iOS version of OGX.Demo update delayed
2020-02-21
Due to factors out of our control, we cannot update the showcase app in the itunes store. Despite having released an initial version without issue, we are now unable to make updates to it. Apple is refusing to let us update this app, using a loop hole in their guidelines.
After a lot of back and forth with their revue team, they have finally revealed to us that they wanted to see more "interactivity" such as a sandbox, which is way out of scope and not really programmable due to the inter-related nature of templates, css classes, json datasets and OML objects. Nevermind that you can draw in it or chat using the sub-apps integrated in this app, they even haven't went that far in the discovery of the app.
The original trigger was caused by the title of the app (OGX.JS Demo) that had the review team use the 2.2 guideline about performance that states that one cannot publish to the app store a demo, beta or trial of an app, which it is not. Even after renaming the app, the update is still rejected. We have argued that the naming was wrong and that the app is indeed a final version.
From our point of view, it is simply because Apple did not wish to admit they were wrong about their decision as they did not even understand and respect their own guidelines. Now they are asking us to do more work instead of just admitting their mistake, just for a simple update. The iOS version is now desynchronized from the other platforms.
So we will looking to add more "interactivity" despite being completely out of scope of the reason why we built this showcase in the first place: we only wanted to demonstrate that the performances are incredible and that OML is a fairly easy markup language to learn.
We will keep on updating the web and Android versions until we have new features that would hopefully satisfy the Apple's review team. Let is serve as a reminder for our clients that it is always better to go live with a small product/MVP because you never know if your hard work and vision will die in the hands of the review team.