Apple Easing Up On App Rejections?

Either Apple's app reviewers are in the holiday spirit, or this is a sign of good things to come.  According to AppleInsider, Apple approved an update to developer Vimov's iSimulate app even though it was using a private API, something that has always, and still is, against the company's rules. Under normal circumstances, and in recent past, Apple's reviewers would reject an update, or an app in general, that contained a non-public API.  This time, however, Vimov's update was approved even with the non-public API still intact.  It's not as if Apple's reviewers missed the inclusion of the API, it's that they decided to give the developers a chance to remove it in the next update while still allowing the updated version of the app to remain in the App Store.

Thank you for submitting your update to iSimulate to the App Store. During our review of your application we found it is using a private API, which is in violation of the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement section 3.3.1; "3.3.1 Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs." While your application has not been rejected, it would be appropriate to resolve this issue in your next update. The non-public API that is included in your application is UITouch._touchFlags. Please resolve this issue in your next update to iSimulate.

Apple's reviewers have been known to reject apps over the most minute oversights, so this is definitely a surprise.  This approach allows stable and necessary updates to be issued even though a small mistake has been made. Vimov is obviously thrilled that the update made it through the process even with the non-public API, and they intend to address the issue in their next update, just as Apple has asked. In related news, we recently received a tip from Wolfgang Dahmen regarding the use of Apple-owned icons in iPhone apps. Apparently iNet Pro - Network Scanner was recently updated with icons that look identical to Apple products, something the company has frowned upon in the past.  Maybe Apple is finally easing up on some of its ridiculous restrictions and it isn't just holiday spirit after all!

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