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Apple says apps that haven't been updated in two years will be "removed from sale"

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  • The only encouraging thing is this issue was widely reported on tech and gaming websites last week with universal criticism.

    So although Apple will do whatever they want, there's a lot of exposure. It's probably what lead apple to clarify and slightly relax the rules.

    https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/29/23049576/apple-outdated-apps-removal-extension-90-days

  • Is this all you need to do a safe backup?...

  • https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=gi6npkmf

    As part of the App Store Improvements process, developers of apps that have not been updated within the last three years and fail to meet a minimal download threshold — meaning the app has not been downloaded at all or extremely few times during a rolling 12 month period — receive an email notifying them that their app has been identified for possible removal from the App Store.

    Apple always wants to help developers get and keep quality software on the App Store. That’s why developers can appeal app removals. And developers, including those who recently received a notice, will now be given more time to update their apps if needed — up to 90 days. Apps that are removed will continue to function as normal for users who have already downloaded the app on their device.

  • @wim said:

    @NeonSilicon said:
    Interesting. Apple has updated (read changed) their policy statement in response to the blowback. https://developer.apple.com/support/app-store-improvements/

    The changes are that they've now given 90 days to update the app and they've added to the details that will cause an app to be tagged for removal.

    Apple:
    Developers of apps that have not been updated within the last three years and fail to meet a minimal download threshold — meaning the app has not been downloaded at all or extremely few times during a rolling 12 month period — receive an email notifying them that their app has been identified for possible removal from the App Store.

    That seems reasonable, and like it makes more sense as far as their goals go too.

    I agree. I would like a bit more specificity on what a "minimal download threshold" is. But, this is a much more sane way to state the policy.

  • @MadGav said:

    @NeonSilicon said:
    Interesting. Apple has updated (read changed) their policy statement in response to the blowback. https://developer.apple.com/support/app-store-improvements/

    The changes are that they've now given 90 days to update the app and they've added to the details that will cause an app to be tagged for removal.

    Apple:
    Developers of apps that have not been updated within the last three years and fail to meet a minimal download threshold — meaning the app has not been downloaded at all or extremely few times during a rolling 12 month period — receive an email notifying them that their app has been identified for possible removal from the App Store.

    That’s a really significant change - and clearly excludes stable apps such as yours. Why Apple failed to think this through first, who knows, almost feels like click-baiting…

    Yeah, they are probably all safe for a couple of years. The thing that would concern me if I were trying to make a living on this would be keeping older products in peoples' awareness. For smaller apps, the attention cycle pushes towards making more apps and not spending too much time on older apps. The new apps get the airtime on YT.

    The thing that had me the most nervous with the original announcement was the thought that when they do the app review of an AU, they're going to reject a good chunk of them almost randomly because the container app part doesn't provide enough function. That's where the appeals process comes in and it's a pain because they don't ever seem to train the reviewers on music apps.

  • @NeuM said:

    @NeonSilicon said:

    @NeuM said:

    @espiegel123 said:

    @NeuM said:

    @espiegel123 said:
    @el_bo : the underlying issues with the App Store ecosystem can't really be solved without changes on Apple's part. Buy once, get free updates forever is a formidable problem. A few developers are trying to workaround that system and time will tell if their efforts end up being workable. It is why on desktop, very few major music software developers make their software available in the App Store.

    Fred Anton Corvest makes his plugins available through the desktop App Store. These are desktop-only versions of his apps.

    Moog makes theirs available through the App Store (few music companies are more prestigious than them).

    I could go on, but the point is “very few” is an odd assertion.

    That is a relatively small number of apps. Look at the big names — the most critical players in desktop music: Native Instruments, Ableton, etc

    Ableton Live, Logic Pro and ProTools are the top 3 used DAWs, so the fact that the #2 DAW is Logic Pro should strongly influence developers and any decision they make to include their software in the App Store.

    Apple eats Logic Pro as a loss leader. They don't have to make money off of it because it helps to make the platform and ecosystem more attractive to a big chunk of their prosumer user base. It's the same thing for Final Cut. Having these two priced where they are makes a Mac look two, three, four, or five hundred $ less expensive to a bunch of their customers. It's why they can be dropped into the purchase of a new Mac.

    You're right about that. People who've fretted for years about whether Apple could remain committed to the Mac market need only see this chart to have their 'worst fears confirmed'. LOL.

    Source: https://sixcolors.com/post/2022/04/apple-q2-2022-results-a-record-97-billion-quarter/

    But it is the Mac market that Apple needs to maintain in order to feed their App Store golden goose with everything it needs to stay golden.

    Yes, but that chart didn't look so good for the Mac a couple of years ago. They've always made Apple good bunch of cash though.

    My response when anyone tells me they are going to kill the Mac is that you'll know it's true when they port Xcode to Windows.

  • wimwim
    edited April 2022

    @NeonSilicon said:

    @NeuM said:

    @NeonSilicon said:

    @NeuM said:

    @espiegel123 said:

    @NeuM said:

    @espiegel123 said:
    @el_bo : the underlying issues with the App Store ecosystem can't really be solved without changes on Apple's part. Buy once, get free updates forever is a formidable problem. A few developers are trying to workaround that system and time will tell if their efforts end up being workable. It is why on desktop, very few major music software developers make their software available in the App Store.

    Fred Anton Corvest makes his plugins available through the desktop App Store. These are desktop-only versions of his apps.

    Moog makes theirs available through the App Store (few music companies are more prestigious than them).

    I could go on, but the point is “very few” is an odd assertion.

    That is a relatively small number of apps. Look at the big names — the most critical players in desktop music: Native Instruments, Ableton, etc

    Ableton Live, Logic Pro and ProTools are the top 3 used DAWs, so the fact that the #2 DAW is Logic Pro should strongly influence developers and any decision they make to include their software in the App Store.

    Apple eats Logic Pro as a loss leader. They don't have to make money off of it because it helps to make the platform and ecosystem more attractive to a big chunk of their prosumer user base. It's the same thing for Final Cut. Having these two priced where they are makes a Mac look two, three, four, or five hundred $ less expensive to a bunch of their customers. It's why they can be dropped into the purchase of a new Mac.

    You're right about that. People who've fretted for years about whether Apple could remain committed to the Mac market need only see this chart to have their 'worst fears confirmed'. LOL.

    Source: https://sixcolors.com/post/2022/04/apple-q2-2022-results-a-record-97-billion-quarter/

    But it is the Mac market that Apple needs to maintain in order to feed their App Store golden goose with everything it needs to stay golden.

    Yes, but that chart didn't look so good for the Mac a couple of years ago. They've always made Apple good bunch of cash though.

    My response when anyone tells me they are going to kill the Mac is that you'll know it's true when they port Xcode to Windows.

    😂
    Do you ever get "But ... Xcode is coming along with Logic to iOS at WWDC this year!" in response?

  • @wim said:

    @NeonSilicon said:

    @NeuM said:

    @NeonSilicon said:

    @NeuM said:

    @espiegel123 said:

    @NeuM said:

    @espiegel123 said:
    @el_bo : the underlying issues with the App Store ecosystem can't really be solved without changes on Apple's part. Buy once, get free updates forever is a formidable problem. A few developers are trying to workaround that system and time will tell if their efforts end up being workable. It is why on desktop, very few major music software developers make their software available in the App Store.

    Fred Anton Corvest makes his plugins available through the desktop App Store. These are desktop-only versions of his apps.

    Moog makes theirs available through the App Store (few music companies are more prestigious than them).

    I could go on, but the point is “very few” is an odd assertion.

    That is a relatively small number of apps. Look at the big names — the most critical players in desktop music: Native Instruments, Ableton, etc

    Ableton Live, Logic Pro and ProTools are the top 3 used DAWs, so the fact that the #2 DAW is Logic Pro should strongly influence developers and any decision they make to include their software in the App Store.

