Smile Struggles to Make TextExpander touch Acceptable to Apple
First, Apple changed how persistent pasteboards worked in iOS 7, breaking the integration between Smile’s TextExpander touch and the numerous apps that supported Smile’s text expansion utility. Then Apple rejected a version of the app that stored shared snippet data in long-past completed reminders (not surprising — it was a serious hack). Smile has now worked around the problem by using x-callback-url in TextExpander touch 2.3, but the downside is that you’ll need to do something to acquire and update snippet data in each supported app. This situation captures perfectly the tension between Apple’s push for complete security and users’ desire for apps to work together.
Apple is cracking down on other companies too, but some are not willing to be as accommodating as Smile. ManyTricks had to pull Usher (like iPhoto for video) from the Mac App Store because they felt they could not make what they considered crippling changes to the app in order for it to remain in the MAS:
http://manytricks.com/blog/?p=3022
And at least that's possible with a Mac app, which can be sold outside the Mac App Store...
Actually, we aren't quite so heroic :). We held off on making their requested changes for a year or so, but a usability bug that cropped up in Mavericks forced our hands: we wanted to get the update out, but couldn't unless we made the other changes.
So we did, but they still rejected the update. So instead of leaving an app with a known usability bug in the store, we pulled it.
-rob.
Apple's own built-in text-expansion in iOS is contemptibly limited (you can't even have a multi-line replacement). Considering the difficulties of text entry on iOS it would make sense for Apple to either provide killer functionality themselves or provide a mechanism whereby a 3rd party could do so globally and safely.
I've used text-expansion utilities on the Mac since TypeIt4Me came out over 20 years ago, and I cannot understand anyone who types and fails to appreciate how indispensable they are.
Major Fail Apple...