Hidden features in iphone App

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+2 Q:

Hidden features in iphone App

Hi,

i know cellular company that created an app for iphone only for their clients , and soon enough apple got mad about this issue and the app was open for download to everyone.

i'm about to create an app , and some of its features become visible only if a user belongs to a specific comuunity (by user auth with server) , and if the user does not belongs to this specific comuunity this feature is not shown....

the question is will apple approve this kind of "Hidden features" only to specific users ....?

EDIT: doe someone know of any app that has Unlocked features for a special communities (which are not open to all...[and not admins]) ?

thanks to all sorry i can't give answer to more than one of you.

I think it is possible. some apps need accounts to works (dropbox for example)

Benoît 2010-10-28 08:49:55

+5 A:

Apple review guidelines:

Apps that include undocumented or hidden features inconsistent with the description of the app will be rejected.

Read into this what you will. There is a general consensus in the review guidelines that if you're app has "hidden" features - as in only those who know will know how to get to them - then it will get rejected. You can't hide it from Apple.

As long as you say "you have to sign up to www.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.com to access the special 'members only' section" then I'm sure there will be no problems.

You may encounter other problems though. If you are charging for membership specifically to "unlock" the hidden features of the app you HAVE to use in app purchase. Not doing so will result in your app being rejected.

Thomas Clayson 2010-10-28 08:50:20

one question ,the risky thing is that not everyone can sign up to every feature because www.xxxx.com have comuunity which is not open for all , e.g. soldiers , so not every one can sign up as s soldier to www.xxxx.com....is it might be ok ?

_Avishay_ 2010-10-28 09:05:37

This falls in the infamous apple "bermuda triangle" of app assessment. No-one can tell you this. My personal judgement would be that this wouldn't be allowed. In basis, apps on the app store have to be generally available and providing a lasting use or entertainment to a large subsection of iphone users. Effectively locking users out will oppose this ideology and I'm sure apple won't accept it.

Thomas Clayson 2010-10-28 09:57:15

what you actualy say is that an application which dedicated for large comunities have to give up their privacy in order to have an app on the iphone ....apple shoots in its leg ... comuunities which have website allow only their members to log in are not going to disappear from the world just because apple does not permit it....

_Avishay_ 2010-10-29 20:39:08

+1 A:

This is very much possible. Check this answer.

I have made a comment in the question, may be you have not noticed.

taskinoor 2010-10-28 09:26:13

thanks , but in this question (in your link) the "hidden features" was visible only to admins ... here i'm talking about hiding a feature from a user that does not belong to a comunity ... it's a bit different....

_Avishay_ 2010-10-28 09:40:39

The scenario is same. Admin means special group of people, community members mean so. The thing is you can provide this type of information which will be available only for some user to Apple review team. If you do that, no reason to reject the app. Otherwise you may got a rejection later.

taskinoor 2010-10-28 09:52:47

That means you will create a test user which belongs to the community and will provide that user credential to Apple. That's all. This is one of the reasons why Apple have created this field.

taskinoor 2010-10-28 09:55:17

thanks for the info , i will surely do that. but i'm afraid they could not confirm the app.... btw: do you have any example of other app which has community only features (which is not admins or a comunity which is open for all) ...?

_Avishay_ 2010-10-29 20:41:14

sorry, can't say any example of that. but i don't think they will reject for this reason.

taskinoor 2010-10-30 15:23:25

ansaurus

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Hidden features in iphone App

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