Before You Begin

Following Apple Guidelines

You can submit your app using iTunes Connect but Apple needs to approve your app before you can ship it. If you are an iOS developer, read these books to learn about the user interface guidelines and make sure your app meets submission requirements:

• iOS Human Interface Guidelines

• App Store Review Guidelines for iOS Apps

If you are a Mac developer, read these books to learn about the Mac App Store guidelines:

• OS X Human Interface Guidelines

• App Store Review Guidelines for Mac Apps

Creating Assets with the Correct Specifications

To submit your app through iTunes Connect and get it posted on the App Store successfully, make sure you have the following items:

• One or more app binaries containing app icons, launch images, and Newsstand cover icons

• App Store icons

• One or more screenshots

• Contract information

• Export compliance information

• App metadata

Optional items to prepare include:

• Additional screenshots

• Localized metadata for the sale of your app in other countries

• Promotional graphics

Each of these requirements is described below.

App Store Icons

The large-icon requirements apply to apps for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. The large icon for Mac apps is included in the binary, and the large icon for iOS apps is uploaded directly to iTunes Connect. The large icon is displayed for your app on the App Store and, if necessary, is used to feature your app there.

To be considered for a feature on the App Store, you must provide attractive, original icons. See iOS Human Interface Guidelines for all custom icon requirements for iOS apps.

Do not scale up smaller artwork, because it might appear pixelated and blurry. ZIP-compressed TIFF images are not supported and will cause issues with the display of your app on the App Store.

It’s OK to use the shine parameter (UIPrerenderedIcon key) within your submitted binary for the device’s home screen, the App Store, and the App Store on the device. To achieve the final look that you intend, be sure to correctly specify the desired shine.

Here’s an example of what you should submit, including the final icons:

Screenshots for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad Apps

The first screenshot you upload in iTunes Connect is used as the main screenshot. It is visible on your app product page on both the desktop App Store and the device App Store. For best results, do not include the iPhone or iPad status bar in your screenshots, and follow the requirements given below. Those dimensions allow you to remove the iOS status bar from screenshots so that you can showcase only the active app area, without distractions.

iPhone and iPod touch

iPhone and iPod touch display portrait and landscape modes.

Portrait mode is displayed on both the desktop App Store and the device App Store as uploaded in portrait mode. ZIP-compressed TIFF images are not supported and will cause issues with your app’s display on the App Store. Refer to Table 7-8 for the required dimensions of portrait screenshots.

Landscape mode is displayed only on the desktop App Store as uploaded in landscape mode. To view a landscape mode screenshot on the device App Store, users must rotate their iPhones to view landscape. Refer to Table 7-8 for the required dimensions of landscape screenshots.

iPad

iPad displays portrait and landscape modes.

Portrait mode is displayed on both the desktop App Store and the device App Store as uploaded in portrait mode. ZIP-compressed TIFF images are not supported and will cause issues with your app’s display on the App Store. High-resolution screenshots can be provided to take advantage of the iPad’s Retina display. Refer to Table 7-8 for the required dimensions of high-resolution portrait screenshots.

Landscape is displayed only on the desktop App Store uploaded in landscape mode. To view a landscape mode screenshot on the device App Store, users must rotate their iPads to view landscape. High-resolution screenshots can be provided to take advantage of the iPad’s Retina display. Refer to Table 7-8 for the dimensions of high-resolution landscape screenshots.

Additional Screenshots (optional)

Up to four additional optional screenshots can be displayed, along with the first screenshot on the app product page. These screenshots may be resized within the store to fit the space provided. For best results, follow the same requirements as above.

Signing Your Contract

If you plan to sell your app, you must have in place your paid commercial agreement so that it can be posted to the App Store. Your app will not be posted to the App Store until your commercial agreement is signed. If your app is free, you’ve already entered into the freeware distribution agreement by being accepted into the Apple Developer Program. However, there is still a contract setup that free app contracts must go through before your app will go live in the App Store. To host iAd ads within your iOS apps using iOS 4, you must have your iAd Network agreement in place. See “Managing Contracts, Taxes, and Banking” for details.

Translating Your Metadata (optional)

If you plan to market your app to regions outside the United States, you should have your metadata translated. You can enter additional translations into iTunes Connect and have them appear in various corresponding storefronts. You should have these translations ready when you log in to iTunes Connect to add your app. “Localizing Metadata, Keywords, and Screenshots” lists the type of information you need to translate.

Supplying Export Compliance Authorization

Export laws require that products containing encryption be properly authorized for export. For this reason, you are asked a series of questions regarding app encryption—after indicating that you are ready to submit your binary and anytime you update the binary after that. Based on the answers to these questions, you may need to provide a PDF copy of the commodity classification ruling (CCATS) confirming classification of the app.

Preparing Additional Artwork (optional)

Although you won’t be submitting additional artwork in iTunes Connect, it’s a good idea to have high-quality layered artwork ready, along with with a title treatment for your app. If your app is chosen by iTunes to be featured, you will be contacted by Worldwide Developer Relations and asked for additional artwork to feature your app on the App Store. Your quality artwork and title treatment can then be used by Apple’s design team to create small posters to feature your app more prominently on the App Store. For artwork details, see “Promotional Artwork.”

Setting Your Company Name

If you have enrolled in the Apple Developer Program as a company, the first time you add a new app in iTunes Connect, you are presented with the Company Name page. On this page you set your company’s name that applies to each app you add to your developer account for distribution on the App Store. If you have enrolled as an individual, the company name is your developer or seller name.

The company name you specify will be displayed with your app on the App Store. For example, in the above iTunes Connect window, the name Apple is the company name. Your company name will appear in this spot and in the upper-left corner of your product page in the App Store. Your company name is a key piece of organizational metadata for your apps on the App Store. When users click the name, they arrive at a page containing all currently live apps sent through your developer account.