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0 pointsmrighele5y ago0 comments

> App stores can't spend too many hours on each app because there's tons of them,

In this specific case it seems they didn't even spend one minute, since the app is not working. If at Apple they don't have the resource to at least try to open every app (I doubt it, they are swimming in cash), they could at least find a way to decide which apps to test first, like complaints from other developers, reviews telling that the app is a scam etc.

0 comments

valuearb5y ago

The app was working, during review. Then once approved its behavior changed and the scam started.

This is trivial to implement and done by many developers.

stevehawk5y ago

Apple doesn't approve each release of an app?

valuearb5y ago

They do, but in these cases the binary never changed. A value returned to it from a web API changed, or a date passed, or the users are outside of Cupertino, etc.

1 more reply

shinycode5y ago

When I first published my app, they asked for a video of video fully working. Then once I had a bug and they sent me a video of it with the steps to the bug. So there are definitely people opening and testing apps

phreack5y ago

Yeah, same here, the only explanation I can think of is that the scammers have someone on the inside approving these fake apps.

valuearb5y ago

No, the reviewers never see the scam screens. Once approved the scammers change a setting in the cloud and the app starts opening in scam mode.

1 more reply

tmp5383947225y ago

The more boring reason: some review employees are bad at their job

2 more replies

ndiddy5y ago

Or the app talks to a remote server so it works normally during the review period, but after the app gets approved the author changes a flag on the server and the app changes to "scam mode".

ballenf5y ago

And this is another example of why Apple is too focused on short-term profit over long-term user experience. I think we all know that the app reviewer's top priority is making sure the monetization strategies in the app are "compliant".

Whether it works or not probably won't get you fired as an app reviewer. But miss some IAP workaround that an app is using and I'd bet it could be your job.

ninth_ant5y ago

You’re exactly correct and is why Apple should be taking action on this problem — it’s in their long-term self interest to do so.

Having customers distrust their App Store is really bad for them in the long run, and would be a competitive advantage over Google if their store was less crammed with garbage.

As it stands now, I usually find apps by looking for solid reviews outside of the App Store app, and am very wary about purchasing anything.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

valuearb5y ago

The app was working, during review. Then once approved its behavior changed and the scam started.

This is trivial to implement and done by many developers.

stevehawk5y ago

Apple doesn't approve each release of an app?

valuearb5y ago

They do, but in these cases the binary never changed. A value returned to it from a web API changed, or a date passed, or the users are outside of Cupertino, etc.

1 more reply

shinycode5y ago

phreack5y ago

Yeah, same here, the only explanation I can think of is that the scammers have someone on the inside approving these fake apps.

valuearb5y ago

No, the reviewers never see the scam screens. Once approved the scammers change a setting in the cloud and the app starts opening in scam mode.

1 more reply

tmp5383947225y ago

The more boring reason: some review employees are bad at their job

2 more replies

ndiddy5y ago

Or the app talks to a remote server so it works normally during the review period, but after the app gets approved the author changes a flag on the server and the app changes to "scam mode".

ballenf5y ago

Whether it works or not probably won't get you fired as an app reviewer. But miss some IAP workaround that an app is using and I'd bet it could be your job.

ninth_ant5y ago

You’re exactly correct and is why Apple should be taking action on this problem — it’s in their long-term self interest to do so.

Having customers distrust their App Store is really bad for them in the long run, and would be a competitive advantage over Google if their store was less crammed with garbage.

As it stands now, I usually find apps by looking for solid reviews outside of the App Store app, and am very wary about purchasing anything.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse