Over 365 days to get iClueless approved for the iPhone App Store

It is interesting reading about iPhone App Store rejections. However, I don’t think anyone has gone through a rejection like mine. I purposely have not written about it for a few months because well, I needed some time to simmer down from the immense frustration and be able to write something meaningful. 

I submitted iClueless on July 7 2008, four days before the store launched. Then proceeded to go through a year of hell trying to get it published to the App Store.

The first rejection on 8/6/08  . See email

“Your application duplicates the functionality of the built-in iPhone application Safari without providing sufficient differentiation or added functionality, which will lead to user confusion.  Selecting websites in iClueless simply launch a webview within the app itself, just in a limited capacity in comparison to Safari.”

Essentially, the app was rejected because it had an instance of the Safari browser within it.

I sent a response stating how I felt iClueless did not violate section 3.3.5. However, I got no response on that. In fact, I even called Apple and left two voice messages for my rejector. Never got a phone call back.

Without a response, I figured I would change the default setting in iClueless. So rather than have the search results show inside iClueless, I would just have it show in the actual Safari browser. This updated build sat in review status for more than 6 months and when you are stuck in review status, you are stuck, no matter how many emails or calls you make.

Then on Feb 16, 2009, I got another rejection. See email

“Thank you for submitting iClueless to the App Store. We've reviewed iClueless and determined that we cannot post this version of your iPhone application to the App Store because of an Apple trademark image. If you believe that you can make the necessary changes so that iClueless does not infringe on Apple trademarks, we encourage you to do so and resubmit it for review.”

Essentially we got rejected again for this icon.

On March 11, 2009 another rejection. See email

Dear Gx5,

Thank you for submitting iClueless to the App Store. We've reviewed iClueless and determined that we cannot post this version of your iPhone application to the App Store because of an Apple trademark image

The app gave users the option to select a custom background, one of which was based on the Mac OS Leopard wallpaper. Basically the app was rejected for including this image. 

On 7/9/2009, another rejection. See email

Dear Tunji Afonja,

....Our review indicates that the application content is not consistent with the current rating. iClueless allows unfiltered access to the internet, where content with mature or suggestive themes can be accessed. Applications must be rated accordingly for the highest level of content that the user is able to access…….

So the app finally went up on August 28,2009.  Over 1 year later, and guess what, the window of opportunity for the app has completely evaporated. The only initial competition that iClueless would have had if it was approved a year ago was Where and WhereTo?. WhereTo? ended up grossing well over $200,000. So I essentially got nothing from this investment.  All I got was the psychological drain of being rejected by the App Store, something I wish on no one. If you are not a strong individual and you’ve put your all into an iPhone App, you could end up devastated and scared for life. Imagine the plight of an entrepreneur that quits his/her job, begins learning Objective C from scratch, invests in buying a pricey Mac and maybe puts all his life savings on the line into creating his killer iPhone app only to be rejected. Then a few weeks later he is reading stories of how other developers are on their way to making millions.  

Here is an example of how some developers are investing so much in the App store 

http://www.appcubby.com/blog/files/financial_realities.html 

There is no question that anyone who goes through this process will be broken, the question is how will one react. Developers like me are to busy and ambitious developing new products and can somewhat handle this, but soon enough there may be developers that will react with some serious aggression. 

If you think what am saying is far fetched, go ask Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer. When a dude was mad at Bill Gates,  he publicly pied him in the face. Fast forward a few years, when this dude was ticked off at Steve Ballmer,  he tried a more aggressive approach by flinging eggs at him in a missile like fashion. Now tell me what a raging iPhone developer will do when he finally comes across Steve Jobs after he has gone completely broke investing all his time, money and energy in building his iPhone app. It could be an ugly sight.

So in summary, like many other creative developers, am done with doing anything serious for the iPhone App store. 

Comments

[Green]

DROID DOES

lol rejection sucks, and I'm no longer happy with apple.

I feel your pain. I'd sue for emotional damages.

I'm just sayin' what they did was screw you over, and that's not fair business. Why did other apps submitted after yours get reviewed? If you win totally share the wealth! You deserve at least your investment back!

[Aaron]

That's why you should focus your efforts on WebOS. :-)

I've been following your blog for a long time now and would absolutely love to see you work some of your magic on my new Pre. :-)