The app store has a dirty little secret. Could it be that there’s a double standard on approvals of app store apps? Are large developers getting preferential treatment over small developers? Here’s an example that makes the case for app biases on the app store.
At the same time Facebook released its location feature for its mobile app, I’m following a little daily task to-do application called EpicWin. Because of bugs in the app, Facebook had to push out several updates to its app over the course of a couple of days. At the same time, the EpicWin developer, a single-man shop working on this great little fun app to keep track of your to-do items, submits an update to the Epic Win app to Apple. Then, funny things started going on with the app approval process over at Apple.
Thursday, August 19 – The EpicWin iPhone application was released to the Apple App store. EpicWin is a great to-do list application (with an RPG twist) but like most new apps it was not without a few minor bugs.
Friday, August 20 – Early this morning the EpicWin developer declared on Facebook that the bugs had been fixed and the app had been sent to Apple for approval.
Monday, August 23 – No EpicWin app approval.
The funny things start happening.
Tuesday, August 24 – No EpicWin app approval.
Wednesday, August 25 – No EpicWin app approval.
Thursday, August 26 – No EpicWin app approval. App APPROVED this evening! (finally…)
On the other hand…
Thursday, August 19 – Facebook released v3.2.0 of it’s iPhone application complete with Places integration for US users (booo!).
Friday, August 20 – An update, Facebook v3.2.1 is available for download, not a bad turnaround presuming the build was submitted after 19th August.
Monday, August 23 – Yet another Facebook update, this time build v3.2.2!
EpicWin = small developer, 1 release, 0 updates in 3 business days.
Facebook = big developer, 1 release, 2 updates in 3 business days.
Is there a double standard for app approvals? Does the app store have a dirty little secret?
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