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We’re always a little hesitant to get too optimistic about changes to the App Store approval process, but it looks like there’s been a few hopeful changes to the way things are done in the past few days, which could well lead to some previously rejected apps becoming available. Perhaps the most encouraging sign is that Apple seems to actually be going back through rejected apps and contacting develops to resubmit their app (without any changes, mind you) for an “expedited review.” One such app is the Start Mobile Wallpaper Gallery, which was rejected for using Shepard Fairey’s famous “HOPE” image of Barack Obama on the grounds that it “ridicules public figures.” In other App Store news, the developer of the officially-licensed C64 emulator also says that it was contacted by a senior director at Apple, who reportedly said that there was “BIG news coming,” but didn’t elaborate any further. But, really, is there any news bigger than a C64 emulator?

We’ve certainly seen plenty of curious rejections for seemingly innocuous applications submitted for inclusion in the App Store, and recently saw Phil Schiller stepping forward to explain one of the most mind-boggling of rejections yet: a dictionary that had the gall to define naughty words. Apparently that’s becoming something of a mission of Schiller’s, investigating apps that have been rejected, personally contacting developers in some cases, and in general working to make things right… or at least less wrong. However, from what we can see he’s only being sent in when word hits the wire about the latest sorry app being sent packing; we’re not sure whether he’s working to correct all illogical app rejections, or only those that make the news. He is the VP of Marketing, so it wouldn’t be entirely surprising for him to only be concerned about Apple’s public image, but for now we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he’s also working to make wholesale improvements on the approval process over in Cupertino — if only because we’re sure the FCC won’t be so kind.