Apple published a "Common App Rejections" page for developers

Aug 30, 2014 23:06 GMT  ·  By
One of the main reasons developers are complaining when it comes to Apple is the way the AppStore editors are working. Inconsistent rejections and long app reviews have turned developers against Apple in more than one occasion. Now it's Apple's turn to explain their policies and they have done it via a new mini-site called "Common App Rejections".
 
The App review team explains that, before developing your app, you have to become familiar with the technical, content, and design criteria they use to review all apps. There are 11 reasons listed on this page and developers are being advised to check out all of them and make sure their apps are not breaking any rules. 
 
The first one is related to crashes and bugs, and it is common sense to make sure your app is not crashing on older devices or iOS versions. This is followed by a short advice on broken links. Developers must check all internal links so that the end user will not have a button that doesn't do anything. If your app falls in the Kids Category, and you have an auto-renewable subscription, you have to add a link to the app's privacy policy. 
 
The next one up regards placeholder content. Funny enough, Apple misspelled the generic "Lorem Ipsum" text on their page. Incomplete information may be another reason the AppStore review team will turn down your app. If you require a sign-in, you need to provide Apple with a dummy username and password to thoroughly test all features. 
 
It is expected that your app has accurate descriptions and real screenshots for the AppStore. Also, you are forbidden to promise something and not deliver some of the functions. 
 
Another big minus on the review board is the user interface. All developers must meet the design guidelines provided by Apple. Using Web Clippings, content aggregators or a collection of links does not serve the users well and it may get your app rejected. If your app serves websites, then the content has to be formatted for iOS. 
 
The AppStore review says that you will not get by with repeated submissions of Similar Apps. Make sure to tie functionality of different apps into one, when possible. 
 
The last criteria is pretty sketchy. Apple wants the apps to add lasting value. If yours only applies to a small niche market, it may not be approved. 
 
At the end of the page, Apple listed the most common rejections in the past week. The first place is taken by "More information needed," followed by apps with bugs and apps that do not comply with the Developer Program License Agreement.