iSpell Casa

The day after an update to iSpell Casa that Apple never tested got approved I submitted the new one fixing in-app purchase downloads. That was on Oct. 21. For almost a month Apple didn't even look at the app, rather on Nov. 19 "blanket rejected" iSpell Casa with other apps that similarly were pending review for 2+ weeks. The update was resubmitted next day - Nov 20. This time around Apple did test in-app purchases on Dec 07 and approved the app next day. All in all the update was in review for 48 days. With no incentives to release updates to apps buried behind a pile of crap-ware it is to be seen if there would be new updates to iSpell apart from the ones already in the pipeline.

9 days later iSpell Casa scored the first in app purchase and yet another 9 days later another one (both were for "Inizio"). On 12/24 there was another in app-purchase. This time for "Animali". All in all 3 in app-purchases from 3 different devices in 3 weeks on what seems to be 5 updates and 2 new purchases.

14 Puzzle (competition edition)

On Oct 15, 2009 Apple permitted in App purchases for free applications. Next day, i.e. Oct 16, 2009 I've submitted in-app purchase activation for "competition edition" of 14 Puzzle. 3 weeks later on Nov. 4th 2009 Apple send an email apologizing that in 3 weeks they didn't have time to look at my applications. In-app purchase receipts are logged on my server, so I could see when Apple is testing. Clearly around late Oct. - early Nov. Apple didn't have means to test in-app purchases, so they let some (early) applications in without testing and blocked review of the most. 14 Puzzle (competition edition) fate was to be blocked and be "blanket rejected" with other totally unrelated apps on Nov. 19, 2009.

After coming to their senses Apple finally let application in on Dec. 8, 2009 making 14 Puzzle (competition edition) the winner in "Magiecom app longest in the review" contest at 53 days in review.

Clearly word FREE is a key for freeloaders. Unlike 14 Puzzle FREE that cleared 602 and 1833 downloads in the first two weeks, 14 Puzzle competition edition being identical application did just 379 and 157 downloads before dropping to average 100/week for free application.

Eighteen

From the start my experience with Apple from Canadian side (as in Magiecom) was pretty bad (compared to Objectorium from US side). By the fall of 2009 I had enough of it and decided to eventually fold my relationship with Apple from Canada and move all Magiecom applications over to Objectorium.

Eighteen is US re-release of Magiecom's 18 Puzzle.

As expected releasing from US label was far better then releasing from Canadian. App went into review on Nov 20. and came out on Dec 7. Absolutely no "45 days in review" bullshit.

iDrill

Being overwhelmed Apple switched tactics by early December. Instead of "blanket rejecting" application pending for too long they started allowing applications referencing non-public APIs asking not to do it later on. iDrill Mí and iDrill Me was submitted for review on 10/21/09, got "blanket rejected" on 11/19/09, resubmitted on 11/20/09 and approved on 12/04/09. 44 days in review - not a record by 2009 standards. In-app purchases were tested by Apple on 12/02/09... hmm twice from two different devices.

iSpell Mé

An update to iSpell Mé adding in app-purchases of new lessons was submitted for review on 10/18/09. Apple didn't even look at the app, rather on Nov. 19 Apple "blanket rejected" iSpell Mé with other apps that similarly were pending review for over 2 weeks. (In-app purchase receipts are logged on my server, so I could see when Apple is testing. There was no receipts for iSpell Mé logged). The update was resubmitted next day - Nov 20. This time around Apple did test in-app purchases on Dec 01 and approved the app next day. All in all the update was in review for 45 days making it the second longest review process.

In a month there was no in-app purchases from iSpell Mé and just 2 updates. Is there a reason to release updates to apps buried under a pile of crap-ware?

18 Puzzle (competition edition)

After being stuck in review since late October finally on Nov. 30th an update to "18 Puzzle (competition edition)" made it to the App Store and allowed to activate full version from within the app. 45 days in review was only possible thanks to me rejecting and re-uploading the binary on Nov. 17th, thus saving the app from Apple "blanket rejection" by putting it at the end of review queue and giving Apple some time to come to their senses.

An update to FREE app doing about 100 downloads a week (in Nov. up from about 50 a week thru summer till November and 250 down to 100 a month back in the spring) didn't increase number of downloads and cleared about 235 updates first week, 73 - 2nd and 25/week there after).

Hex

Being pissed at Apple for rejecting Magiecom apps in bulk for bogus reason on Nov 19. I decided to game itunesconnect a bit and hopefully push an update to front page. Judging by updates that made it to front page after Apple closed release date loophole the trick is to fool itunesconnect to accept 1.0 as application version. Version Number is a text field after all that is unrelated to BundleVersion in Info.plist. So on Nov 20. an update to Hex bringing score panel went was submitted as Version 1.0 and as with all Objectorium apps (and unlike Magiecom apps against which Apple discriminates) made thru review in 7 days. Unfortunately, release date didn't stick and app never made it to front page again.