App Store Rejection of the Week: Dark Hours
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
Apple rejected an astronomy app named Dark Hours after falsely claiming it includes astrology and tarot features.
Developer Terry Godier submitted Dark Hours, an astronomy app for iOS, which Apple's App Review rejected for being an astrology app. Godier escalated to the App Review Board, which upheld the rejection, claiming the app includes a live tarot reading feature. Dark Hours has no such feature and is a science-based astronomy app. The article argues the rejection is a clear error that Apple refused to correct, highlighting flaws in the App Store review process.
What commenters are saying
Commenters are sharply critical of Apple's review process, calling it incompetent and arbitrary. Several note that astrology apps like Co-Star have been featured by Apple, contradicting any ban. Others share personal experiences of absurd rejections, such as blocking updates for mentioning "Android" in a changelog. A former App Review head's deposition is cited, stating reviewers needed only to "breathe" and "think," with typical reviews taking 13 minutes. Some defend Apple's anti-spam policies but concede enforcement is capricious.