Background Asset download inconsistent

Question

Created 4d

Replies 3

Boosts 0

Participants 3

I have a multi-platform app 1 (visionOS, macOS, tvOS) on the app stores. I am trying to add an iOS version but it got rejected. I have been trying to get another visionOS app 2 accepted but that was also rejected. After app 1 was rejected I retried the other app 1 versions and had some issue downloading Background Assets . After reinstalling the app 1 versions from their App Stores they worked as expected. The other app 2 was working for me via TestFlight but each time I submitted a new version of the app it was rejected with a black screen image, indicative of a downloading issue. I may need to do some coding work on app 2 but the behavior of accepted app 1 versions has me asking if others have seen issues with Background Asset downloads. This seems to be a relatively new technology so maybe stiill a work in progress.

Answered by DTS Engineer in 901009022

black screen image, indicative of a downloading issue

This seems problematic to me. Ignoring App Review for the moment, let’s imagine that something goes wrong with background assets out in the Real World™. Presenting the user with a black screen isn’t ideal. Rather, your app should probably:

Explain the problem in user-level terms.
Provide a way to contact your support channel with enough information to help you diagnose the issue.

Agreed?

And once you have that in place it’ll also help you investigate any problems that show up in App Review.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

Answer 1

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

4d

Recommended

black screen image, indicative of a downloading issue

This seems problematic to me. Ignoring App Review for the moment, let’s imagine that something goes wrong with background assets out in the Real World™. Presenting the user with a black screen isn’t ideal. Rather, your app should probably:

Explain the problem in user-level terms.
Provide a way to contact your support channel with enough information to help you diagnose the issue.

Agreed?

And once you have that in place it’ll also help you investigate any problems that show up in App Review.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

Answer 2

Boomer OP

2d

Agreed. I was also disappointed to hear of the black screen. With an earlier version I included the videos in the app binary. I thought using Background Assets should be a better experience for the user. In my testing with TestFlight the asset is downloaded in a second or two, no more than 5 seconds. I didn't think about the user getting a slower or no download. I've added an alert when an asset isn't downloaded so the user should get some feedback.

The problem I'm trying to explore is the difference between my experience testing with TestFlight (1-5 second downloads) and the reviewer's experience (> 1min or no download) with the same binary.

To my mind one possible reason for the difference could be a problem with the Background Asset system or my use of the system. I had originally got the asset pack upload/approval out of step with my app submission but was able to get versions for three platforms accepted.

Thanks for your comment. David

Answer 3

Frameworks Engineer OP

Apple

2h

Hi, @Boomer! Could you file a feedback report in Feedback Assistant with information about the apps with which you’re having issues, including their respective bundle IDs and the specific builds that you submitted to App Review? Make sure to reply to this thread with the feedback ID, and we’ll look into the issue on our side. Thanks!