Apple rejected my dictation app for using the accessibility API

oblio

I guess this app can still be installed locally? It's just that it can't be distributed to others due to signing requirements? Edit: Ah, it's in the article, this is about AppStore distribution. Walled gardens are going to walled garden.

Muhammad523

This is what happens when you run an OS controlled by some random big corporation. I dont mean that it's the person's fault, but just that you should not rely on Apple. they allow you to use your computer, but on their terms. Install some GNU/Linux distro and you can do whatever you want.

-mlv

No surprises here, Google has also been restricting access to its accessibility API.

DelightOne

I don't want random apps to paste potentially dangerous things into other apps. Its understandable. Imagine a banking app, and for example an IBAN field.

RZelaya

I am still not certain I understand exactly what Apple's reviewer meant by 2.4.5 in my case. My working assumption is that the concern is about an app reaching into every other app on the system to inject text, but I never got a perfectly clear explanation. (Or maybe I'm too dense to understand it.) If anyone here has more direct experience with this guideline, especially from the App Store review side, I would like to hear it. I would rather understand the policy than just guess at it.

spiral90210

SpaceGremlin (mac alternative to WinDirStat) has a similar thing, where some features only work in the independent "SpaceGremlinPro" version downloaded from their site. However, they do some cool stuff with licensing - you can point it to the app store paid/installed version, and it detects the license and unlocks. If you're worried about people not trusting payment to you, might be worth seeing if you could implement this, so anyone who bought on the app store can still access the full feature set. Cuts you out 30% like, but better than nothing maybe.

dmcgill50

In Apple’s defense, your company name is MITM. Man In The Middle certainly falls on one side of the perception line, don’t you think?

BoggleOhYeah

Eh. I think it’s fair if Apple doesn’t want to publish something on their app store. I just wish they weren’t so obstinate about people installing from other sources without signing/notarization. I understand it from a security standpoint but it’s also nakedly self-serving. I’m glad that they’re fine with signing in this case.

robgough

I recently built a similar app, and so hit the same limitations – I wasn't too upset on Mac, happy to distribute without the App Store (though it's a shame). Where I was more frustrated was how much this limited the potential usability of the iPhone app. Because of app store restrictions it is a far worse app ... though like in your example, still useful to a degree. I can only hope they use the new CEO as an opportunity to seriously re-evaluate their entire approach to how they work with developers, though I'm not actually expecting them to. If anything, with the increase in apps being created via AI tools I worry they will go the other way.

Fokamul

Easy, don't make apps for devices which are only leased to people. Make apps for device, which are 100% owned by people.

hombre_fatal

What API are you using? I have a sandboxed app on the Mac Store that synthesizes CGEvents to simulate arbitrary keyboard actions on behalf of the user. It needs accessibility permission, of course.

hirako2000

Some non apple apps get access to accessibility APIs. What gives? This API is sensitive. I imagine Apple is particularly stringent as to how the access is justified. Not how it uses it but how the reason for using it is explained. It's not like someone tests the app and all api calls to deem them reasonable or not.

artenesdev

Oof, thats rough. I'll still start facing those issues, just got accepted into the apple's dev program. I predict a ton of rejections coming my way.

jchigg2000

Quick question, I assume you're getting caught by the CGEvent(PostEvent)...but I want to be sure. AX API has been gimped for over a decade so you'd have never made it into the app store that way. Just making certain, in case you have another path. It doesn't appear CGEvent is a universal approval anymore either though. Have fought similar demons lately, feel your pain.

2OEH8eoCRo0

Add it to the antitrust pile. Microsoft was almost broken up over not allowing third party programs to use certain APIs. Apple abuses their dominant position to suppress competition.

orliesaurus

As someone who also experience pains in their hands after a couple of hours of typing... I started to use the great open source app called ghost-pepper [1] that i found on github and has been my daily driver (its like superwhisrp but oss/free and local) the maintainer is really nice and replies to DMs really quickly too. [1] https://github.com/matthartman/ghost-pepper

shevy-java

This is another reason why one shouldn't become dependent on those giant companies. Just as Microsoft recently stated, you'll have to pay for GitHub CoPilot soon on a token basis. Apple controls access to its software ecosystem too.

m-s-y

macOS already has a dictation feature that does this exact thing, albeit in real time. I use it extensively. OP’s description in the linked article doesn’t say much more than this, so what am I missing with this particular app?

lofaszvanitt

Time to turn Linux into a platform where you can upload into a store whatever the fuck you want. And see these behemots burn.

burnt-resistor

Accessibility things should be more useful than to just narrow accessibility uses only. Wheelchair ramps help move heavy objects. The accessibility API makes it possible to introspect all of the keyboard shortcuts an app provides for another app to list them. Screw Apple and their persnickety, controlling myopia.