Michal Ždanský As far as applications are concerned, iOS is a very closed system, without a jailbreak you cannot get applications into it in any other way than through the App Store. In addition, each application goes through Apple's review to protect users. But isn't it just a smoke screen?
Problems fraudulent applications is discussed on the Apple stage almost every month. It's not long since they were deleted from the App Store scam apps from one developer, who preyed on the popularity of well-known games and tried to make quick money.
A few days ago, a popular Nintendo game also appeared, Pokemon Yellow, however, the author was someone completely different from the well-known console manufacturer. Unsuspecting users were led to believe that this was a popular Japanese game, but it was just a scam where the game would crash right after loading the menu. However, the number of one-star reviews speaks for itself. Apple pulled the app from the store less than 24 hours later. "The Game" reached number three on the US App Store during that time.
You ask yourself how is it even possible to get over there strict control by Apple such applications will get at all. The conditions for developers, the so-called Guidelines, have been known for a long time. Clear rules are set and cheaters are to be punished according to the text. It happens only after several long weeks, sometimes months, when Apple starts to act, while such applications should not pass the inspection at all.
We don't have to go far to find a flaw in the system. One of the Czech developers indirectly confided in me about his experiences. He implemented JavaScript in his application, which is used for Google Analytics statistics, which is strictly prohibited according to Apple's rules. He only had it there as a trial, but forgot to remove it before sending it for approval. However, after approval it was non-functional anyway.
And how did it go on Apple's side? Eight days passed after the application was sent to the approval process and it was in the "Waiting for Review" status - waiting for approval. On the eighth day, it was apparently her turn and went into "In Review" status - in the approval process. After a full two minutes, it was already approved and ready to launch in the App Store. That is, the person who approved the application devoted two whole minutes to it. What can be researched in such two minutes on the application?
Clearly, no one is directly examining the application code. It is possible that there is some kind of software bot that examines some aspects of the application, such as whether it contains malicious malware. The human factor then apparently only tests whether it can be started at all and whether it does not contain any harmful materials. It can then go to the App Store and from there to users' devices without any problems.
That two-minute interval is one of the explanations for why so many fraudulent apps end up in the App Store. There are currently over 550 apps. However, not only new applications fall into the approval process, but also all updates, whether it is a completely new version of the application or a correction of one small bug. New applications are added at a rocket pace every month. If we do a little calculation when each app should be updated once a month, then assuming that apps are checked for eight hours every day including weekends, Apple would have to check about 000 apps per hour. And that's not counting the new ones. If there were 2300 employees reviewing applications, each would have to handle 100 pieces per hour. If he spent 23-2 minutes with each one, he could do it.
When the App Store first started, it wasn't a problem to check each app in detail when there were 500 at the beginning. However, the store has grown exponentially and now there are 1000x more apps. With such a volume, it is very difficult to devote enough time to each application without making the developer wait for weeks before approving the application.
However, Apple should start addressing this, as these problems will continue to escalate and fraudsters with an eye for easy money will continue to occupy the App Store. Once this problem grows in the company's head, people will have much less trust in the applications, which will have an adverse effect on the developers and by extension the entire ecosystem. Apple should therefore begin to deal with this problem as intensively as with working conditions in Chinese factories.
Approval level is the least of the problems. Another article could be written about how Apple treats its developers in general (unfortunately when there is a problem).
Hello, there is a small error in the text, for the entire ecosystem. Apple should start with this problem as intensively as with working conditions in Chinese factories.
Shouldn't there be killing?
Apple is already solving the problem of similar applications.
Based on one experience of a Czech developer with some JavaScript to write such an article, don't be angry with me, but you have spawned a crazy rant that does not deserve to be published even on a blog let alone here.
Yes, it is true that the human factor is very problematic and Apple cannot avoid it either. Can you imagine how many people there can be? What is the turnover of these approvers with the growth that Apple has?
With a little effort to objectivity, you would collect information from other developers as well, and you would probably come to the fact that Apple approves other applications even for a few days if it is not sure if it is in accordance with the rules. E.g. when it comes to InApp purchases, Apple has been researching it for a relatively long time. Confounding them is also not such a major problem because they don't and can't really examine the inside of the app itself - so you can do something that Apple will show and after approval there will be something else.
Yes, there are a lot of tricks, but they usually lead to removal from the AppStore or even blocking of the developer account.
1x per month is not an average update even by chance. Most applications do not receive the latest update - they simply do not catch on and "die".
It is true that I have also experienced minute reviews, but the question is whether the review statuses in the AppStore show reality. In the past, iPad applications crashed right after being sent to InReview and stayed there for a week. iPhone apps didn't do that. So I wouldn't make such conclusions about it.
Great article as usual...
I just want to point out a small error in the penultimate paragraph:
"However, the business has grown exponentially and now there are 1000x more applications."
there should probably be JE
Another thing that I don't like is the use of the word ecosystem, which is used mainly in geography...
PS: thanks for the article