Hi, Can an app icon be made to behave like a shortcut to a website? Cheers

Yes, use buttons or menu list with icons. Or create a button in Html. Easiest way buttons screen. http://wp.me/p1ZRa7-1O

Do you mean can the app icon that appears on the iOS device, and which would normally launch an app, be made to open a website in Safari? If so, then you don't need an app at all, but just a webclip for the website. If your app is just a link to a website, it'll never get approved by Apple. Or are you trying to accomplish something else? Mark

It sounds like @ xs11ax is asking about a simple icon > safari launch icon. I think @ GoNorthWest has the right idea. Make a mobile website, not an iOS app then see this about making a shortcut icon. http://developer.apple.com/library/IOs/#documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/MobileHIG/IconsImages/IconsImages.html

Its ok guys, scrap the last idea lol. I found Buzztouch 1.4v to be really bland and restrictive so i was thinking i could make an app icon that connects the user directly to a website that resembles and behaves app, and the website would have better features and design........ But then i discovered Buzztouch 1.5v on youtube! I loved it. Does it work with Android yet?

>>>If your app is just a link to a website, it'll never get approved by Apple. interesting. i'm close to submitting my first APP to Apple and its a pretty basic company info app. 3 of the 5 screens in the app are just pointers to Custom HTML pages. is Apple not going to like that? the core of the app is simply a company directory that i made as mobile sized html pages. it has a persons name and phone number listed. click on the name launches email to the contact and clicking the phone launches a call to the contact. nice and simple. i tried to make these 'directory' pages in the app but i could not link a phone and email links on a single line like i can an html page. the html seemed simpler and i could point to the same pages with an Android and ios app. just seemed more efficient.

Yes, BTv1.5 Android works. Not every screen works, but it's still an exceptional product. From your post I wouldn't worry plenty of power in BTv1.5. Fred

Hi @ATRAIN53, Given your description, it's highly unlikely that your app would get approved by Apple, but anything is possible. They tend to frown on apps that are simply company advertising, and things that can be accomplished just as easily using a web site. If you search the forums, you'll see that most of the apps that have been rejected fall into that category. You could improve your chances by adding a feature to provide driving directions using the native GPS features, or something else that takes advantage of iOS features. But an app that is basically a web site...that doesn't have a high probability of success. Mark

i've been checking up on rejection and it's bringing back a lot of memories from high school! (j/k) the app is really not advertising or marketing - it's a this is our company, these are our locations and here's a contact list. i added google maps for our locations with driving directions and that's all that in it. should i add links to Twitter and facebook for good measure? it's pretty much like one of the apps from Davids videos. i wanted to make a menu driven contacts in the app - i want people to click on an employees name in the app and have it launch an email screen or a phone based on if they click the name or phone number. i could not see how to do this on one line per employee with the buzztouch menus. maybe some custom code. (perhaps this might make a good idea for a bt plug-in, employee contact screes/menus?) in the end it seemed a simple mobile sized html page with everyone listed and hot links to email and phone accomplished this quickly. not to mention this as a website is easier to maintain - and it's compatible for BOTH iPhone and Android apps. i have spent the day now downloading similar company apps from itunes and see a lot that are almost exactly what i have cooked up. for instance WATSON INSURANCE which i found i itunes store. almost all the links in their app point to websites. so i'm hopeful mine will get approved if these similar company style apps did. (and no, i don't plan to cite these guys apps to apple if i get rejected, i know that won't do any good) honestly, the idea of employee names compiled into xcode and posted to the itunes store kinda makes me cringe. it's one thing to use the generic [email protected] address in an app - but specific employee info i'm a bit sketch on. i would think Apple has some guidelines for this. (they seem to regulate everythign else!) is anyone else using employee contact lists in ther app and if so is it menu driven or a html page? almost all the comapny apps i've seen so far use html or pdf contact pages.

Hi @ATRAIN53, So, this is obviously not an issue with Android apps, as you can publish them anywhere, so long as they're signed. For iOS, we've seen lots of discussion in this forum where an app was rejected as being to markety, the person makes a small tweak and resubmits, and it gets approved. I think a lot of this had to do with the person who reviews the app, and how closely to the guidelines they stick. Perseverance seems to win out most of the time. From what you describe above, I think you have a fairly good chance of getting your app through the process. Mark

i wish more of my user base were Android instead of iPhone, i'd have been done and had it rolled out by now! but this is going to be the company norm, just like 10 years ago 'do you have a website' now it will be 'where do i download your app' and if you don't have one on the itunes or android market - you look out of date now. pretty interesting to shop the itunes store and check out some of these company apps. a good majority look like they were cranked out by the same template. right now what i see in the industry i work in (life insurance) are a lot of agencies advertising use of desktop icons for mobile devices to make websites 'seem' like an app. i can see why they do this - it's easier and requires no approval to get your companys 'app' on someones phone. but we want a real app, that looks more professional IMO.

A possible endrun around Apple's itunes store is to make your app a web app. Instead of an Android app + iOS app Have an Android + web app Or just an Web App Publish the web app today, finished the iOS app then publish the IOS app