Unreliable "Release Date" listings in iPhone App Store app

[Whab]

Hi,
Did anyone else notice a problem with the "Release date" listings in the Categories section of the App Store on the iPhone/iPod Touch? These listings look ok under iTunes, but appear quite random through the App Store app. Some of my recently updated apps have simply disappeared from these listings which does not seem to be ordered by release date anymore...

Will

 

[fishkorp]

Unless you manually change the availability date in iTunes Connect for the app it will keep the release date of the original version. A new version of an app doesn't change its release date unless you go in and change it yourself.

 

[Whab]

Unless you manually change the availability date in iTunes Connect for the app it will keep the release date of the original version. A new version of an app doesn't change its release date unless you go in and change it yourself.

I'm aware of that, and the problem is not with my apps (they appear ok in the listings provided by iTunes) but with the way the "Release Date" listings sort the apps on the AppStore application running on iPhone or iPod Touch: the apps order does not reflect anymore their release dates on both my iPhone and iPod touch. I've noticed that on the Canadian AppStore, and this problem started a few days ago. Just wondering if anyone else has noticed a similar problem...

 

[JWBlue]

I'm aware of that, and the problem is not with my apps (they appear ok in the listings provided by iTunes) but with the way the "Release Date" listings sort the apps on the AppStore application running on iPhone or iPod Touch: the apps order does not reflect anymore their release dates on both my iPhone and iPod touch. I've noticed that on the Canadian AppStore, and this problem started a few days ago. Just wondering if anyone else has noticed a similar problem...

yes, noticed it when itunes 8.1 was released. I can't figure out any pattern to the sort order.

 

[zerogate]

Update release date

Change date in pricing section after new version to date approved or any day before if that doesn't work. Right now it is all over the board for sure.

 

[Mastidon]

It is EXTREMELY upsetting to me as a developer. This is the only way people can find out our apps are available. Most people only check the phone and not iTunes for what's new.

My app MyWingman which was first released on March 6th and had an update on last Friday is around #200 in the what's new list for Social Networking.

Does nybody know if there is a way to report this to somebody at Apple who will actually fix it?

 

[Whab]

It is EXTREMELY upsetting to me as a developer. This is the only way people can find out our apps are available. Most people only check the phone and not iTunes for what's new.

Does nybody know if there is a way to report this to somebody at Apple who will actually fix it?

I did report the problem through iTunes Connect (bottom link "Still have a question? Click here to contact your representative" in FAQs section) but have not heard back from Apple. I'm surprised that there are not more complaints from developers, maybe the problem does not occur for everyone.

 

[Mastidon]

I did report the problem through iTunes Connect (bottom link "Still have a question? Click here to contact your representative" in FAQs section) but have not heard back from Apple. I'm surprised that there are not more complaints from developers, maybe the problem does not occur for everyone.

I think it does. I have asked several people to check for me and they all report the same issue. I just don't think enough developers are tracking it at the same level like we do hence not the large outcry. Not to mention, I think we all hoped it would have been fixed days ago.

 

[JWBlue]

There's a huge thread on apple dev discussion boards about this very same topic that's going on for days. Devs do notice.

FWIW, an update to my game was approved just as this started to happen. I still saw a 80%+ increase in sales over the next 2 days until it started leveling off again as usual.

 

[blained]

Yes, developers definitely notice this! It took a very long time for me to find my Fit Phone app. It's almost like it's displaying some apps based on when they were first released. Since I have one of the first workout logs that was in the store it's many, many pages deep on the iPhone. But it's fine in iTunes. Very annoying. I have not released a new version since the new iTunes was released. I'm hoping releasing a new version will fix the problem.

 

[Mastidon]

Yes, developers definitely notice this! It took a very long time for me to find my Fit Phone app. It's almost like it's displaying some apps based on when they were first released. Since I have one of the first workout logs that was in the store it's many, many pages deep on the iPhone. But it's fine in iTunes. Very annoying. I have not released a new version since the new iTunes was released. I'm hoping releasing a new version will fix the problem.

My update was released after the problem started so I'm sorry to tell you that an update won't fix it. The only hope we have is for Apple to do so.

 

[iam69]

I have the same problem in the Norwegian store. The release list have not been updated for at least 6 days And my app never made it to the release list, it only show up by seach

 

[Whab]

The problem has been finally fixed (at least on canadian AppStore)!