AVCaptureStillImageOutput automatically disables shutter sound when recording video via AVCaptureMovieFileOutput. This is the natural behavior of native camera app and AVCaptureStillImageOutput follows it naturally as the shutter sound will come in audio track. However, in 3 years of my app history in AppStore which included more than 50 updates, the recent version of app was rejected citing PLA 3.3.8. When I explained this to reviewer that there is no inconsistency and the app followed behavior of native camera app, he went ahead and removed the current version of my app from AppStore !!!!! The App review process is going just out of control rejecting and approving anything at whim. When AVCaptureStillImageOutput itself disables shutter sound, what can developer do ???
App rejected as it "disabled" shutter sound
This is what I got "
PLA 3.3.8
Your app does not contain an audio indicator for taking photos.
For this reason, your app will be removed from sale on the App Store at this time.
"
An app that has passed 50 updates and reviews for 3 years, they first reject a version citing PLA 3.3.8. When I explain that this behavior of app is natural and consistent with APIs as well as native camera app when recording videos, i get a response that your app has been removed from sale !!! Is it possible to raise a complaint against review process anywhere ?
Dear Apple Engineers,
Do you have any comments ? If AVCaptureStillImageOutput mutes the shutter sound automatically during video recording is a normal behavior, how is this feature against PLA 3.3.8 ?
Here's how it works:
1. No one works outside of Application Review is going to comment on the behavior of Application Review.
2. If you disagree with the review of your application, you're expected to file an appeal of the review using the appeal system.
The two above facts are especially true since no one has any idea what application you're discussing, or what the specific behavior under scrutiny is, other than you and the reviewer for your application.
Do you understand how to appeal your review?
The issue here is conflict between what iOS APIs naturally provide after considering what is correct and what review team believes. Native camera app or the AVFoundation APIs, i.e. AVCaptureMovieFileOutput and AVCaptureStillImageOutput added as outputs to AVCaptureSession, behave the natural way. The natural way is to mute shutter sound of AVCaptureStillImageOutput when AVCaptureMovieFileOutput is recording. This must be the logical opinion of AVFoundation team when it chose this behavior. Whereas the review team believes this is a violation and the shutter sound can not be muted no matter what happens ! Who can rectify this decision of review team ? I have filed an appeal but it meant risking the app removed from sale for several weeks and I am not sure the review board is going to accept the argument of how developer APIs behave.
>what can developer do ???
Not much, once you've been flagged...
If you can provide specific code level information about how you are muting or not muting the shutter sound, and have technical questions about it or would like advice, then maybe the developers here in the forums can help. Otherwise, it sounds like you need to address your concerns to the reviewers.
This is not natural nor expected behavior of the API's nor the Camera app. In both cases
unless explicitly disabled, both still image and movie captures indicate selection by either
the shutter or the tritone bleep. Fix your app.
100% Wrong, try AVCam sample code yourself and see.
What countres is your app sold in?
Try AVCam sample code where both AVCaptureStillImageOutput & AVCaptureMovieFileOutput are added to capture session, and try capturig still image when video recording is takig place - shutter sound gets disabled by AVFoundation !
Just because it is disabled in the sample code does not mean it is allowed in release code. Sample
code is only provided to give developers a better understanding of core features. There are often
glitchy workarounds in samples that should never be used in production code. Try the actual
camera app on the iPhone. Those sounds are there.
Please do not respond with speculation, without understanding & just for the sake of responding. You haven't even tried native camera app it seems where there is NO shutter sound **when video is recording**. If you know a way of *enabling* shutter sound in AVCaptureStillImageOutput when AVCaptureMovieFileOutput is added to captureSession and video is recording, you are welcome. But other than that, it doesn't make any sense.
"Who can rectify the decision of Application Review?" See: Appealing your review. That's what the review board exists to do.
From the App Store Review Guidelines:
If your App is rejected, we have a Review Board that you can appeal to. If you run to the press and trash us, it never helps.
You might take that as hint concerning how complaining to anyone else is going to work.
I use the native camera app nearly every day and there IS a shutter sound unless the device
itself is muted. No speculation here. The sound occurs when recording begins, not as it is
recording.
The app review board reviewed the request and conceded that disabling shutter sound is OK while recording. Issue is solved !