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Sep 15, 08 - 08:25 am Comment from: David Calado

I completely concur. The big brother mentality is starting to get a little extreme here, and the policing of the app store is going to have detrimental results on future development of apps.

If you want to stop developing apps for the app store, fine.

Carry your ass! I am 100% behind Apple, and do not give a shit about developers that can't hack it.

Good riddance.

First of all, I agree that Apple should be the gatekeepers for iPhone software - to a point. They should check the software to make sure it is not malicious or does something detremental to either the device or it's software.

However, they should not be app "censors". Let the market decide what is and isn't appropriate iPhone software. If this continues to happen, the other companies WILL pass you up and the iPhone will fade into obscurity.

You see now the dangers of a OS AND a Hardware monopoly!

I'm so glad I'm using Windows and a rotary phone!


Jokes aside, my pet peeve against Apple is their insistance of offering glossy screen only computers when nearly every online poll people prefer matte screens to avoid annoying reflections and headache causing eyestrain.

Apple isn't run by Steve Jobs anymore, that's been obvious for quite some time now.

Sep 15, 08 - 08:37 am Comment from: pastrychef

Can there be an issue with it using AT&T;'s 3G network? Even the iPhone's built-in iTunes can't connect using 3G...

Sep 15, 08 - 08:37 am Comment from: David Calado

Re: GettingSickOfThis

Especially if Apple does not provide clear guidance up front what will be accepted, and what will not be. Imagine spending countless hours and money creating a project that takes podcasting abilities, and makes them better, just to have Apple reject it because it does something similar to iTunes, even though iTunes does not have the same capabilities. I don't know anything about this app, other than the MDN article, but to have Apple censor or block something for these reasons is just plain wrong. Censoring for maliciousness or offensive is fine, but to do it like they have been is not right, and making them look very bad in my eyes.

Sep 15, 08 - 08:38 am Comment from: Connor MacBook

I support Apple's right to do whatever the hell it wants, and live and die by its decisions. Somehow I don't think this will mean the end of the App Store.

I'm just waiting for a developer to try and offer an alternative browser to Safari ...

Oh yea

iTunes 8 is giving Vista PC users the Blue Screen of Death as well.

Also the new iTunes Visualizer is set by default and most PC's can't handle it and crash.

Oh Apple, will you EVER do public beta tests?

Just watch! Steve will overturn this by weeks end. Negative or positive controversy is EXPOSURE for Apple and tunes people in who are wondering just what this new App store is all about. I am a person who is way to the right, but Apple is way to the left, and this makes their leftsidedness look foolish and contrary and Steve will change it by weeks end unless there is something that we don't know yet.

Can there be an issue with it using AT&T;'s 3G network? Even the iPhone's built-in iTunes can't connect using 3G...

Yea it's AT&T;overselling their network capacity.

Expect higher data fees to cut demand.

Glad Apple censors apps on its apps store. Also, if you don't like it, then carry your whining ass.

Apple needs to keep iron fisted control of the apps store. It ain't a democracy, it ain't freedom of speech, it ain't freedom of the press.

I hope they keep slapping down shitware and crybabyware.

WHAT BOLLOCKS.

It BREAKS the agreement, the developer knew, or should have known that.

MDN and its fellow travellers are missing the point.

The Podcaster is a rip-off of Apple's product. Two, its a duplication. 3 App Store, is Apple's store, Apple has every right to veto what goes in or out. 4 Developers who do not want to develop for the iPhone are free to go some were else e.g. Windoze Mobile and try their luck there.
Apple should insist on apps that add value and cut down on duplication and poorly concieved and usesless apps like the fart app or the useless expensive diamond crap. Uselss and duplicates waste everyones time and money.
Less is always more!

"iTunes 8 is giving Vista PC users the Blue Screen of Death as well."

And Apple published a fix quickly and several days ago.

iTunes 8: If Windows Vista displays a blue screen error message when connecting iPhone or iPod
Last Modified: September 12, 2008
Article: TS2280

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2280


Please continue with your regularly scheduled hallucinations and maniacal ranting.

Macaday...
Nice find...Case closed...Next Please....

I was hoping to see an Amazon video service player as an app in the App Store...this is extremely disappointing.

