1. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
How to Avoid App Store Rejections with Your Mobile Apps
Michaël CHAIZE & Greg WILSON | Creative Cloud Evangelists
1

2. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
What will you learn during this presentation ?
2
PROCESS
DEMYSTIFY
WHY REJECTED ?
WHAT CAN I DO ?
CONCLUSION

3. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Introduction
3
Michaël Chaize
@mchaize
CreativeDroplets.com
Greg Wilson
@gregsramblings
GregsRamblings.com
Fantastic guy
M
AN
O
F
TH
E
YEAR

4. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Introduction
4
Michaël Chaize
@mchaize
CreativeDroplets.com Narcissus
0 rejection

5. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Introduction
5
Michaël Chaize
@mchaize
CreativeDroplets.com Game of Flex (aka Tour de Flex)
3 rejections

6. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Introduction
6
Michaël Chaize
@mchaize
CreativeDroplets.com Smart Aliens
10 rejections

7. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Introduction
7
Michaël Chaize
@mchaize
CreativeDroplets.com Appliness
1 embarrassing rejection

8. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Who are you ?
8
???
??? rejection(s)
?

9. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
CONCLUSION
9
www.CreativeDroplets.com

10. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Apple App Store approval process
10
1.Develop 2.Test 3.Distribute

11. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Apple App Store approval process
11
1. You buy an iOS developer certificate (99$/year)
2. You develop your application using the iOS SDK (Xcode), or
PhoneGap, or AIR...
3. You sign your .ipa for testing and test it on devices
4. You create an application in the iTunes Connect portal
5. You sign your .ipa for distribution and upload it to Apple
6. Apple reviews your application

12. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
iTunes Connect app statuses
12
Prepare for Upload
Waiting for Upload
Waiting for Review
Application Loader
(Mac OS only)
10 days later
In Review
Priority lane - Once in a life 2 hours to 48 hours
Ready for Sale
Rejected
Resolution Center

13. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Your app status is in Review
13

14. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
“Your app is rejected”
14

15. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
iTunes Connect app statuses
15

16. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Demystify the app store
16

17. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Demystify the app store
17
My! #1
Apple doesn’t approve
hybrid applications

18. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
#1 -Apple doesn’t approve hybrid applications
18
Objective-C Java NDK C#J2ME C/C++C++ C++

19. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
#1 -Apple doesn’t approve hybrid applications
19
Objective-C Java NDK C#J2ME C/C++C++ C++
+ +

20. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
#1 -Apple doesn’t approve hybrid applications
20
Native Shell
WebView
Native Shell
WebView
Native Shell
WebView
Native Shell
WebView
Native Shell
WebView
Native Shell
WebView
Native Shell
WebView
“Hybrid Apps”

21. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
#1 -Apple doesn’t approve hybrid applications
21
JavaScript
OS

22. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
#1 -Apple doesn’t approve hybrid applications
22
PhoneGap Build
ipa apk
OTA xap wgz ipk

23. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Demystify the app store
23
My! #1
Apple doesn’t approve
hybrid applications
WRONG

24. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
BBC Olympics
24

25. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Untappd
25

26. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
HealthTap
26

27. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
MAX 2013
27

28. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Lil’ Doodle by Andrew Trice
28

29. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
PhoneGap API Explorer by Christophe Coenraets
29

30. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
#1 -Apple doesn’t approve hybrid applications
30
YES...
Apple approves Hybrid applications.
You can use the iOS SDK, but also
PhoneGap, AIR...
Hybrid applications don’t have to look
like web applications.
Hybrid applications don’t have to look
like classic iOS applications.
BUT...
Why do we have so many hybrid
applications rejected ?

31. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Demystify the app store
31
My! #2
Apple review is exact
science

32. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Demystify the app store
32
My! #2
Apple review is exact
science
WRONG

33. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Who are Apple reviewers ?
33
Secret people.
They review hundreds of apps.
This is a 80% automated,
20% subjective.
Your identity counts.
Your brand counts.

34. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Marriott iPhone app
34

35. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Avatar South Park
35

36. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
The part of subjectivity...
36
Smart Aliens free Smart Aliens premium
r
ejected
AP
P
R
O
VED
SAME CODEBASE

37. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Who are Apple reviewers ?
37
If you’re not a big brand, do they support you ?

38. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Demystify the app store
38
My! #3
Apple is picky and won’t
support me

39. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
The Resolution Center
39

40. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
The Resolution Center
40

41. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
App store process - THE MOVIE
41

42. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
App store process - Submit an appeal
42

43. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Apple will call you and coach you
43

44. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Demystify the app store
44
My! #3
Apple is picky and won’t
support me
WRONG

45. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Conclusions
45
If your app is rejected,
understand why and fix it.
Don’t fight against Apple.

46. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Reasons why your app can be rejected, and solutions
46

47. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
It’s a mindset
47

48. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Classic reasons for dummies
48
1. Private frameworks - Interpreted code
2. Follow Apple’s guideline
3. Copying existing native functionality
4. Inappropriate keyboard type
5. Manage lost connection
6. Don’t infringe trademarks
7. Don’t mention Steve Jobs
8. Don’t hack an airplane
etc...

49. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
The native experience
49
"Reconsider Web-Based Designs
If you're coming from the web, you need to make sure that
you give people an iOS app experience, not a web
experience. Remember, people can visit your website on their
iOS-based devices using Safari on iOS."

50. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Phraffle - Rejected
50

51. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Do you really need an app ? Why not a web app ?
51
Good question
I’m perplexed

52. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Web application vs. Native application
52
Native Applications Mobile Web Applications
Capabilities - Device’s native features,
information and hardware
Capabilities - Limited amount of
the device’s native features
Monetization - App store Monetization - Classic web paywall
Updates - 10 days, not forced Updates - Automatic
Discoverability - the app store is full
> Marketing campaign is mandatory
Discoverability - Classic Web SEO
It’s not a trivial choice

53. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
What did Phraffle ?
53
http://gregsramblings.com/

54. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Radio X-Track - the website
54

55. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Radio X-Track - my first design was rejected
55

56. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Radio X-Track - Fresh new design - approved
56

57. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
The Native experience: Hybrid apps and UI components
57
http://topcoat.io

58. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
The Native experience: Performance and architecture
58
Backbone Angular
JavaScript frameworks
Mobile frameworks
app-UI
Retina Display Launch time
300ms tap
Transitions
Scrolling

59. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
The Native experience: Performance and architecture
59
Backbone Angular
JavaScript frameworks
Mobile frameworks
app-UI
Retina Display
http://coenraets.org/
http://coenraets.org/samples/pageslider/index.html
Launch time
300ms tap
Transitions
Scrolling

60. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
The Native experience: Performance and architecture
60
Backbone Angular
JavaScript frameworks
Mobile frameworks
app-UI
Retina Display
www.tricedesigns.com/
http://tricedesigns.com/census/
Launch time
300ms tap
Transitions
Scrolling

61. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Once your app is approved... Welcome to hell.
61
The users are more hurtful than Apple.

62. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Less obvious rejection reasons
62

63. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
“Beta”, “Demo”, “Android”... forbidden words
63

64. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Expired certificate
64
You’re with me.
You’re under my protection.

65. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
iCloud storage
65
Keep me light.

66. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Sometimes Apple helps you from the beginning
66

67. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential. 67
Sometimes Apple helps you from the beginning

68. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
What is bad design ?
68

69. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
What is bad design ?
69

70. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Apple business model or app store integrity
70
Greg's Toolkitappgratis

71. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
A lot of reasons...
71

72. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Resources
72
http://adobeevangelists.com/ Appliness Creative Cloud > Learn

73. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
CONCLUSION
73
You have the power
It’s not exact science
Engage with Apple
Stay classy

74. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
Take the SESSION SURVEY on the MAX COMPANION app
74
…for your chance to WIN one of these e-books from Adobe Press
Every survey you submit enters your name to win the daily grand prize -
an Apple® iPod Nano®.

75. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.
CONCLUSION
75
www.CreativeDroplets.com
@mchaize
&@gregsramblings

76. © 2013 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe Confidential.