The iTunes App Store. 5 fails. 5 solutions. 5 minutes.

The iTunes App Store
5 fails. 5 solutions. 5 minutes.
Matt Mayer, ReignDesign (@matthewmayer)
Mobile Mondays, 2009.06.29

The review process

A few adjectives
Slow
Inconsistent
Opaque
Subjective

Seven hundred Quidditch fouls are listed in the Department of Magical Games and Sports records… The full list of these fouls, however, has never been made available to the wizarding public. It is the Department's view that witches and wizards who see the list ‘might get ideas’
J.K. Rowling, QuidditchThrough the Ages

Reasons for rejection:
“duplicates built-in functionality”
“potentially offensive content”
“use of Apple trademarks”
“beta software”
“logos don’t match”
“undocumented API”
….

What can you do about it?
Read the rules (written and unwritten)
Make a fuss
Iterate

No sales metrics

Who is using my app?
How did they
find my app?
Which countries?
Which devices?
Which versions?
Which features?
Which times of day?
Searching in iTunes?
Related Apps?
Advertising?
Review sites?

Use your own download page
Roll your own metrics
Use third-party metrics
Survey your users

iTunes Connect

SORRY, YOU’RE NOT SADISTIC ENOUGH TO DESIGN THE ITUNES CONNECT INTERFACE

iTunes Connect UX fails
Slow response times
Poor usability for common tasks
Breaks the Back button

Heartbeat (heartbeatapp.com)
Pre-register your apps

No protection for your IP

Complain to Apple
Fight fire with fire

Payment structure

Get paid here
Earn here

The territories scam
You need to hit $250 in each territory

Create an app pipeline
Identify your core markets

Thanks!