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Apple Censors App Store Rejection Notices
isBandGeek() writes "After a few reasonable App Store bans, such as the ones on I Am Rich and NetShare, developers started complaining about excessive restrictions on applications like Podcaster and MailWrangler, supposedly because they provided 'duplicate functionality.' In response, Apple rubbed salt in their wounds by slapping non-disclosure agreements on application rejection notices. Now developers are not even allowed to tell their fanbase that Apple decided to withhold approval for an application. Is Apple confident that Google's open platform Android won't be much of a threat?"
What happens if you don't agree to a non-disclosure agreement on the rejection notice you receive?
Usually NDAs have to be signed before you get access to see cool secret stuff. But what if the only thing you're agreeing to is to be rejected?
How was banning a tethering application reasonable?
"It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." -Albert Einstein
Because they make cool *looking* equipment? If M$ did this, people would be all over them. Jobs is not known for working and playing well with others, but people just wink at the silliness because they like the shiny gadgets.
Gee, this makes me want to rush out and develop for that platform. Right after I finish strapping the wings on to this pig...
-1 Uncomfortable Truth
Add to the developer sites a line like:
The following applications have not been removed from the AppStore: [item] [item] [item] .... ...and just delete when required.
-- Soruk
It may be just me but I really don't get why apple has such a big fanbase, seeing as how they treat their customers...
Manuals are your last resort only
I hear that the Apple NDAs are sent in glossy white envelopes to the developers, with the Apple logo on the outside and a grouping of pointless logic on the inside. But at least it looks good, so let's blame it on Microsoft anyways.
Always proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
It's all about ©The Experience!
"The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old......They literally know nothing." - Ben Rhodes
You sign the NDA by default if you download & install the developer tools.
Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
true, but you did sign a NDA when you became a registered apple iPone dev.
it sucks but it's not quite as crazy as "by reading this message you agree to the terms of our NDA"
they aren't just slapping this on now. they slapped it on you up front.
-- Sig under construction...
Apple needs to fix this. It should never have been allowed to get this bad.
"I'm a Genius!"*
*Not an actual Genius
Apple? Abusing their power to keep people from talking about their product in any way that is not authorized by the Apple marketing department? Why, I can't tell you how long it's been since I've heard a similar story about them doing this sort of thing!
No, I don't mean it's been a long time. I mean I literally can't tell you. I'm not legally allowed to.
Sorry.
(Joking . . . mostly.)
Breaking Into the Industry - A development log about starting a game studio.
Do you sign something, or is it a click through EULA?
Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
"Fuck it, we're evil," said Steve Jobs to an audience of soul-mortgaged thralls. "But our stuff is sooo good. You'll keep taking our abuse. You love it, you worm. Because our stuff is great. It's shiny and it's pretty and it's cool and it works. It's not like youâ(TM)ll go back to a Windows Mobile phone. Ha! Ha!"
It's foolish to have expected anything else. As Neal Stephenson put it in In The Beginning Was The Command Line:
It's as applicable now as it was in the late 1990s. That bit of Apple's corporate culture is straight from Steve Jobs.
http://rocknerd.co.uk
An analysts opinion isn't worth the paper it is printed on, and this opinion ain't even printed.
Both phones are less then perfect and missing some "we don't think you need this, so you don't get it" features.
But the analyst is an idiot because he talks about the lack of iTunes. Yeah, because people care about that. Oh, they don't. First off, most music on digital players is ripped from CD's, or obtained through other means in mp3 format. iTunes is very small potatoes in the global music industry and even Apple knows that the iPod a far bigger player in the digital music player isn't always going to be used for iTunes content, which is why Apple gives you the tools needed to convert iTunes music to MP3 format or burn it to a CD.
The idea that a new platform needs to be compatible with iTunes is silly.
The bigger problem is lack of office compatibiltiy. While MS does offer you ways to export your documents in more general formats, that could be the real killer. The iPhone is bought by people who buy Apple and so accept that it is NOT going to be all that compatible with MS software. But android doesn't have the Apple logo, what is its excuse for not being MS compatible?
