August 13, 2008
iTunes Store Not Made For Apps :: Here is Why
Scroll down to the bottom, if you do not want to read this, I have a request for you at the end.
As many of you know, we have been busy building out a version 1.5 for Apple's approval. Version 1.5 had added features, including an added version of text, Minyainim database, Jewish Calendar and more.
So when we submitted version 1.5 to Apple, we had to update our meta description in the iTunes store to reflect that version. The problem is, Apple showed that description on the version 1.0 download. The problem is, Apple doesn't have a way to say, show this description for version 1.5 and this description for 1.0. So, what I did was put a note in the description that certain features are coming soon in the next version. Here is a screen capture:
Not only that, we have placed a version info page on the RB site, showing feature by feature, with date submitted, approved and published to Apple. The way people can find this page is by either going into the Siddur in their iPhone and clicking on the "More" tab. Or they can click from the iTunes Store on the Support button, as shown here:
When uploading a new version to iTunes Connect, Apple does not give you a way to submit a new description for just that app. At least, not currently. Maybe they will soon. So when we submitted the new app description, we did so based on the version we just uploaded to Apple, stating that some features are FREE in the next version. So almost a week later, it still sits in review:
So, that leaves some consumers angry. They say, I paid for all the features and I only got X. Not fair!!! I don't blame them for being upset. All I can do is do what I have done before, be as detailed as possible about what the versions have and do not have.
Here is one of the first bad reviews we got. Not that he didn't like the product, but more like he thought I was lying to him.
What can I do? If he emailed me or called me or read the description fully, or even clicked on the support link, he would have learned right away that version 1.5 is being reviewed by Apple and should be available any day. But he did not, and we got a bad review.
Can you help me? Yes. :) If you like, go to the iTunes Store and rate the Siddur app for us. :) You do not need to buy it, which is another limitation. Why? Because people are reviewing the price and not the product, saying it is too expensive, it should be free and then giving us a bad rating. I won't argue with that, but it shows you can review the app without buying it. If that is the case, feel free to go to rustybrick.com/iphone/siddur/get, it will open up iTunes, to the Siddur and you can create your own five star review for us. If you want. :)
