When it comes to app startup ideas, few things are more frustrating than a rejection from the App Store. But for Halide, the experience was especially bizarre. Despite being featured during the iPhone 16 keynote, the latest version of the popular camera app was initially rejected by Apple.
The Reason Behind the Rejection
It's not that the app didn't have a valid reason to access certain features – in this case, the camera. But rather, it seems that Apple's reviewer wasn't convinced that Halide's explanation for why it needed access to the camera was clear enough. You see, when you run Halide, the app requests access to the camera, and developers are required to explain why they need to do so.
A Classic Case of Over-Enthusiasm?
Lux co-founder Ben Sandofsky shared on Mastodon that the company's explanation – "The camera will be used to take photographs" – wasn't deemed sufficient by Apple. It seems that after seven years, a random reviewer decided that Halide's permission prompt needed to be more... descriptive.
How Clear is Too Clear?
Macworld's Macolope even suggested an alternative permission text: "The camera will be used to take photographs for the app that you just downloaded to take photographs for." While it may not win any awards for grammar, it certainly gets the point across. The question remains – how clear does Apple want their app developers to be?
What's Next for Halide
Luckily, Halide can now resubmit its update to the App Store without making any changes. And with its support for the new Camera Control button on the iPhone 16, it's clear that this innovative camera app is here to stay.
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