I ask for repeated approval of version 4.6.1, since it was rejected for features that were previously approved in 4.6.
Version 4.6 added feature that changes app icon based on user’s location. I wrote explanation of this feature in Review Notes and this version was approved by your team. (Full text of Review Notes is embedded at the end.)
Version 4.6.1 didn’t make any changes to previously approved features, it only fixed improtant bugs and improved several UI elements. No change in app icon management was made, but this time, the app was rejected for way it approaches Alternate Icons.
This inconsistency in decisions of App Review Team is troubling for me, because I got two distinct results from submitting basically the same app. Process of reviewing new submissions should take into account previous versions of the app.
Also related, my previous submission of version 4.6.1 was rejected by asking for information which was provided in Review Notes of previous update. I don’t think that should happen. When reviewing features added in version 4.6, you should read Review Notes of that version first.
Review Notes for version 4.6:
“App icon is changed automatically based on approximate location of the user on the planet. Time zone (offset from GMT) is used to detect the approximate location. In addition, exported Settings.bundle of the app allows overriding the automatic behavior with manual choice.
There is some degree of confusement among developers about what are the acceptable use cases for Alternate Icons. I think personalization in this form is a valid use case. The 3 icons share the same graphic style, so they should be easily recognizable by users (and paired with the App Store icon).”
This is the related app: Geography of the World