go to AppStore update screen from an iOS application - iphone

Is there a URL I can launch from the app that will take the user to the "Updates" tab in the AppStore application on an iOS device?

I'm not sure if it's possible to link directly to an update. I've found once an advice to replace "viewSoftware" to "viewSoftwareUpdate" on:
https://devforums.apple.com/message/139548#139548
but since link for "phobos" is no longer used it might not work any more

Here's the one we use for our apps (where "id" is the id for your app):
itms-apps://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftwareUpdate?id=438596432&mt=8
It mostly works. On an iPhone & iPod it goes right to the Update screen. On an iPad it goes to the store and shows an obscure error message. I filed that as a bug with Apple a few months ago.

Related

iOS: iPAD to Univeral App upgrade quandary

I have two versions of my iOS App - FooBarApp for iPAD and FooBarApp for iPhone each with its own Bundle ID (com.foobar.fooBariPad for the iPAD app and com.foobar.fooBar for the Phone App) Both have the same functionality - searching and buying the same products.
I have created a new version of the iPhone FooBarApp which is now a Universal App and can run on both iPhone and iPAD. However I already have a large user base of users who alreadey have the iPAD apps.
I'd like to retire com.foobar.fooBariPad iPAD App, and ask the users to now download the new Universal App version com.foobar.fooBar. To do this I created a new version of com.foobar.fooBariPad, which is a forced update, and which on startup, prompts users to update to the new version of the app. When they accept the hand-coded update button, it redirects them to the appstore to update the App.
Kludgy I know, but I did this because there is no direct way to update the old iPAD app to the new Universal app (as they have different bundle ids)
Unfortunately Apple Rejected this with the message:
"Design Preamble Your app includes an update button or alerts the user to update the app. To avoid user confusion, app version updates
must utilize the iOS built-in update mechanism. ... Next Steps Please remove the update
feature from your app. "
In other words they want this to be a forced upgrade.
We are thinking of just removing the previous iPAD App from the Appstore, but it may cause confusion. Would appreciate any smart solution to this problem, which will prompt users to switch from the old iPAD app to the new Universal App with the least friction. Perhaps push notification is the answer? (but if so then how)?
FOLLOWING onnoweb 's answer below, I got this from a friend who saw the way Dunkin Donut's had implemented this. Just in the messaging (not a tech fix)
Maybe it's a matter of terminology in the foobariPad app?
I've done something similar (EOL-ing one app and asking users to switch to the new one) without any complaint from Apple. We did it by showing an alert to the user saying something like "We are ending support for this app. Please use this new app with the same and better functionality." and then a button that took them to the AppStore if they didn't have the new app installed, or if they did then we did an openURL() to the new app after tapping the button.
Maybe it's not clear to Apple that you're redirecting users to a new and different app rather than a newer version of the app the user is in?

Updating App Store image for production iOS App

I released a new iPhone App recently, but once it appeared in the App Store following Apple's review, the App Store icon was surprisingly ugly; so I want to replace it right away.
However, whilst I'd expected to be able to do that through iTunesConnect or the Developer Portal, I haven't been able to find any way to revisit all the App meta data and screenshots etc. that I'd uploaded during the App ID registration phase.
My suspicion is that I may need to make this minor change to the App officially, as a version update; can anyone confirm this, or suggest how I should be replacing the App Store icon image quickly, please?
Bad news. Seems like you have to release an update for this purpose. Check this link
It states
Beginning January 9, app screenshots will be locked in iTunes Connect once your app has been approved. New screenshots may be uploaded when you submit a binary for an update to an existing app or a new app

How to determine, whether an iphone app (previous/next version) is existed in our device or not?

I Have an app with 2 versions.... iPaint1 (FreeVersion) & iPaint2(Paid Version)
iPaint 2 has extra features along with the features of iPaint1..
if user have iPaint1 & also if he installed Paint2.
Now we need to display An alert when user launch/uses paint2. Alert will be pop up as
"You already have all features of paint1 in this 2nd version, Delete Paint1 to free space"
only if iPain1 is existed in our device, otherwise no need of alert How is it possible.
(I guess we may achieve this this using AppStore ID & Bundle Identifier but not sure and don't know the process)
Thanks in advance
But It is works on simulator but not in iPod
Answer :
Finally i Got solution in #MDT 's answer. thank u #MDT and others as well.
Thank you for your quick response.. This link is useful for this question.
Is it possible to get information about all apps installed on iPhone?
and in
http://www.iphonedevsdk.com/forum/iphone-sdk-development/22289-possible-retrieve-these-information.html#post101753
But It is works on simulator but not in iPod any advice pls.
Without jailbreaking, there is no way for an app to directly get a
list of all installed apps on an iOS device.
http://www.quora.com/An-iOS-App-how-to-find-all-other-application-on-the-iPhone
Your best alternative may to be use of custom URL schemes. With these you can implement a link in your free app that opens the paid one if it is installed.
You should use custom URL scheme. Provide some custom URL to free App. Now on the starting of paid App, check if it can responds to the custom URL of your free App. If it can, there exists a free version on the device and display the message to remove it.

Iphone Lock Screen

friends, I am new to Iphone development, I am creating a simple analog clock, infact I have already created one ( i am basically an Android Developer - created same as widget for android too), Iphone does not seem to support widgets, but I was wondering if it is possible to create a lock screen app or something (i.e. when screen locks iphone shows a clock) is it possible that my clock replace the iphone one, any ideas , thanks in advance
It is impossible to replace the lock screen of iOS devices with a custom one. iOS apps are not allowed to "lock" the system by any means. Can't avoid the user pressing the home button.
No it is not possible. There is no public API for the lock screen.
Although you may be able to find a way to accomplish your goal in development, it will almost assuredly be rejected by Apple. Here is an excerpt from the App Store Review Guidelines
10.4 Apps that create alternate desktop/home screen environments or simulate multi-app widget experiences will be rejected
It is 100% possible but not approved by Apple. You can develop an app but will never be part of the app store... You can however use it for personal use or share it through a Cydia repo (jailbroken devices). But it is possible.
Not sure with all of you, although i agree a long time ago.. I Just browsing the app store and found an application that can change the way user unlock the iphone after it lock.. Here's the app "Slide your phone"

Can't find my iPhone app in search results

The app status is Ready for Sale and there is a working direct link to it in iTunes. However the search either with keywords or by the app name from the iTunes top left corner does not bring any result. It is listed in website when I manually browse to category.
The search however bring result on iPhone device App Store app. Just curious why my app is not found through the website search.
It may take a while until the app shows up in the search. How long ago did you receive the "Ready for Sale" notification?
Mostly the app is visible in the iTunes App Store (on the PC, NOT on the iPhone) before on the iPhone. If it takes longer than 24 hours, I would consider contacting Apple but before you have an answer from them your app will probably be Live so... Just be patient, it can take some hours... But again, check iTunes on your Mac/PC if you can find your app there, in my case it was always like that, first iTunes then App Store..
Good luck with your app!