I would like to know if the app icon on the iPhone can be slightly different than the one shown in a large version in Apple's App Store.
It was discussed in short here: Tips for a successful AppStore submission?
But I wanted to make sure if anyone has more experience with that.
To give an example: The New York Times has many words incorporated in its app icon (see http://itunes.apple.com/de/app/nytimes/id284862083?mt=8). Would it be okay to have a full black colored background without the words in the small/homescreen version of the icon?
I had one application (RefFinder) rejected just because the two didn't match. But they were quite different; I guess it's OK if they're only slightly different.
yes i have submit couple of application with different app icon and big application icon on App store.
Here is one example: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-business-credit-blueprint/id360499998?mt=8
They can be different, but they have to accomplish the same design. I mean, they have to be recognized as the same applications (same colors, fonts.. same feeling)
You could achieve this using the new UIApplication.setAlternateIconName(_:completionHandler:) API in iOS 10.3 to change the app icon at runtime.
Note you need to ship the updated app icon as part of the app bundle however.
Related
I can read that changing the app icon programmatically at runtime is not possible, at least since iOS 3.0.
But... I regulary can see on "App" websites apps that can put icons on the springboard. The first I remember is that kind of app that you give a friend's picture from your album, and it creates an icon so you can call him just clicking on that icon:
http://itunes.apple.com/fr/app/speedtouch-the-best-home-screen/id378360978?mt=8
http://itunes.apple.com/fr/app/desktop-shortcut/id421701004?mt=8
http://itunes.apple.com/fr/app/appbutler-app-organizer/id327391626?mt=8
http://itunes.apple.com/fr/app/tap4music/id365578914?mt=8
So I guess, is it still impossible to change the app icon programmatically at runtime?
Update
Apple have changed this, you can do this now: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/uikit/uiapplication/2806818-setalternateiconname
Original Answer
What you're thinking of here are WebClips, which are basically shortcuts to websites on the home screen. An actual application cannot change it's icon at runtime, as it's defined in the static Info.plist file.
The only exception to this rule is Newsstand applications.
This is now possible in iOS 10.3 using the UIApplication.setAlternateIconName(_:completionHandler:) API.
See my answer to this question: https://stackoverflow.com/a/44966454/233602
Changing your actual icon (other than, e.g, badging) would require changing the app bundle. I'm pretty sure that you don't have write access to the bundle, and in any event this should change the code signature, causing the OS to prevent launching.
So, no. Apps can put links to web sites, but not change their own app.
Can we use same icon image for more than one ios (ipad/iphone) applications?
Is there any such rule that each application should have a different icon?
Thanks.
I've just had this rejection:
Guideline 4.3 - Design - Spam
We noticed that your app uses the same app icon as other apps you’ve
submitted, which makes it difficult for users to find apps and is
considered a form of spam.
So in 2017, it looks like the answer is no.
There is no such rule, as far as I know. Indeed there are apps in the App Store that have the same icon, and others with very minor variations (e.g., the color tone).
Apart from requirements about the size (of the different icon versions you have to submit) that are relevant for approval, the only thing that you should take into account (but this is not relevant for approval) is that your app icon is attractive, reflect some how the app functionality, and allows your app to be easily recognized.
If your unique icon design satisfies this principle for you, then it is fine.
I'm asking all those who have apps in the Apple iPhone App Store. Do you have an "About..." window/page/view in your app, or do you rely on iTunes for providing the developer info to the customer? If the former, where's the button/link to that? Real estate is so precious on the iPhone screen, I cannot think of some space I can waste for an "About..." button without it sticking like a sore thumb.
You can always add your "about" info into the system settings for your app so that it's there but not directly in the app. I have an app with no about page, but it's because the target users are children so there's no point. For other apps, I might add a page into the app -- it all depends on the use case.
You could use the little (i) icon thats found in the corner of a lot of apps, the native weather app comes to mind. It uses minimal space, too.
I plan on adding about sections to most apps I create.
I am new to iPhone programming.
I created an application in Xcode. I want to change the application name and icon. However I can change the application name (which is appeared below the icon of application in iPhone) and icon from plist.
I want to ask that whether there are any other method or trick which i can use to change the icon and application name.
My project requirement is that end user want to change application name and icon frequently
As far as I know there is absolutely no way for the end user to change the application name or icon of applicaitons distributed via the App Store. I believe it would be possible to do this on jailbroken phones, but I'm not an expert in that area.
Jay is correct. You need to specify an icon and name for your app in the info.plist file. Those values can't be changed dynamically. If you want to change the name or the icon, you would need to fix them in xcode and submit an update to Apple for approval.
__mike
I disagree with the above answers.
Please go take a look at the free app on Itune, "OneTap" (or "onetap")
you will see that you can create a dynamicly new app with your own icon image.
There's definitely an app in cydia to accomplish this but you must jailbreak your iPhone or iPod touch
It seems like Info.plist file has an ability to declare different roles for the same application bundle through the UIRoleInfo key. SpringBoard can recognize these roles after installing an app and may display separate icons for each application role.
For instance, iPhone shows MobileSlideShow.app as 2 different programs: Photos and Camera.
Unfortunately, there is no official Apple documentation about the subject at the moment. Would anybody advise how to organize the same behavior in a custom app?
This feature is going to be used in the Enterprise product for ad hoc distribution.
This isn't a supported feature, so if you do this you might have a hard time getting your app through the approval process. I wouldn't recommend using it.
Have you tried it to see if it works? If it doesn't work, you could create a second app that does nothing but launch the first one, with a custom URL scheme. The first app can recognize when it is being launched with that URL. This is not ideal as you will see the second app launch & quit (though it should be really fast).