据pocketgamer报道，为避免App Store出现垃圾应用，苹果最近取消了开发者更改或上传（已通过审核）应用程序新截图的权限。这意味着，开发者发布的应用如果已通过审核，其截图信息就会被iTunes Connect锁定，若要更改图片，唯一的方法就是针对更新版本提交二进制码。
苹果希望借此回避某些开发者提交只是更换了截图的更新版应用，这类应用通常会以《Temple Run》或《Minecraft》等热作的截图误导用户的购买行为，结果用户启动应用时才会发现实物与截图内容不符。
app screenshot(from iphonehacks.com)
有些开发者通过Twitter抱怨称，这项苹果新政虽然有利于用户，但也可能给正当开发者更新应用截图造成很大的不便。他们认为苹果应该致力于加强其应用审核团队的作用，或者为开发者和用户创造更多举报垃圾应用的渠道。
开发商不满App Store未通知更改截图更新政策编辑本段回目录
一旦新游戏审批通过，开发商就无法轻易变更应用商店中的游戏截图——苹果这一决策也许是新的，但它的处理方式却还是老样子。
这一举措事实上意味着截图被锁定，除非在更新应用时提交二进制数据。苹果的目的在于保护消费者，让他们不会因为流氓应用盗用截图而受骗下载。
然则，苹果强制执行调整方案，没有提前通知开发商。那些计划在升级期间更新应用页面的工作室这下倒霉了——他们甚至没有接到通知。
根据我们收到的反馈，开发商们认为该政策调整的最大问题是没有提前通知他们。
苹果保护消费者的决心固然值得称赞，但却因为极少数人的不法活动而置合法的开发商于严重不利的地位。
以下是目前我们收集到的反馈。
app-store(from arcadesushi.com)
Aaron Ludlow（AppyNation）
理论上，任何减少盗用应用截图的诈骗行为都是值得推崇的。
合法的开发商往往会因为各种需要而定期更新应用截图，然而，苹果新政策必然损害他们的利益。
苹果可以采用其他有效的申报机制，而不是为了抓住一个而错杀一千。
Kevin Ng（Pixels）
苹果剥夺了我们更新应用截图的权利。
我们当中有许多开发商提交截图用于应用检查，然后根据检查结果再制作高品质的截图，使自己的应用脱颖而出。
开发商反复更新应用截图是很经常的事。
另一方面，我非常理解苹果防止欺诈行为的苦心，减少欺诈行为的举措可以捍卫合法开发商的权益。
但我对他们的处理方式不能认同。
给开发商的通知隐藏在苹果开发者页面的角落里。这让我联想到，当地规划局计划拆掉Arthur Dent的房子，但把通知贴在一个废弃的厕所里，并且厕所的门上还贴着“小心内有恶犬”的告示。
原本只需要提前发一封邮件的通知，就可以让我们做好应对调整的准备。
Jon Wetherall（Onteca）
我认为应用商店只是一个中介市场，并没有审批截图的需求。
但是，如果要更改截图，就必须提交整个应用，这是有点儿麻烦。
比如，在亚马逊Kindle Fire平台上，只要提交应用的元数据就行了，不必再提交二进制数据——这可能是一个对所有人都比较好的办法。
尽管通常来说，看到消费者不会上当受骗总是令人欣慰的事，但如果应用商店值得信任，还需要设置这道障碍吗？
Robin Clarke（AppyNation）
这个措施可以打击特别恶劣的诈骗行为，但在这个过程中，它牺牲了一些实用的功能。
对于一些游戏，我们有超过300个本地截图——发生错误的可能性是非常大的。
我担心的是，这么做的直接结果是苹果的提交过程会更繁复，因为开发商提交应用更新时只顾着修复了漏洞，而忽略了截图。
事实上，虚假应用是有可能获得足够的下载量而闯入排行榜的，这意味着App Store不存在允许用户举报错误和恶意应用的有效机制。留下一颗星的评分是不够的。我认为这才是苹果应该处理的大问题。
Jon Bonnick（Intelligenti）
从短期看来，苹果没有通知就执行调整政策对开发商是不公平的。
有些应用仍然有冬季促销的截图，但其实已经“封锁”了。可以预见，将有许多开发者只是为了更改截图而提交大量二进制码，但并没有真正更新应用内容。这很可能延长开发者的应用审核时间。
从长期看来，它会损害开发商搞促销的能力，应用也更难实现“曝光”，特别是自从苹果App Store的布局变得更像Chomp（游戏邦注：被苹果收购的一个搜索与发现引擎），因为用户只能看到第一张截图。
苹果可以轻易地解决这个问题，方法就是让虚假应用的退款流程更简单、更快速、更方便。（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译，作者：Keith Andrew）
Devs slam lack of notice ahead of Apple’s App Store screenshot clampdown
by Keith Andrew
Apple’s decision to remove the ability for developers to alter screenshots once an App Store title has been approved may be new, but the way it’s handled the rule change is not.
