[6] In addition, Apple has removed software licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) from the App Store after complaints from one of the program's developers (the VLC media player), claiming that the App Store's terms of service are inconsistent with the GPL.
[12] Launched in July 2008, the App Store averaged about $1 million in application sales a day in its first month of existence.
In 2010, the iPad app approval process could have been lengthy, similar to the weeks experienced previously for iPhone applications.
After this point, apps were rejected that did not provide more robust user experience beyond simply using location data for advertising.
[21] In May 2009, Apple rejected the first version of 'Newspapers', an iPhone app that let users read content from 50+ newspapers around the world, including the New York Times, France's Le Monde, and the United Kingdom tabloid The Sun.
[26][30] In January 2010, Europe's largest newspaper, German tabloid Bild, removed content from the iPhone version of its print edition at the request of Apple, and later it had to modify one of its applications – like in the Stern case because of nudity.
[25] In December 2009, Apple banned a cartoon app called NewsToons by cartoonist Mark Fiore, on the grounds that it "ridiculed public figures.
[32][33][34] Following public outcry after the story broke in the wake of the award, Apple asked Fiore to resubmit his app, and it was subsequently accepted.
"[33] In April 2009, a game called Baby Shaker was approved for the App Store then later removed due to complaints.
The game allowed the user to shake their phone in order to quiet a crying cartoon baby onscreen.
Meanwhile the app continues to get a growing number of 1 star ratings from international users understandably frustrated by the bug, "but looks like our hands are tied".
When launched, the screen contained only a glowing red gem and an icon that, when pressed, displayed the following mantra in large text: I am richI deserv [sic] itI am good,healthy & successfulThe application is described as "a work of art with no hidden function at all", with its only purpose being to show other people that they were able to afford it; I Am Rich was sold on the App Store for US$999.99 (equivalent to $1,415 in 2023), €799.99 (equivalent to €934.74 in 2021), and £599.99 (equivalent to £1,011 in 2023), the highest price Apple allowed for App Store content for the time.
In response to the United States v. Apple (2024) lawsuit (specifically about the section regarding "super-apps"), and growing European Union regulatory pressure, guideline 4.3, dictating mini-apps was edited allowing game emulators on to the store worldwide.
[44][45] Previously, video game emulators were not allowed even if they were officially licensed due to rules about downloading execuatable code,[46] and emulators disguising themselves as file managers, baby name apps, and augmented reality mustache apps, getting removed quickly.
[55] All iOS App Store applications must support sandboxing and list all permissions required for the correct functionality.
[57][58] In 2013, a test malware application, that was using dynamic code reassembly techniques and named "Jekyll" in reference to the Stevenson novella,[59] was approved and released on the App Store.
[64][65] Apple confirmed the attack and stated to be working with the developers to make sure they were using the proper version of Xcode to rebuild the apps.