    Apple eats Logic Pro as a loss leader. They don't have to make money off of it because it helps to make the platform and ecosystem more attractive to a big chunk of their prosumer user base. It's the same thing for Final Cut. Having these two priced where they are makes a Mac look two, three, four, or five hundred $ less expensive to a bunch of their customers. It's why they can be dropped into the purchase of a new Mac.

    You're right about that. People who've fretted for years about whether Apple could remain committed to the Mac market need only see this chart to have their 'worst fears confirmed'. LOL.

    Source: https://sixcolors.com/post/2022/04/apple-q2-2022-results-a-record-97-billion-quarter/

    But it is the Mac market that Apple needs to maintain in order to feed their App Store golden goose with everything it needs to stay golden.

    Yes, but that chart didn't look so good for the Mac a couple of years ago. They've always made Apple good bunch of cash though.

    My response when anyone tells me they are going to kill the Mac is that you'll know it's true when they port Xcode to Windows.

    😂
    Do you ever get "But ... Xcode is coming along with Logic to iOS at WWDC this year!" in response?

    :smiley: No, but if they allow LLVM and the command line components from Xcode on the iPad I promise I'll stop whining about the App Store.

  • @NeonSilicon said:
    Interesting. Apple has updated (read changed) their policy statement in response to the blowback. https://developer.apple.com/support/app-store-improvements/

    The changes are that they've now given 90 days to update the app and they've added to the details that will cause an app to be tagged for removal.

    Apple:
    Developers of apps that have not been updated within the last three years and fail to meet a minimal download threshold — meaning the app has not been downloaded at all or extremely few times during a rolling 12 month period — receive an email notifying them that their app has been identified for possible removal from the App Store.

    That makes a lot more sense!

    Now quick, go download my Sector and Bitwiz Audio Synth! ;)

  • @j_liljedahl said:

    @NeonSilicon said:
    Interesting. Apple has updated (read changed) their policy statement in response to the blowback. https://developer.apple.com/support/app-store-improvements/

    The changes are that they've now given 90 days to update the app and they've added to the details that will cause an app to be tagged for removal.

    Apple:
    Developers of apps that have not been updated within the last three years and fail to meet a minimal download threshold — meaning the app has not been downloaded at all or extremely few times during a rolling 12 month period — receive an email notifying them that their app has been identified for possible removal from the App Store.

    That makes a lot more sense!

    Now quick, go download my Sector and Bitwiz Audio Synth! ;)

    Makes me think that running about 18 month periodic sales and promotion cycles would be a good tactic. Maybe I should write an app for developers that tracks your app update history and sends you a notification when it's time to run a promotion. I wonder if Apple would approve that one.

  • What's stopping developers from just adding arbitrary legacy updates every 2 years, with nothing changed except for a changelog that says 'f apple [current year]'

  • @0tolerance4silence said:
    They will approve and 2 years later notify you that it’s about to be removed because not enough devs left / downloads to trigger their threshold :D

    Good point. I think I'll have to write my new app for the Mac instead ;).

  • @sclurbs said:
    What's stopping developers from just adding arbitrary legacy updates every 2 years, with nothing changed except for a changelog that says 'f apple [current year]'

    At the very least, you have to update the version number. The submission requires that. And, that means you have to do a new archive build to submit. There's also the point that there is a cryptographic hash for the components of the build that is generated during the signing process. That would make anything that didn't have any changes obvious. To get a new submission through doesn't take a big change. The last update I did of LRC5 was just changing the name of one parameter that I had accidentally made a duplicate of another parameter. That small change was enough and went through fine. It was a real bug though.

  • wimwim
    edited May 2022

    @sclurbs said:
    What's stopping developers from just adding arbitrary legacy updates every 2 years, with nothing changed except for a changelog that says 'f apple [current year]'

    There are several posts upthread addressing this if you care to hunt them down. Short answer: it isn't always as simple as that. Even recompiling an unchanged app after a couple of years can have complications due to a number of factors.