The move effectively means screenshots are locked in until the app itself is updated, with Apple looking to ensure consumers aren’t duped into downloading rogue releases based on bogus screenshots.
As with all rule changes enforced by Apple, however, no notice was given to developers before it was adopted. Studios that look to refresh their app’s page in between updates are now out of luck – and they weren’t even warned.
Based on the feedback we’ve received, the lack of notice is that the main issue developers have with the rule change.
Apple’s efforts to protect the consumer are to be applauded, but now legitimate developers are effectively being penalised because of the somewhat dubious activities of the few.
Here’s the feedback we’ve garnered so far. Check back for future updates:
Aaron Ludlow, AppyNation
In theory, anything which reduces the chance for scammers ‘gaming’ the app store by pretending their game is something is not is a good thing.
However, all this will do will harm devs who legitimately update screenshots on a regular basis for various reasons.
There are other effective reporting mechanisms Apple could use instead of harming the majority because of the minority.
Kevin Ng, Pixels on Toast
It’s a shame that this change removes an opportunity for us to iterate on our App Store presence.
Many of us developers submit placeholder screenshots for app review, and then use the time spent in review to produce the high quality screenshots that we need to help our apps stand out.
It’s not uncommon for us developers to continue to iterate on our App Store presence post release.
On the flip side, I can definitely understand Apple wanting to prevent unscrupulous behaviour, and measures to reduce this could help level the playing field for legitimate developers.
I do have an issue with how changes like this are handled.
The notice for developers, hidden away in a corner of Apple’s Developer website, slightly brings to mind the plans for Arthur Dent’s house being demolished having been available in the local planning office for the last few months, hidden away in a locked cabinet in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying “beware the leopard”.
An e-mailed notice, sent well ahead of time, would have given us the opportunity to make plans around these changes.
Jon Wetherall, Onteca
I think the App Store was the only one of the mediated marketplaces that didn’t have screenshot approval requirements.
It is, however, a bit of a pain that to change a screenshot you have to resubmit the whole app.
For Kindle Fire you can resubmit the app meta-data without having to put in a new binary – this would probably be a better solution for everyone.
Generally, though, it is to be applauded it is not nice to see people get ripped off and generally it should remove a barrier to purchase if people know they can trust the store.
Robin Clarke, AppyNation
This change will help to combat a particularly nasty type of scam, but it sacrifices some useful functionality in the process.
In the case of some of our games, we have over 300 localised screenshots – that’s a lot of scope for errors to creep in.
My worry is that the immediate result will be that Apple’s submission process gets swamped with developers submitting app updates just to fix broken and missing screenshots.
The fact that it’s possible for an obviously fake app to generate enough downloads to enter the charts suggests to me that there isn’t an effective mechanism for users to report broken or malicious apps. Leaving a one star review isn’t enough. I think this is a more glaring issue Apple need to address.
Jon Bonnick, Intelligenti
In the short term, Apple has wrong footed developers by springing this change without notice.
Some apps still have screenshots highlighting winter promotions that are now ‘locked’ in place. I anticipate a lot of new binaries being submitted without any real updates just to change the screenshots back. This will likely extend review times for developers.
In the long term it will effect developers’ ability to highlight promotions and Joe Bloggs to find them, especially since Apple changed the App Store to a more ‘Chomp like’ layout with more of an emphasis placed on the first screenshot listed.
Apple could easily fix this by making the refund process for scam apps much simpler, quicker and easier.(source:pocketgamer)