I'm starting to wonder about Apple now...

Sep 15, 08 - 09:10 am Comment from: El Guapo

@Connor MacBook

"I'm just waiting for a developer to try and offer an alternative browser to Safari"

Doesn't FlyCast already offer this? I know they have a browser built-in to their program so people can listen to their stations and surf the web at the same time (but maybe it somehow uses Safari).

Sep 15, 08 - 09:13 am Comment from: Mr. Reeee

Wanna bet Apple adds the Podcaster feature set to a future release of iTunes?

Can you spell Watson?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karelia_Watson

This is continuing a pretty bad trend. Randomly pulling iPhone apps that might offend, but this is even worse. It adds a feature that some would find useful, but iTunes doesn't offer. What's wrong with that?

A far as those "offensive: apps, like "I Am Rich" or the Fart app. Why pull those? Whatever their perceived "value", they work as advertised.

Gee, I forgot, this IS a Politically Correct world where everyone must adjust to the complaints of the few.

In that case, I'm offended by Xtian Bible apps. They are harmful and promote violence, sexism and ignorance. Pull THOSE!

You guys missed that magic word "subscription" Next he'll want to sign you for downloading music at higher cost than Itunes music store. Develop your own system like Apple did and including software and hardware and try to sell it.....

I love Apple so much I'm going to explode.

The Vista BSOD was exactly what you expect from Vista - a product riddled with quirks and weirdness that makes programming for it nigh on impossible. Why did all those simple printer drivers take SO LONG to be released??

Ha ha - http://blogs.businessweek.com/technology/ByteOfTheApple/blog/archives/2008/09/hows_this_for_a.html

And exposure about yet another example of Vista crashing is GREAT for Apple!

Sep 15, 08 - 09:18 am Comment from: JadisOne

Slippery slope.

Apple is already the red-headed stepchild in the tech industry. They better be careful.

I think people are making a big deal about NOTHING!
Everyone knows the APP Store beats everything out there by a mile. And none of the developers who have apps making them rich on the App store is going to stop making them just because one or two are rejected.

MDN blew it!
Check out Macaday's post--he's right and Apple is right.

Sep 15, 08 - 09:25 am Comment from: Mr. Reeee

Rich, read it again.

"Podcaster, by contrast, would have let you update your podcast subscriptions directly, using the iPhone’s Wi-Fi receiver"

Podcaster will update your iTunes podcast subscriptions. It doesn't offer a separate subscription service that piggybacks onto iTunes.

So, where's the harm Apple?

I meant the Macaday post with THIS link:

http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2008/09/15/sdk-333-the-iphone-podcaster-surprise-myth/

That's a shame. Because I really needed a program on my cellphone that let's me categorize and play back podcasts to remind me that it's o.k. to be wealthy and have really bad gas.

Sep 15, 08 - 09:32 am Comment from: Mr. Reeee

Okay, Macaday, you're right.

In case I missed something, why didn't Apple cite this breach of contract when they pulled Podcaster? It would kept the hand wringing and cries of censorship and oppression to a minimum.

Personally, I still don't see what's wrong with Podcaster. Maybe Apple should have just offered to BUY Podcaster and fold those remote-sync features into iTunes. It certainly would have generated GOOD will toward Apple.

They say there's no such thing as bad press, but there's certainly nothing GOOD about this kind of bad press.

Thanks Macaday, the problem with the App Store is not a problem. The developers involved are the problem.

"This is a particularly shameful thing for developers in the SDK program to misrepresent, because the restrictions are covered in the program’s SDK are are not supposed to be published publicly."

Concerning Podcaster myth!

Bad Apples. I looking forward to getting an application like this. I currently book mark web pages so I can listen to the days podcasts on my why home from work. I don't want to have to sync with my MacBook everyday just to get these podcasts. I have Mobile Me so everything else that is important to my is synced live. I've been hoping that a simple podcast manager would soon become available. Bad Apple...

It is a myth that Apple is rejecting applications without any reason.

Every developer has to agree to the license agreement to use the iPhone SDK and it clearly states "3.3.3 Without Apple’s prior written approval, an Application may not provide, unlock or enable additional features or functionality through distribution mechanisms other than the iTunes Store.". Podcaster is bypassing iTunes and violating the agreement. It is not Apples fault that some developers don't read the license agreement and try to get written approval, before beginning work on their application, which then ends up rejected.

Check out this article from RoughlyDrafted Magazine that goes into more detail about why certain applications are rejected.

SDK 3.3.3: The iPhone Podcaster Surprise Myth

Please stop spreading uninformed myths and rumors.

Poor developer...
Hours & hors of work for nothing.

Apple want 30% of any sale of the probably next standard mobile platform ? Fine. They invented it, after all. And it's simpler for the developers to market their stuf.

Apple want to limit the possible apps ? it should be limited only to unstable / dangerous apps. Even SEX apps should be available to my opinion, under control & disclaimers.
Where's Freedom ?
Where is america ?

I am a 100% pure Mac guy from ever i can remember. Even during the tough times...

APPLE, read this : If your plan is to become microsoft, i'll leave the platform.

APPLE, read this : I LOVE freedom. You can limit your own apps as you want, but certainly not refuse someone else's app except for technical reasons.

APPLE, NEVER forget : you were great, but you become exceptional because of competition. Do not kill it. Just do better than it.

APPLE, even by becoming the 1st world computer seller, stay the "little company that inovates on top of everyday's frustration".

I really RECOMEND the apps validation to be a pure technicaly automated test validation. Do not restric more than law.

This is a very sad day to me... My entrepreneur light is fading.
Please correct ASAP.

Sincerly,

A businessly impressed (and depressed today) young french entrepreneur.

Sep 15, 08 - 09:45 am Comment from: Ouate de Phoque

OK, we need an iPhone boot camp to run Windows Mobile. That will allow us the freedom to choose whatever apps we want. -:)

This is EXACTLY an App that I've been looking for... I wanted ability to download certain podcasts to my phone. WTF is wrong with APPLE!?! The seem to be blocking all the good, worth while apps... Netshare, Navigation... this sucks.

Sep 15, 08 - 10:24 am Comment from: DanielM

Why should Apple allow an app that does something that Apple doesn't allow itself to do?

Why should Apple allow an app that contravenes the reason why Apple decided to restrict downloading large files and video. ?

Why should Apple allow an app that contravenes the iPhone SDK Licence re applications that require or will have access to cellular networks?

"It BREAKS the agreement, the developer knew, or should have known that."

Those words are so general that any app that goes and gets data from the Internet without going through imaginary nonexistent capabilities of iTunes could be banned.

IM messaging is a "distribution mechanism".

What in effect Eran the Idiot is saying is that Apple is within it's rights to ban any net connected app, which downloads data, that doesn't go through iTunes for that data.

But there are dozens of examples of those kind of apps in the app store already.

This one only got banned because Apple perceived it as competing with them.

That's a very BAD precedent to set.

Code whatever you like, but if it conflicts with present or planned Apple functionality, you're out!

If you dont like it - go somewhere else - stop bitchin and buy windows where anything can happen. Why mistake APPLE's App Store for YOUR App Store, or consider Apple should have a Free-For-All instead of certain restrictions ? This is what the "competition is good" whiners get, when the competition slays you, or locks you out, you cry foul, but that's exactly what competition is supposed to do - beat you.

Sep 15, 08 - 10:34 am Comment from: alansky

This is a really bad decision on Apple's part—first of all because Podcaster does not duplicate iTunes functionality. Without an app like Podcaster, there is no way to download podcasts directly to the iPhone.

Although I am generally a faithful defender of Apple's right to be Apple, they've gone too far this time imho.

"Developers who do not want to develop for the iPhone are free to go some were else e.g. Windoze Mobile and try their luck there. "

No-body's stupid. if Apple said up front, "Your App will be banned" No-body would code banned apps.

The problem is that the words are subject to much interpretation that just about any app could be banned, and you don't get to find out until after you code and ship your app whether Steve's jackbooted foot will come down on your neck.

Anyway, what's the problem with an Amazon Music Store app for the iPhone if you want to write one? Monopolies are nice for the company which owns them, but an bit of competition certainly never hurt consumers.

