Reminder: holiday downtime schedule for App Store apps and updates is December 23-27

Apple has informed its registered developers that the iTunes Connect service used for uploading App Store assets will shut down for a week around the holidays, December 23-27.

Apple gave a heads up to its registered developers about the planned downtime schedule earlier this month via an announcement on the Apple Developers website. Other App Store Connect and developer account features will remain available.

Any pricing changes or new app submissions must be locked in before the cut-off date for developers who wish to offer app discounts or new content over the holidays.

“Make sure your apps are up to date and ready for the holidays,” reads an announcement that developers see after logging in to iTunes Connect. “New apps and app updates will not be accepted December 23-27 (Pacific Time), so any releases should be scheduled, submitted and approved in advance.” In other words, no new apps for you between December 23-27.

iTunes Connect was rechristened as “App Store Connect” as Apple at last year’s WWDC released a new App Store Connect app allowing developers to bypass the clunky iTunes Connect web app and instead monitor stats and respond to user reviews in a dedicated app.

Annual App Store freezes have become something of a tradition for the Cupertino firm — and who can blame them, really? After all, the App Store staff needs some time off from work during the holiday period. In the past few years, however, those holiday freezes had lasted for five days compared with the seven-day holiday breaks before the change.

Apple should also soon release its annual Best Of list highlighting top apps and developers.