In a way, I don't think the iPhone and Android are even competitors. iPhone is a single product offered by a company that has no other phones. Android is a platform that any phone maker can use. It would be like saying the Smart Car competes with Honda Engines. Does the iPhone compete with Windows Mobile or Symbian? No, it competes with other phones, specific models, not OS/Platforms. if this google phone fails, there are plenty of others coming out soon, while Apple can hardly afford to start making dozens of phones and a new one every season to suit the tastes of the customer. Neither can google, but the phonemakers can.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
Hate to break it to you fanboy, but most of the rest of the world doesn't use iPhones either.
But that's the beauty of 'Open' and why Apple are (hopefully) shooting themselves in the foot with this kind of tactic.
You see most of the critisms that article put at the Android phone were of particular features not included or limited, if the Android does what it claims to then people can simply write an app that performs that feature and there is nothing stopping them releasing it. However, if that feature is lacking on the iPhone or deliberately lacking(many of the critisms were also true of the iPhone) then Apple can prevent it being released.
Therefore the Android has the unrestricted potential of fulfilling all of the lacking features whereas Apple will prevent the iPhone from fulfilling that same potential.
I like many Apple products but this is my classic annoyance - they could be so much better if Apple didn't hold them back so much.
If this were really happening, what would you think?
In order to get rejected (or accepted) from the apple store, you need to pay $99 to join the iphone developer progeam, which involves accepting the terms. While there is no pen and ink signature, you need to unambiguously accept the terms.
Do you even lift?
These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
What's that?
Sounds like a Star-Tac killer to me, but my 5 year old PalmOS-based Treo trumps the iPhone in almost every single feature. The iPhone does not provide any new functionality, not revolutionary in any way, and there were plenty of full-screen, touch handsets out before the iPhone hit the market.
The one, the ONLY thing Apple has going for them is marketing. That's it.
It doesn't have to hold up in court. Merely the threat of a lawsuit from the wealthy and powerful Apple will silence most small developers. Sure, you would probably win the case in the end, but only after paying lawyers a small fortune to defend you against Apple. And where are you going to get that kind of money if you're just some programmer or tiny company?
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
My company was poised to start developing for the iPhone until I brought this to their attention at the last staff meeting.
The entire iPhone dev project has been put on hold because of this.
Apple had better figure out how to pull their heads out of their arse because lots of companies thinking of this will instantly back off like we have.
I know I was going to write some apps, but I'm not going to pay $99.00 to be blessed to write freeware and then have my apps rejected.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
I'm a PC
And I'm a Mac
I run almost all business software and games
AND I'LL SUE YOUR ASS IF YOU TELL ANYONE!
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
That's utter bullshit. Make that same argument when Windows Live! is the only way to get your software installed into your customers PCs. A platform monopoly is still a monopoly (no matter how small), and this is clearly anti-competitive. Apple needs to be taken to task for it.
<quote>
but I'm just tired of people whining about technology products not living up to their ever-so-important expectations.
</quote>
You can be tired of it, but as one of those Whingers, I'm pissed that my technology is restricted or limited at every turn, either by lack of imagination (the openness of the PC platform proved something) or by pathetic vendor lock-down in an effort to control quality or competition.
Interviewer: So it says here you've been developing for the iPhone for 2 years
Developer: Yup that's right
I: So what applications have you written
D: I've written applications around complex gene folding, stock prediction and a massively multi-player online game
I: Great, can I get them from the App Store
D: I can't say
I: Why not?
D: I can't say
I: Why?
D: There is an NDA covering whether I submitted them and whether they rejected them
I: Can you show me the code?
D: Err no
I: Why?
D: Because I'm not allowed to share things with other developers
I: Why?
D: That's in the NDA too
I: So in summary you say you've written some amazing applications but can't prove it and they aren't on the app store
D: Correct
I: So why should I believe you
D: Would anyone who hadn't done iPhone development have bothered to read the NDA?
I: Good point, you're hired.
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
So 4 out of about 4000 apps have been rejected so far. 0.4%. I don't think it's time to panic yet.
4000 apps, which the majority are thin wrappers around web pages, or the like vs some few (interesting) apps.
The apps that got "rejected" are exactly the ones I would have wanted (bar the i am rich one). I have WANTED an app that can download podcasts straight to my iPod Touch. Currently I use my Nokia N95 (which has a podcast application built in) do do that, but its screen is not as nice as the iPod.