Sep 15, 08 - 10:56 am Comment from: cogitoergomac

Macaday and Robman are right. Read the full Dilger article. What the developers are doing with this issue is itself deceptive. They are misrepresenting what is in the SDK Agreement, and pretending that what is in it is not there. Podcaster should have been dead at conception if the developer had read the Agreement, OR the developer could have sought Apple's prior approval. Podcaster and pCalc are not remotely comparable. The former directly competes with the the iTS distribution channel and Apple's business model. Does Apple need to clarify some things? No doubt. But this notion that Apple is anti-competitive is a joke. Much as I love Daring Fireball, shame on Gruber for propagating this nonsense.

Sep 15, 08 - 11:02 am Comment from: Predrag

OK; Apple had every right to remove this app, since it was in violation of the SDK.

However, as many have said, it's a slippery slope. If many developers end up getting rejected due to a violation of DSK, this may begin to create a negative perception of Apple. So far, it doesn't (majority of people have never heard of I'm Rich, or Fart apps), but a lot of noise may change that.

Apple will need to think about this on an individual basis, especially in situations when an application clearly provides missing functionality, and doesn't seriously impact performance. So far, these apps have been few and far in between, so it isn't like Apple would need to dedicate 15 people to the task of reviewing apps every day.

If we put this whole thing in perspective, though, out of some 3,000 apps, there were half a dozen that got banned, for one reason or another. That's less than 1%. If this guarantees better stability of the iPhone compared to other mobile devices, it may be something that vast majority consumers are willing to swallow.

If developers can't be bothered to create useful, creative and NEW apps instead of duplicating or copying other developer's ideas over and over... they don't deserve to thrive. I'd rather use iTunes.

Sep 15, 08 - 11:09 am Comment from: MacBill

Apple, you have lost me -- and countless others -- as developers for the iPhone. I will NEVER waste my time & money necessary to develop an app for the iPhone with these draconian policies in place. If you want to COMPLETELY STIFLE the platform, congratulations to you because that is EXACTLY what you're doing. Good riddance, iPhone platform. I'll continue developing for the Mac, but never the iPhone.

The problem is not Apple banning apps, but rather phrasing the agreement so widely that any app potentially could be banned then banning apps on secret criteria known only to Apple.

As apps get banned we get to understand better what that criteria is becoming.

Today's new rule to add is: Don't write apps that compete with anything Apple might do now or in the future.

Sep 15, 08 - 11:11 am Comment from: G4Dualie

If you think this scenario is teetering on the brink of chaos, just wait until Google opens up it's version of the App store. Their policy will be to allow anything and everything, which will all but ruin the brand.

"If we put this whole thing in perspective, though, out of some 3,000 apps, there were half a dozen that got banned, for one reason or another. "

Which means that half a dozen people lost their entire investment in iPhone development, in this case for the only reason that it competes with functionality that Apple might introduce.

For now it's mostly been silly or trivial apps. But can you imagine sinking millions into iPhone development to have Apple tell you that they won't release your app because they've been secretly working on one which does the same thing and they don't want you competing with it?

Apple has a better way open to them. let the app live for now and build the functionality in to future iPhone software. Then the app vendor can take another leap ahead of Apple or die.

In the case where Apple thinks an app is silly or useless, they're not really equipped to make that judgement. It appears a lot of people thought "Pull My Finger", useless as it is might be a funny app to own. They should let the market decide and developers of applications that customers (not Apple) think are silly and useless apps will fade over time.

Ok, then why are there RSS readers in the App Store? They do basically the same job as this does. The format of data might be different, but the function is the same.

Today the bell tolled on the death of the iPhone as a smartphone platform.

This action will put the shit up so many developers, thinking that all their efforts can be for nothing based on arbitrary Apple decisions that few will ever develop more than a tip calculator which takes a weekend to write.

How is it that Apple manages to mix it's bursts of extreme brilliance with bursts of extreme stupidity?

"Ok, then why are there RSS readers in the App Store? They do basically the same job as this does. The format of data might be different, but the function is the same."

My point exactly. There's hardly an app Apple can't chose to ban for breaking one of the overly broad and vague rules in the SDK agreement.

The second new rule for today is:

Don't write any app which downloads any information of any kind from the Internet, unless you get that information through iTunes.