Does anyone know if I use emoji unicode in an app's view if Apple considers this out of bounds? I'm not asking about enabling emoji or selling an app that is meant to enable emoji.
And example of the code - which is placing an NSString into a tableViewCell NSLabel:
if([combatCurrentHp intValue] <= [combatMaxHp intValue] / 2) {
characterStats = [characterStats stringByAppendingString:#" \uE022"];
}
This makes an emoji heart appear in the string. Do you guys know if there is a hard and fast rule on if that would get kicked back out of the app store?
I've seen applications that use the Emoji codepoints in the App Store, but I'm not sure if it's permitted or those apps just snuck through. I don't think there is a strict policy on this.
Enabling the emoji keyboard however is forbidden.
2 years late, but just in case anyone else is interested in this question, the official answer is that there's no problem using emoji in your UILabels.
My email to App Review team a year ago:
Hi,
I'd like to seek clarification with regard to the usage of emoji
within an app.
Although emoji input is not enabled for non-Japanese users, all iPhone
can view emoji whether or not emoji input is enabled.
User interface elements such as UILabel can thus display emoji if they
used the appropriate unicode in the text string.
I'm currently working on the next update of my app where I'd like to
display some icons within my text labels, and I couldn't find any
guidelines with regard to the usage of emoji in this manner.
I've attached a screenshot for your reference. I would like to check
if this usage is appropriate for the App Store. Much thanks!
Their response:
Hello,
We see no issues with the use of emoji within the app. Please let us
know if you have additional questions.
Best Regards,
App Review Team iOS Developer Program
Also, my app has been using the emoji for the past one year with no issue.
I don't believe that enabling the Emoji keyboard is forbidden as it is enabled as standard in all Asian countries and there are dozens of apps available in the app store for unlocking it in other countries. Why would Apple incorporate the keyboard in the system if they intended to forbid anyone from ever using it?!
Related
I want to add local languages for the description of my app, and so I made a new version just so I could Localize the description. However, I did not change any of my app to be location-dependent (It's just english, and it's a rather simple resistance-color code calculator app without much text, and operates on the basis of color-codedness.) Will my app be rejected for failing to truly "localize", per se? Is this a stringent guideline or is it okay to just change the app store description language?
I don't know if Apple will reject you on that basis or not. But doing something like that could anger your customers, and I wouldn't blame them. I would suggest that you either localize everything, including the content, or localize nothing. Misleading your customers is not the path to long-term success.
Your app should not be rejected. I've done this. My app is mostly numbers which is universal. I've translated descriptions to 6 languages and the app is in the app store just fine.
Don't mislead your users. Your users are your greatest allies or enemies, depending on your attitude. If you don't respect them, they won't like you.
If you want to make a localization, create a support for multilinguality and you can add languages later on. Also, in my opinion your users should be able to choose the language they want to use your app in. As a default you can choose the language of the region. However, it's rude to localize by location and not letting the users to change their language. If you show respect towards your users you will have greater chance of success.
Does it exist an API that would take a string of text, then read it? It would have be a cool feature to offer to people with reading problems. Then they just could tap a button and have it read for them.
Actually, iOS has a feature called VoiceOver that can be enabled in Settings (under Accessibility) that speaks items on the screen. VoiceOver will work (to varying degrees) with any app; you can use the Accessibility API to add more information so VoiceOver does a better job of describing the interface.
More information on VoiceOver
iPhone Accessibility Programming Guide section on VoiceOver
Check out OpenEars, I've used it before, it's a breeze to set up (not sure if it's ARC compatible though). It also has voice recognition too.
I'm currently designing an app for the iPhone and I'm deciding on some features that imitate several native iPhone UI components and elements.
In my app, the user has to arrange several items on screen. Basically, they are free floating (not in a grid). In order to be able to move them, the user has to hold a finger on one of the items until all items start to "wobble". Just like on Springboard, when moving applications. Is it allowed to imitate this functionality?
Another function is the "split screen", as seen when adding an application to another application. The screen breaks open, showing a new group with the familiar textured background. In my app, some screens require a user decision by picking one out of four icons. I want to present this by using such a modal view over the main view, more or less like the "add to group" function of Springboard. Is this allowed?
I'm well aware that there are several programming questions related to my issue, but none of them covers whether apps are allowed if they include the functionality. Any help is greatly appreciated!
(On a side note, I read on HN today that Apple doesn't really answer questions to Support about app approval, therefore I ask here.)
I think the biggest problem you might have is the "free floating" functionality. There's a very big gray area as to what's accepted and, from my experience, you can't have an app with with seemingly floating windows like a desktop.
I can't see Apple having a problem with the Springboard functionality because the Facebook app has it. I would just try to make your own version and not try to reproduce the code.
Also, the Split Screen animation should be fine.
My 2 cents.
There is nothing in the guidelines about such functions not being allowed. I have submitted to apple an app recently with a wobble function like you mention and the reviewer did not mention anything about this being not allowed (The app was rejected for another reason which has to do with content licensing).
I have made an iphone application that allows users to send text messages for free to any mobile. I want to allow users to add emoticons into their message from standard set provided by me. What might be the best possible solution for this scenario?
regards
ayaz Alavi
The typical way is to use UTF8 codes which map to images on the users' phones.
However, unless the recipients of the text have configured/setup their phone to support these codes ala the [Emoji app of the day], they will see little square boxes.
If both the sender and the recipient have your application, then you can handle it directly, of course.
So basically, you are SOL. There isn't anything you can do besides recommend your users install an emoji app. Sorry.
You can add like this
NSString *comment = [comment stringByReplacingOccurrencesOfString:#":)" withString:#"\ue415"];
Find some emotions code here
Here
I just saw an iphone application that enhances the built in "messages" application to send emotions. What this application does is that it extends the functionality of the Keyboard that appears in notes or messages application, and user can send emotion icons as messages. This application doesn't work when the emotions are sent to other mobile devices (it works only with iPhone), but that's not important. What i'm wondering is, how they did that (extended the built in keyboard)? Do we have API's that let you extend the functionality like this?
Best Regards.
They are part of the font set. called Emoji icons.
Apple's latest iPhone OS update
brought cute little "Emoji" icons for
Asian markets
To use them you need to use the (font) character code for each letter / emoji. I don't know what they are, but a quick google returns, abide a lot of spam, some codes worth trying. A quick script could be made to incrementally loop through each character code, thus finding them all.
A quick google: