There is constant criticism of the neutrality of Apple’s App Store: there is talk of a monopoly, participating companies complain about the high fees of 30%, others about the unequal treatment of very large companies, which only pay 15%, etc.
What often goes under the radar is the fact that Apple evaluates and reviews every app before it enters the App Store. So it’s like the ancient Romans: Thumbs up or thumbs down. The fact that Apple lets many apps pass that also drive children into a subscription trap is well known. After all, it pays off and where the money comes from doesn’t matter.
But Apple also seems to act very personally sometimes. Currently, an update to the app FlickType, a helpful keyboard app for the blind, is not Apple approved. As developer Kosta writes, Apple faults the app for needing full access to the system. However, according to the developer, this is not true at all. The same problem occurred three years ago. At that time, the test team was easily convinced with a test: they just had to start the app and it ran flawlessly. The test team probably does not want to go through the highly complex process of launching the app and therefore simply rejects it.
The developer has had enough, he now has 40 pages of rejections from Apple and gives up. A somehow understandable reaction.
It is important to know that Kosta has not been well disposed towards Apple for quite some time. For example, he criticizes many fraudulent apps that bring in a lot of money but harm people – but Apple lets the providers of these apps have their way. He also criticizes Apple for not taking enough action against scam apps, i.e. programs that steal the ideas of others. A lawsuit was even filed.
Whether Apple is acting out of an offended sense of honor, has an lazy test team, or is acting technically and morally impeccable is up to you. For the end customer, this means that another practical app will probably be lost.
