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Apple rejects app update due to microscopic mention of ‘Android’

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 9:00PM EST
App Store Rejection Android

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We all know that Apple can be exceedingly nit-picky when it comes its overseeing its App Store, but the latest incidence of developer babysitting is a bit much even for them.

In the latest example of Apple’s App Store rejection policy gone awry, the company recently rejected an update to Breaking, an app which lets users curate the type of news items they’d like to appear in the “Today” feed from within iOS’ Notification Center.

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Sounds like a useful enough app, but a recent update to the app was rejected because Apple’s review team noticed that one of the app’s screenshots mentioned the word (gasp!) Android. This of course runs afoul of App Store review guideline 3.1 which states:

Apps or metadata that mentions the name of any other mobile platform will be rejected.

An incidental mention of Android within a screenshot, though, seems like Apple is splitting hairs. Especially given that one has to blow up the screenshot to even make out the word “Android” in the first place.

In a subsequent tweet, the app’s developer noted that a new app update sans the offending screenshot has since been submitted.

Clearly, Apple is not playing games.

Yoni Heisler Contributing Writer

Yoni Heisler has been writing about Apple and the tech industry at large with over 15 years of experience. A life long expert Mac user and Apple expert, his writing has appeared in Edible Apple, Network World, MacLife, Macworld UK, and TUAW.

When not analyzing the latest happenings with Apple, Yoni enjoys catching Improv shows in Chicago, playing soccer, and cultivating new TV show addictions.