iOS Application is finally online, but isn't listed? How?

[Soulstorm]

I have an application ready, and I received at August 30, at 3 am an e-mail by Apple saying that my application is ready for sale. Indeed, it is online at the app store!

However, I checked just now, and it isn't listed in the new applications under the Utilities category, where it should be. I went into the "Utilities" section, and I sorted the list of applications by release date. Although I can see 3-4 apps released at August 30, I can't see mine!

Shouldn't my application be visible there? Or is there something I missed?

 

[simplymuzik3]

When did you set your "release date" for? The new apps goes by your FIRST release date if you set. If you change it, it still shows up as the old date in the App Store, therefore not putting your app on the new releases. Hope this helps.

 

[dejo]

Shouldn't my application be visible there? Or is there something I missed?

It should. Or, hopefully, will be soon enough. Sometimes it takes a few hours before the search database is re-synched. So, I ask: 3AM in which time zone?

When did you set your "release date" for? The new apps goes by your FIRST release date if you set. If you change it, it still shows up as the old date in the App Store, therefore not putting your app on the new releases. Hope this helps.

Technically, it is shown as "Availability Date". And no, you are not stuck with the first availability date you set. You can change it with each new version to ensure that it shows up in the new releases. There's some restrictions (you can't just update the availability date everyday and stay in the list) but you're not stuck with the date of your first version either.

 

[MacToddB]

When did you set your "release date" for? The new apps goes by your FIRST release date if you set. If you change it, it still shows up as the old date in the App Store, therefore not putting your app on the new releases. Hope this helps.

If your app is iMe, as it appears to be from your blog, SimplyMuzik3 is right. You have a release date of August 6th. You might still have time to change it, in iTunesconnect, but you need to do so soon...

As soon as you get an email from Apple, you should change your release date to the current date. If you have the patience/time, you should set any pending apps to the current date, every day, to be safe.

 

[Soulstorm]

If your app is iMe, as it appears to be from your blog, SimplyMuzik3 is right. You have a release date of August 6th. You might still have time to change it, in iTunesconnect, but you need to do so soon...

As soon as you get an email from Apple, you should change your release date to the current date. If you have the patience/time, you should set any pending apps to the current date, every day, to be safe.

Indeed, that is my mistake... I didn't know that I was supposed to do that! I received the e-mail from apple at August 30, at 3 am.

I hope that I still have a chance. Does anyone know if an update has any chance of showing up in any list at all?

Technically, it is shown as "Availability Date". And no, you are not stuck with the first availability date you set. You can change it with each new version to ensure that it shows up in the new releases. There's some restrictions (you can't just update the availability date everyday and stay in the list) but you're not stuck with the date of your first version either.

Seems other people disagree with you... Have you actually changed the availability date of any of your apps?

 

[simplymuzik3]

I don't want to take over this thread, but I have a related question. When I submit an update and the update gets approved, does my app automatically go into the "new release" section? Does it go there each time a new update is approved? Thanks.

 

[MacToddB]

Yes, you can update and show up in the New list, but depending on the category, you may have a short window. For example, Entertainment may have lots of new apps, so the new ones are displayed by date, THEN by name. So ZebraApp may never be displayed. AardvarkApp however, has a good chance. But regardless, you must set your availability date to the date the new or updated app was approved.

 

[dejo]

Seems other people disagree with you... Have you actually changed the availability date of any of your apps?

I have. Every time a new update is approved. It's one of the first things I have on my checklist of things to do when I get the approval email.

 

[Soulstorm]

Well, I changed the availability date to September 1st, but Apple set it to August 29th, which means that still, users that visit the App Store to see about new releases will never know that my application was released, since it is now on the second page!

If I change it again and put it to something, lets say September 2, or 3, will that have a desired effect?

 

[MacToddB]

Well, I changed the availability date to September 1st, but Apple set it to August 29th, which means that still, users that visit the App Store to see about new releases will never know that my application was released, since it is now on the second page!

If I change it again and put it to something, lets say September 2, or 3, will that have a desired effect?

Nope. You get one bite at the apple, so to speak. Apple chooses the earlier date of the availability date you set or the approval date (your email came at 3am on the 30th, so it was probably approved on the 29th, in Cupertino).