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Apple Bans iPhone App For Competing With Mail.app
recoiledsnake writes "Another submission has been rejected from the iPhone App Store, this time for 'duplicating the functionality of the iPhone Mail application.' The author claims that his application allows the user to log into their multiple web email accounts and that Apple seems to be confusing Gmail and Mail.app. This comes on the heels of Apple rejecting an application for competing with iTunes and rejecting other silly but harmless apps as being of 'limited utility.'"
ComputerWorld has an update to the rejected Podcaster app mentioned above. It seems the developer has used Apple's "Ad Hoc" service to begin distributing the software despite the fact that they blocked it from the App Store.
And it's a wonder that the iPhone is such a hot item. I personally wouldn't buy one. Too much hype scares me away from purchases, because I end up thinking to myself "what is wrong with the device that we are all overlooking?" Well, DRM and Big Brother Apple are certainly a couple major things wrong with the iPhone.
Maybe I've just been too exposed to the Apple Zealots over the recent years... It's more than likely that a lot of iPhone users are not zealotous about it. It just bothers me when there are probably other just as viable options that are more open not become a more accepted alternative to products like the iPod and iPhone.
The iPhone heavily features transitions to make the UI look sexy. Try focusing on real usability issues
You're quite right. If only Apple knew as much about HCI as you, Mr. Coward.
Clue: Usable interfaces mimic physical reality. Physical reality doesn't instantaneously flick from one state to another.
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something" - Plato
I just e-mailed two of my apple-loving friends regarding this news, and I expect that both of them will try to rationalize Apple's move.
On the bright side, one of these friends doesn't argue too much when I point out lies in Apple's "Mac vs PC" commercials... so who knows.