Apple rejects iPhone camera app for using volume controls for taking photos

It looks like the reviewers pointed to specific Apple requirements that the app violated. That was great. The developers already knew that their app violated the requirement and they are responding to the rejection in a mature manner. This is also great.<p>Whether or not Apple should review/approve apps is a different question. However, given the current system, it looks like the system worked as well as one would want any review/approval system to work.

<i>They did not reject Camera+</i> --- Camera+ is one of the most popular apps on the store (it's fantastic, by the way). They rejected a single release of the app which <i>drastically</i> violated Apple's interface guidelines, and specifically explained why.

When the iPhone 4's separate-button volume controls came out, I thought Apple might use one of them for the shutter. It would have really increased the utility of the phone as a camera. I already use Camera+, this would have been a great new feature.

That sucks. I've wanted an app that did this forever.

I think this is a good policy. I hate getting blasted with unexpected loud noises especially with earbuds. It's a very painful experience. The volume buttons should always work as advertised. There's a good argument to be made that the iPhone needs an extra physical button. Either on the top right side or perhaps the ringer on/off switch could become a multi-function button. Toggle + press.

All I can think about is: the time and energy expended sifting through Apple's red tape is time and energy spent not creating new apps and improving existing ones.

They should follow [Tapbot's lead](<a href="http://tapbots.com/blog/pastebot/pastebot-music-in-background" rel="nofollow">http://tapbots.com/blog/pastebot/pastebot-music-in-backgroun...</a>). Play some music, have the volume buttons adjust the volume of the music (thus following the HIG) while also triggering the shutter.

Stifling innovation? - there's an app for that!™

It's nice they don't react angrily or surprised.