It has been nearly a month since I first uploaded version 1.7.2 to the iTunes application store and I have been going back and forth with Apple on icons. At first, they rejected it because the Mail icon was a trademarked icon and I couldn’t use it, so I changed that icon. Then they rejected it because the preferences and Safari icons were trademarked icons. Strange that you can’t use a preferences icon to go to preferences or a Safari icon to go to Safari, but I changed those too. Then they rejected it because the + icon in the hole scoring page was the same icon you use for adding contacts and that would confuse people. I’m not sure how that is the case, given that there is a minus icon on the other side and I doubt that anyone would think that the minus would delete a contact, but they asked me to change the color of it, so I made it darker (still blue, but a slightly darker shade. Now they rejected it again because they still think it will confuse people and they want it to be a different color – not blue. Each of these steps have taken between five and 12 days for them to get back to me and while I have sent emails to them in response, they have not responded to those mails.
Most of the icons they are complaining about have been there since version 1.0 so they were approved seven times previously but apparently they are now focusing on this.
On the plus side, I am making some great progress on version 2.0 while all of this is going on. I’ll post an update on what you can expect in that version in the coming weeks.
I know this is as frustrating for you as it is for me, particularly since some of the things that 1.7.2 fix are related to issues that came about when Apple shipped the latest iPhone OS but I am uploading it again, in hopes that my latest mail will get through and they are ok with this version.
-Chris
P.S. if anyone has been confused by the + icon on the hole scoring page, and thought that it would add a contact, please let me know.
Surely they’re not talking about the plusses down the right hand side you use to increase your score and putts etc are they? Why are Apple trying to work with the Lowest Common Denominator? Unfortunately Chris, Apple now seem to be incorporating the DCF into approved apps. That’s a special factor for dumb people.
By: Watty on January 8, 2009
at 11:31 pm
I purchased TeeShotLive after I had purchased GolfCard because GolfCard had so many bugs and erased my rounds. I liked the completeness of TeeShotLive. As I anxiously await for the update, I have noticed about 3 updates of GolfCard. Seems a bit fishy that Apple keeps denying your updates while the GolfCard app has had multiple updates since December.
By: Noel on January 9, 2009
at 3:14 am
Yep Watty, those are the icons. Instead of the pretty blue, you will find them much grayer in the next release. Having changed every icon Apple has complained about so far, I’m hopeful that this release will actually get out, well, soon!
By: teeshotlive on January 9, 2009
at 9:09 am
yes chris, everytime i hit the + icon in the scoring page, i was expecting to be able to add a new contact to my address book instead of adding a stoke to my score. and when i was in the address book, i wasn’t sure if the + sign there would add a new contact, or add strokes to a round in teeshot. i was really confu-sed………..sure glad apple is looking out for “special” folks like me
By: Eric on January 9, 2009
at 9:37 am
I was actually wondering where all the empty contacts came from, now I know!
By: Jonny8 on January 9, 2009
at 11:04 am
I have played 6 rounds in the last 8days and it’s been spot on every round thanks chris.dave n.zealand
By: dave c on January 11, 2009
at 2:15 pm
What’s going on? Surely it hasn’t been knocked back again???
By: Watty on January 13, 2009
at 8:26 am
Not yet, it is still in review.
By: teeshotlive on January 13, 2009
at 9:05 am
Still?
By: Watty on January 15, 2009
at 4:11 am
taking forever..
By: Mike on January 15, 2009
at 10:30 pm
Any update Chris?
I must check the App Store 15 times a day hoping that the new version will suddenly appear. It’s actually getting quite ridiculous!
By: Watty on January 16, 2009
at 4:46 am
It is still in the queue. Waiting… Waiting…
By: teeshotlive on January 16, 2009
at 9:09 am
You must be close to pulling your hair out Chris.
I don’t think it’s just you who they are messing with. I’ve got a lot of apps on my phone and could guarantee there would be at least one update to apply a day. Don’t think I’ve had an update in 2 weeks now.
Westy
By: westy on January 18, 2009
at 9:54 am
I got my sixth rejection on Friday. Now they are complaining that my new search icon is confusing (it is a magnifying glass – the universal icon for search on the internet) and they want an account on USHandicap.com so they can test the upload.
Coming up with entirely new reasons each time I submit an application is unacceptable and I will be trying to contact Apple on Monday by phone. In my opinion, they are being completely unprofessional.
