In a surprising move , Apple on Thursday uncover a sweeping set of changes to the way it handles submissions to the App Store . The move is a clear endeavor to address many of the criticisms that have been levied against the troupe since it launched the iOS developer program .
First up , Apple published thecomplete bent of guidelinesthat its personnel uses to square up an app ’s eligibility for inclusion body in the App Store .
The guidepost are accessible only to register developers that have enter into a non - disclosure agreement with Apple . However , in aninformally - word insistency release , the company carry hopes that the publication of the road map “ will make us more crystalline and help our developers create even more successful apps for the App Store . ”
In the same release , Apple also refer several changes to the correspondence required of all developers who want to publish on the App Store . The company states that it is “ relaxing all restrictions on the exploitation peter used to create iOS apps , as long as the result apps do not download any code . This should give developer the flexibility they desire , while continue the security system we require . ”
Some of these changes appear to countermand a forbiddance Apple begin enforcing in the first place this year on the use of third - political party tools to develop apps for the App Store . Many interpreted the ban as a blatant knock against Adobe ’s Flash platform , which Apple had close out of its iOS platform both as a browser app plug - in and as a evolution environment for building apps . But , with the insurance policy apparently reversed , the only remaining restriction is that apps must be ego - contained and not download external codification ( with the exception of JavaScript code executed using Apple ’s own WWW - fork over locomotive engine , establish on the open - rootage projectWebKit ) .
ultimately , Apple also revealed the formation of an App Review Board , with the goal of yield developers “ the opportunity to invoke the rejection of an applications programme if [ they ] believe that the functionality or technological execution was misunderstood . ”
This new panel should help address the accusations often made about the arbitrariness of the app approval mental process by provide developer with a style to officially ask Apple to review a rejection , establish on standard that may not have been anticipated by the approval guidelines ; that ’s often been thesource of embarrassmentfor the companionship .
Although it ’s too early to severalise what the gist will be on the App Store ecosystem or commendation process , the bring out guideline and App Review Board sign a monolithic shift in the way Apple manages its relationship with iOS app developers . If properly manage , they should certainly improve the overall app submission process by hand developer all-embracing control over how they build up apps , as well as supply a more see-through approach to the App Store issue process .
