What really happened with Gratitude Journal

A few weeks ago I was living a nightmare. All the diligent months years of maticulous designing, coding and testing on Gratitude Journal just flew out the window in a few seconds. Apple released a version that didn’t even open, let alone work. How did that happen?

It all started when I submitted a build updated for iOS4 and had the retina display graphics. It worked perfectly and life was good. Then I received the rejection email from Apple saying my photo image resembled a Polaroid, something I’ve been dinged on before with Vision Board. I thought the photo’s white frame was even  on all sides  – not longer on the bottom — so we were good. Apparently not.

I instantly fixed the image and proceeded to submit the new code to Apple. In that short span of time, Apple changed the process for submitting code. Normally we did it through a website, but now they wanted us to use the Application Loader tool instead. Cool. No problem. Or maybe?

For some reason I kept receiving all sorts of odd errors and my code wouldn’t upload. So I grabbed an old bundle just to see if any code would upload. Sure enough, that old bundle uploaded. And there began my weeks of problems.

After uploading that old code, I instantly went to Apple’s website where I manage my apps and “rejected” the code. Get rid of it! Gone forever. Nope, think again, Carla.

I finally fixed the upload issues (somehow a second plist.info file ended up in my code), and sent my code complete with non-Polaroid image to Apple. A week later it was approved. I celebrated. Then the emails started flooding in.

“Where are the graphics?” and “I can’t even open this thing!”. WTF?

It turns out Apple approved that build I rejected. The old one riddled with errors. I have no idea how this could happen. Perhaps a glitch with the new Application Loader? At any rate, it was a distaster and my heart was sinking fast!

So I got in touch with Apple and requested an “expedited approval” (a few days wait rather than a week). So there was Gratitude Journal, a mess of code, out there for a few days sinking like the Titanic.

Apple finally approved the “expedited” update. I celebrated again. And the emails, tweets, message came in asking why there’s still errors, again. Apple released that same mess of code I tried to reject a second time. TWICE! How could this be happening to me?

In the end, I emailed the code directly to Apple to ensure they had the correct build. They approved it in hours and finally my app was working again. But still, those few days was enough time for the app store to get riddled with all sorts of bad reviews which make me want to cry when I read them. I can’t tell you how much I sacrificed to get this app out to the world and keep it working, this is the last thing I want to happen.

Fortunately, a few amazing friends, fans, and folks are kind enough to post positive reviews on iTunes. I can’t thank these people enough. I hope you know how much I appreciate what you did. Thank you for updating your reviews or post new ones.

If you have Gratitude Journal, I kindly request you take a minute and give it a good review. It would make all the difference.

Moral of the story….only send Apple code you’re 100% works. We all have kinks in our systems. Even Apple.

Happy Tapper featured on KELO

Yesterday the local news station stopped by to talk to me about my apps and boy, was it a blast. I’m normally rather camera shy but not this time. Perhaps it’s because it felt more like we were having a cocktail party (without the booze) then filming a news segment.

Thanks Kelli for taking time to share Happy Tapper with Keloland! Check it out!

Our apologies for the Gratitude Journal mistake!

I have no idea how this happened, but Apple approved a build that doesn’t work at all. None of the images display. We submitted a new build to Apple yesterday requesting an expedited review. I’ve never requested that before, so I have no idea how long that takes. I’m hoping any hour I’ll receive an email saying the new build was approved. I’m waiting by my inbox willing it with all my mind power to show up.

I can’t say how sorry I am. It’s just awful. I feel bad to let you down and promise this will never happen again (if I can help it!).

I have no idea how Apple could approve a build that doesn’t even work. I believe it’s one I submitted to them and tried to reject myself, but somehow the rejection didn’t work.

Sometimes you just have to go with the flow with Apple. It’s all vooo-doo how it works. Thanks for hanging in there with me. It really means a lot.