Release date got screwed up by Apple?

Ebreeze

I dont know what happened but I put in my itunes connect for my app to come out today ( the 19th) which it did but put it way back into the dec 13 released apps..so basically no one saw it at all. When i uploaded my app it got approved on the 13.. Does anyone know about this stuff....this sucks b/c i put so much time into it

here it be

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dude-man-motorx/id487062384?ls=1&mt=8

SlickZero

This is very common with a lot people. I don't think anyone knows how to work the release dates properly, not even Apple. Just about every time someone has a release date after the app has been approved, it gets thrown in the list with other apps around the time it was approved, and just has the release date you specified on it, which will leave you halfway down the list, or further.

What I've been doing, is releasing the app as soon as I get the approval from Apple. That's the only way that I can tell will guarantee you don't get throw in on page 2 when you release your app. That's just me, others may have a better handle on the release dates, or at least think they do.

Ebreeze

Thanks....Im thinking of doing an update soon and try this again

tenrdrmer

Its normally takes a while for the adjusted release date to fix itself throughout and get you listed in the right location. I have always changed mine and controlled the release although this last Game we launched was completely sunk by the release date. It never updated itself to the right location. So the only for sure thing is to let it go automatically. Other users have noted if they set the release date out far enough before the app is submitted and then don't touch it. it will release as it should in the right listing and everything on your date. Its kind of a crap shoot on whether or not it will work. Its a bug on apples end they have never really worried about I think.

DigiChain

@ Ebreeze - man that really sucks! Your game looks really good, I hope you don't lose out because of it.

I've just done a quick google search and found a lot of people are also having this same issue, so seems if you try to hold out for a release date after its been submitted it may just get buried.

I've just rejected my binary after reading all this. I'd planned a January 5th release but am scared if it get approved before x-mas it wont appear on any lists by the time its available. Man Apple sucks!

Ebreeze

Thanks for the feedback guys, i just submitted an update and checked auto release..we'll see what happens

SlickZero

Unfortunately, an update is not going to fix it. Once it's released, it's released. It doesn't reset with an update.

EatingMyHat

Same for me. I contacted Apple but they have done nothing.

osucowboy18

Join the club! iRound Up was approved on December 8th, but due to our marketing plans, we didn't release it until the 15th. Even though we set the availability date to the 15th of December, Apple had iRound Up's release date as the 8th, which was when it was approved. Of course, since it was not visible on the New Releases page, our sales sucked for the first few days it was on the store. I called Apple Developer Support about the issue. After being on hold for an hour, they said they would contact one of their internal teams to investigate the issue further. They finally got back to me with the following.

First of all, they told me it was NOT a bug in the system, and that this is how it was designed. They told me what I have to do is submit my app, and then before it is approved, set the availability date via the Rights and Pricing page within iTunes Connect. Give Apple PLENTY of time to review it when setting the availability date. Then, DON'T CHANGE IT! I can't stress this point enough. According to the Senior Advisor I spoke with, the system only accepts the availability date the first time it is set. If you change it again, then your app will be published on that date, but will not be on the New Releases page. So, when setting your availability date, you only have one shot for it to be placed on the New Releases page of the App Store. Apple also referred me to pages 44, 72, and 73 of the iTunes Connect Guide for more information on how the system handles release and availability dates. The Senor Advisor I talked to also pointed out that when you release an update o an app, you don't have to worry about this. If you want it released at a different time then when it is approved, just choose to release it yourself when preparing to upload your binary. Then, when you decide to release it, it will be placed on the correct date on the New Releases page.

Hopefully this makes sense and gives you a clear idea of what to do next time. I think this is a very poor system design and should be changed, but this is how Apple has it set up for now so I guess we are going to have to deal with it.

- Alex

Ebreeze

thanks osucowboy18 for this info...thankfully this is my first app and has been a learning experience to say the least...but still i was getting worried because I have a couple big apps coming out that would kill me if this had happened to them

MarkOnTheIron

@osucowboy18 So standing to what the representative said we have to set the date after we upload the binary?

osucowboy18

@MarkOnTheIron - According to the rep I spoke with, who was getting her info from an iTunes Connect rep, as long as you set the availability date prior to the acceptance of the app by Apple, you should be fine as long as you don't change the availability date again. You may find pages 44, 72, and 73 of the iTunes Connect Guide helpful as well, which is what I was referred to by the Apple rep. Hope that helps

- Alex

keweworkshop

Well, I set my availability date prior to acceptance and I did not change it and it still showed up wrong. I set my app to release today but it is with the apps way back on December 12. I could hardly find it and I was searching for it, how is anyone else going to find it? I am so disappointed, I think I could cry.

Ebreeze

I feel your pain keweworkshop.....I put my update on auto release maybe that will bring it to the first page ..who knows.

SlickZero

"Unfortunately, an update is not going to fix it. Once it's released, it's released. It doesn't reset with an update."