OS X Developers Becoming Frustrated By Lengthy Mac App Store Approval Delays [Report]

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Noticed a shortage in Mac App Store updates lately?
Noticed a shortage in Mac App Store updates lately?

OS X developers are reportedly becoming frustrated with the lengthy delay they must endure to have their applications approved for the Mac App Store. Average wait times have increased to 27 days over the past month, whereas approval for the iOS App Store takes just 7 days on average. Some are blaming the influx of iOS updates for the iPhone 5 and iOS 6, but claim that Apple should be over the worst of it by now.

Developers have told Macworld that Apple is slowly “getting worse” at approving OS X apps for the Mac App Store. The blame initially fell on the iPhone 5 and iOS 6, which would have caused a torrent of updates from iOS developers who have optimized their titles to take advantage of the larger display, and Apple’s latest mobile operating system.

However, some feel that almost one month on, that rush should be over by now. While there are still plenty of apps that need to be updated for newer devices, iOS updates are now becoming less frequent. But for many OS X developers, Mac App Store approvals show no signs of getting quicker.

The website Average App Store Review Times, which collects reports from developers who tweet about the time it takes for their apps to travel through Apple’s approval process, reports that average wait times for Mac App Store approvals are now at 27 days. Recent figures show that reviews are slowing down rather than speeding up.

And developers speaking to Macworld have confirmed this is the case.

Justin Williams of Second Gear Software submitted his app to Apple on September 9, but it took until October 5 — 26 days — to receive approval. Another developer, who asked not to be named, waited 28 days between submission and approval for an update to an existing app.

Meanwhile, Daniel Jalkut of Red Sweater Software submitted an update for popular blogging app MarsEdit 21 days ago, and he’s still waiting for Apple to approve it.

As Jalkut notes, however, it may take a little while longer for Apple to “flush out” the backlog of OS X app approvals that have built up while it’s been focused on iOS app approvals.

“I’m not sure how easy it will be to tell if things are speeding up, because so many people (presumably) are already in the queue at 20 or 30 days,” Jalkut said. “It may be the kind of thing that needs to see the queue flushed out to adequately gauge improvements.”

Apple has declined to comment on the problem, so for now, all developers can do is sit back and wait.

Source: Macworld

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