  • @NeonSilicon said:

    @j_liljedahl said:

    @NeonSilicon said:
    Interesting. Apple has updated (read changed) their policy statement in response to the blowback. https://developer.apple.com/support/app-store-improvements/

    The changes are that they've now given 90 days to update the app and they've added to the details that will cause an app to be tagged for removal.

    Apple:
    Developers of apps that have not been updated within the last three years and fail to meet a minimal download threshold — meaning the app has not been downloaded at all or extremely few times during a rolling 12 month period — receive an email notifying them that their app has been identified for possible removal from the App Store.

    That makes a lot more sense!

    Now quick, go download my Sector and Bitwiz Audio Synth! ;)

    Makes me think that running about 18 month periodic sales and promotion cycles would be a good tactic. Maybe I should write an app for developers that tracks your app update history and sends you a notification when it's time to run a promotion. I wonder if Apple would approve that one.

    This is a really good idea man. do it! if you are prolific in coding this could possibly be done in swift alone on an ipad lol.... OR, devs could write a shortcut on their ipad that adds a calendar reminder in 16 months give or take that its time to do a little upkeep and promotion lol shrug still an app specifically for that might be cool i wonder if you could get apple to endorse it as their official 'Quality Software Calendar App for Developers' since apples mission isnt $$$, no no no ye of little faith and much cynacism, in their own words "Apple always wants to help developers get and keep quality software on the App Store" so quote back their own words to them when you pitch the app to them.

    idk how any dev copyrighting or patenting works but try to get ownership of the idea and the app name before you pitch it to apple so they dont just steal it...

  • SO, EVERYBODY, ARE THERE ANY APPS WE NEED TO HURRY AND GET BEFORE THEY ARE REMOVED?

  • If you get them, they won’t be removed.

  • wimwim
    edited May 2022

    @pr4y_4_beats said:
    SO, EVERYBODY, ARE THERE ANY APPS WE NEED TO HURRY AND GET BEFORE THEY ARE REMOVED?

    There's no way anyone here could know that unless they're a developer that has heard from Apple. Even if we made a list of apps that haven't been updated for three years, we wouldn't know if they were below the download threshold, and we would have no way of knowing if the developer would update the apps to prevent that happening if they were notified.

    Besides ... why would anyone buy an app that they didn't already want just because it could disappear from sale?? And, if an app did disappear from sale, there's also a much higher probability that it will be removed entirely at some point by the developer removing it or letting their yearly developer fee lapse. If removed in that fashion, then it's not even available any longer in your purchased items.

    ARE WE REALLY GONNA PANIC OVER A HANDFUL OF OLD AND NO LONGER UPDATED APPS? ;) B)

    Disclaimer: I've had my FOMO vaccine and all booster shots. ymmv

  • @Tarekith said:
    If you get them, they won’t be removed.

    Yep.

  • @NeonSilicon said: Maybe I should write an app for developers that tracks your app update history and sends you a notification when it's time to run a promotion.

    I'd buy that for a $ :smile:

  • The ruling update makes more sense but that was a big PR cockup from Apple, but it's good that they do respond to criticism :)
    All those people building cases against App store monopoly will be much more optimistic now though.

  • edited May 2022

    @NeonSilicon said:

    @sclurbs said:
    What's stopping developers from just adding arbitrary legacy updates every 2 years, with nothing changed except for a changelog that says 'f apple [current year]'

    At the very least, you have to update the version number. The submission requires that. And, that means you have to do a new archive build to submit. There's also the point that there is a cryptographic hash for the components of the build that is generated during the signing process. That would make anything that didn't have any changes obvious. To get a new submission through doesn't take a big change. The last update I did of LRC5 was just changing the name of one parameter that I had accidentally made a duplicate of another parameter. That small change was enough and went through fine. It was a real bug though.

    Have a 1 character length label with the font color set to your app’s background color, and the text set to “.”. Place it in the very bottom left position of your screen.

