephend View Post


    ...However, the problem here is not with adult-rated apps. It's with any app that has a UIWebView being required to be rated 17+. The most famous case of a rejection along these lines was by the developer of Instapaper.



    I can understand why Apple rates web-enabled apps for a mature audience only. Apple has no control or can't predict what content will be coming from that app at any time. Unfortunately, due to the puritanical tendencies of some, Apple could get into hot water if some kid was using an app that included (gasp!) nudity! Shooter games, no problem. Nudity, call the FBI!



    Also, I remember looking at the Lady GaGa app which included a crappy chatroom that was obviously web-based. If you went in there, people were saying the most vile, disgusting things. Eventually it was removed from the app after all the negative reviews that focussed on that one aspect alone.



    Apple is just trying to cover their ass and avoid any potential liability. Having run a social networking site myself, I can totally understand.
  • Reply 9 of 11
    bob4000bob4000 Posts: 2member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Abster2core View Post


    Obviously, some are disheartened and question the decision making. But based on my connections and experience, it is like what we call in medicine, an idiosyncratic reaction, i.e., an adverse effect in 1 in 10,000. But in these cases, it didn't kill anybody.



    Hah. I spent three months trying to get my app through the approval process and ran out of funding. I just gave up when it became clear that I would be lucky to sell 10,000 copies. 1.5 billion sounds like a huge number until you divide it by 65,000. Most of my downloads are free apps and so I assume others are the same.



    It didn't kill me literally, but it sure killed my project.
  • Reply 10 of 11
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Chintan100 View Post


    All i can say is: LOL...





    PS: I am an iPhone Developer.



    Same here, fellow developer!
  • Reply 11 of 11
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by lightstriker View Post


    I am so glad Apple isn't a Puritan church and that dancing is the work of the devil.



    Let's not bring religion and stuff like that in here.



    Carry on..
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