We all know the App Store is broken. But we also all know that Apple is trying to fix it. Last night, Apple sent out notifications to iPhone developers letting them know that they had a new tool to share that will hopefully further open communications with developers.
Apple has announced the availability of RSS feeds for Developer News. While this may not seem like a huge deal, Apple is promising that this will be a good way for developers to stay on top of:
- Tips for submitting apps to the App Store
- Current turnaround time for app reviews
- Program updates
- Development and testing techniques
The key there is probably the turnaround time for app reviews. Most of the developers who write to us complaining about the App Store simply note that their apps have taken longer to review than the standard two weeks. This line of communication should help Apple let developers know if there is an abnormally long waiting period for any reason.
In terms of the App Store overall, we remain of the mindset that it’s ultimately an untenable model. Eventually, as the App Store keeps growing, Apple is going to have to open it up more (maybe with “trusted” developers) or it will have to hire an absurd number of people just to check applications. Yes, Apple’s trusted ecosystem is important, but it’s not like they check every website in the world, which the iPhone can access.
[thanks Noah]