    When you then need to refresh the app, change that label’s text to “,” or whatever.

    Then when you recompile to obtain the new version number then the hash will be different.

    That would got you over the hash problem, no? Or is that too simplistic? I’m a dev but not an Apple app dev so have no experience of their submission and review processes.

    If “.” would be too obvious a bs value for a label to the reviewer, maybe “Frequency Cutoff” as that sounds a legit value, just change it to “lfo rate” or whatever when an app refresh is required. No user is ever going to actually see it and as a label if they accidentally clicked it then nothing’s going to happen.

  • I worked for a company (thank gawd I don't anymore...) that constantly wanted to update the App Store description for their apps which also requires a new build to be uploaded. Literally all I was changing were the version numbers and they got through review every single time.

  • @moodscaper said:
    I worked for a company (thank gawd I don't anymore...) that constantly wanted to update the App Store description for their apps which also requires a new build to be uploaded. Literally all I was changing were the version numbers and they got through review every single time.

    Were they fishing for descriptions that would get more hits? Or, was it part of a marketing strategy to keep the apps more visible in the store?

    That confirms at least that a submission with no changes to the executable can get through. So, my tactic is going to be that once a year I'm doing a release that has the release notes of "No changes, building against latest SDK."

  • edited May 2022

    @NeonSilicon said: Were they fishing for descriptions that would get more hits? Or, was it part of a marketing strategy to keep the apps more visible in the store?

    To be honest, I had no clue what they were trying to accomplish, and I suspect neither did they. It's pretty much why I left :smile:

    But yeah, something like Updating to latest SDKs sounds good to me too. And I guess the longer you leave re-building with new Xcode versions, the more painful it is. Once a year doesn't sound too bad...

  • @NeonSilicon said:
    That confirms at least that a submission with no changes to the executable can get through. So, my tactic is going to be that once a year I'm doing a release that has the release notes of "No changes, building against latest SDK."

    worked for me (dev with app targeted by Apple death ray)

  • @afterparrot said:

    @NeonSilicon said:
    That confirms at least that a submission with no changes to the executable can get through. So, my tactic is going to be that once a year I'm doing a release that has the release notes of "No changes, building against latest SDK."

    worked for me (dev with app targeted by Apple death ray)

    Nice! It's good to hear you were able to get your app through the process.

  • @moodscaper said:

    @NeonSilicon said: Were they fishing for descriptions that would get more hits? Or, was it part of a marketing strategy to keep the apps more visible in the store?

    To be honest, I had no clue what they were trying to accomplish, and I suspect neither did they. It's pretty much why I left :smile:

    But yeah, something like Updating to latest SDKs sounds good to me too. And I guess the longer you leave re-building with new Xcode versions, the more painful it is. Once a year doesn't sound too bad...

    Building against latest iOS SDK is a reasonable reason to update an app. Apple might fix bugs in the newer SDKs, and other improvements. For example there was one (14.5 perhaps?) where they added support for the display aspect ratio of the new iPad Mini. Apps built with older SDKs got a black border on the sides. Unfortunately they also dropped support for macOS Catalina, which meant I had to upgrade my macOS. Unfortunately my mac was too old to support the next macOS version, so I also had to order a new mac first! (This can serve as an example of how it can indeed be complicated to just recompile an app with latest xcode)

  • edited May 2022

    As a developer myself, I can empathize with the frustrating changes to the policies, but as a customer, I do not feel as strongly against the policy.

    I already scan the last updated date before buying an app, and it was frustrating to see so many apps being sold for 20-50$ after no updates for over 4 years. The last updated date is a major part of my decision to buy or not, already, although it is quite possible the dev just updated the version number.

    At this point, the App Store feels like it is filled with abandonware that is still monetized - not a great look from a customer’s perspective.

    It’s not very customer friendly to gamble money on apps on the off-chance that the dev released a golden stable version of the app 4 years ago that still works today.

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