-Chris
By: teeshotlive on January 18, 2009
at 11:07 am
Don’t worry Chris, your app is still the best out there, even in the current version
By: Jonny8 on January 19, 2009
at 11:56 am
Hey Chris. I sent them a nasty email reminding them that paying customers are getting pissed off with their unreasonable behaviour.
Please keep us in the loop if you continue to get grief from them.
By: Rob on January 19, 2009
at 5:11 pm
Chris, I agree. What they are doing by coming up with entirely NEW reasons for rejecting the update is EXTREMELY unprofessional. Apple app reviewers are coming off looking like complete incompetent idiots. If anything, they should have had a list of items for which they rejected the update with the understanding that once the list of issues have been resolved, that the update would go through. However, for them to come up with new reasons to reject for the same update is not acceptable on their part. I am curious though, if it is the same reviewer who is doing this. If so, apple should look into what ulterior motive this individual might have for torpedoing your update.
By: Eric on January 19, 2009
at 10:01 pm
Chris, might also be worth posting on the apple developers forums to see if others have the same problem and then try to see if you can get some support from there to go to apple.
Also, a Eric says this is completely unprofessional on their behalf. I’ll also write to them.
The least they could do is publish the acceptance criteria to developers so you can pre-check your app.
By: Westy on January 20, 2009
at 11:00 am
could you post the an email address for the apple store reviewers? I would like to convey to them my disappointment in their performance. And I may per chance invite them to extracate their heads from their lower posteriors.
By: bill on January 20, 2009
at 11:33 pm
Thanks Bill
The challenge is that they don’t actually have a supported way to contact them, and I never get the name of the reviewer I am working with, so it is kind of a black hole. I called Apple developer services on Monday and they said they would call me back in a day or so, but I haven’t heard back yet. I’ll try again tomorrow.
-Chris
By: teeshotlive on January 21, 2009
at 12:28 am
Nothing yet ?
By: Mike on January 24, 2009
at 10:35 pm
Hi Chris,
I find Teeshot a great little App. and use it for all my rounds now. I’ve uploaded a few courses to the website too. A suggestion – can you arrange that it can import and update e-mail addresses for players from the Contact List?
It would ensure that the current addresses are always available to the application.
I have not uploaded red tees on any of the courses (Ladies tees) because the Par and the Index are frequently different, and it cannot be easily done by duplicating the course and renaming tees.
By: Darach Corcoran on January 26, 2009
at 10:09 am
Any news yet chris. This is getting ridiculous!
Have you got any update on 2.0?
Good job chris
By: James on January 27, 2009
at 12:52 am
I uploaded the version again last Thursday including the new info that they requested. I haven’t heard from them yet. I also sent a few mails to them so hopefully we’ll hear back soon.
As for version 2.0 – great progress there and I’ll try to get my first post on the new stuff soon.
Darach, great suggestion on grabbing the latest email addresses. CourseBuilder makes it easy to copy tee sets so you can change handicaps and lengths for tees where they vary. It is a free download at http://www.teeshotlive.com/coursebuilder and is available for Mac and PC.
Enjoy!
-Chris
By: teeshotlive on January 27, 2009
at 9:03 am
Still nothing! I have a competitors GPS based product that has been updated 3 times since the original submission. WHAT IS GOING ON APPLE???
By: Watty on January 30, 2009
at 9:56 pm
Must be somekind of record by now!
By: Jackey on January 31, 2009
at 2:34 pm
Perhaps – you should just focus on version 2.0 from now on…
It looks as it won’t get any problems, when it is ready for upload – as it doesn’t use any known icons…
Looking forward to the next version…
However it has to be out soon, as I have read some reviews regarding other golfapps, they are closing up on Teeshot – primary because of the frequency of updates…
When do you plan to send the version 2.0 in beta?
By: Kasper on February 1, 2009
at 3:54 am
Very happy with your product.
Is there any way I can edit the date of the round? I have been trying to enter some old score cards and the date seems to be set on the day of entry.
Ian
By: Ian Pearson on March 18, 2009
at 3:50 am
Hi Ian,
Yes, go to Round Details and then tap Edit and you can edit the start and end time of the round.
-Chris
By: teeshotlive on March 18, 2009
at 8:29 am