The second thing is, Apple is charging money to "join" the program (even for freeware developers), yet are not 100% clear on their rejection policies (which allows them to revise their policies), and no scope for refund.
I am certain this will fall foul of some UK/European laws, due to its vague nature, and some false advertising by Apple, in terms of their rallying calls for developers (yes I heard them). Finally not being able to disclose the reasons for rejection can also fall short of some laws, as reasons for rejections can help other developers avoid mistakes, or better asses their own projects.
If Apple wants to keep secret its reasons for rejecting applications, then it could be equated that Apple are kind of performing a "lottery" of sorts. That also could fall short of some laws.
Even Symbian (which itself is stricter than J2ME/ Windows Mobile/Android) doesnt do these shenigans.
Have a nice day!
What about the Canary approach?
1. "I promise under penalty of Perjury not to actively state a false status of my app. with Apple."
2.
"Today I was not declined by Apple."
"Today I was not declined by Apple."
"Today I was not declined by Apple."
"Today I was not declined by Apple."
3. ( ... Crickets ... )
My first Journal Entry ever, in 8 years! http://slashdot.org/journal/365947/aphelion-scifi-fantasy-horror-poetry-webzine
Precisely.
A few years ago when Paypal was taken to court, most of the "user agreement" was thrown-out since it violated state or federal laws. The judge decided that consumers can not sign-away their legal protections. Apple's unsigned or shrinkwrapped NDA would also be thrown-out for similar reasons.
And to be honest, even if I was legally-bound to the NDA, I'd still disclose the whys and wherefores of my application rejection. From time-to-time, liberty must be protected with a little civil disobedience in order to protect one's rights, privileges, and freedoms.
The government is not your daddy. Its purpose is not to raid middle-class neighbors' wallets and give it to you.
I, too, have been working on three apps, and have put them on hold.
The seemingly arbitrary blocking/rejection of certain apps makes me wonder just what their criteria is. For some, such as the net tethering application, it is obvious (direct competition/avoidance of AT&T's minutes plans). But for other apps, what is the criteria?
It is starting to look like the iphone app market is closing, because if Apple is declaring certain apps to be "duplicate functionality", then how can competition have a role?
The developers who were first to the store have all the advantage right now. I.e., timing, not functionality or merit, is key. Apple should clarify exactly what they are doing, which policies they are employing to make this determination.
Maybe I'll just write some "flashlight" apps -- those always get accepted. /rolls eyes
Well, I am a business man, and work for a corporation that deals regularly with NDAs and IP. If there is no signature, it's just a statement, and won't hold up in court. We have had lots of companies try to steal our IP, so I am fairly well versed in the intricacies of such agreements, and the implications of not having one.
And to be honest, even if I was legally-bound to the NDA, I'd still disclose the whys and wherefores of my application rejection. From time-to-time, liberty must be protected with a little civil disobedience in order to protect one's rights, privileges, and freedoms.
Its not even civil disobedience to "violate" a contract. Its just breaking a contract that might expose you to being sued for damages or other remedies specified in the contract.
There's nothing ILLEGAL about breaking a contract.
Citizens really need to learn this.
So if someone decides to break the NDA and publish their rejection letters, Apple will probably terminate their membership and that's about it. Apple's going to have a hell of a time showing that they were materially damaged by someone saying that their app got rejected.
...they'll let that fucking cat and his two little friends into your house and wreck everything...
Until such time as the private entity attempts to use the power of the government to censor you by, for example, filing a restraining order.
I'm personally pretty tired of people spouting off that we have no free speech rights when it comes to corporations and private persons, because quite frankly that is bullshit. Free Speech is a recognized human right and no other human, government representative or otherwise, has the right to take it away from you. The only ways they can try are 1) make you agree contractually to limit your rights, 2) use the force of government via the courts, in which case you are protected by relevant law, or 3) use force directly against you, in which case you are protected by relevant law.
Ceding your free speech rights to private entities is just as bad as ceding them to the government. You, me, everyone, has the right to stand up to these bullies and claim our human right to speak freely. Just because it is NOT enumerated in the bill of rights does NOT mean the right does not exist.
No sig now