Updates to App Store Guidelines ⇥ macrumors.com

Lots of updates this year, but I wanted to highlight two in particular, via Juli Clover at MacRumors:

[…] A modified 3.1.1 rule, for example, says that non-subscription apps may offer a free time-based trial period using a free in-app purchase option that temporarily unlocks app functionality. This will allow all apps in the App Store to offer free trials, rather than just subscription apps.

This formalizes a technique that was being used by apps like OmniFocus. It’s interesting to see that this somewhat hack-ish way of implementing a free trial is officially supported.

A new rule, 2.3.12, states that all apps are required to “clearly describe” new features and product changes in their “What’s New” text. Apps can continue to use generic descriptions for bug fixes, security updates, and performance improvements, but anything more significant must be listed in the notes.

On the one hand, hallelujah. On the other, “bug fixes and performance improvements” is, theoretically, still valid; I think bug fixes should be enumerated whenever possible.