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Apple Blindsides More AppStore Developers

For a while now Apple has said it doesn't want "widget-like" apps in the store; but where is the boundary of that fuzzy statement? The developers of My Frame, of which three versions had already been approved for the iPhone/iPad, found out that they had already crossed it when Apple informed them their app would be pulled. My Frame had options to overlay data on whatever photo was displaying: a Twitter stream, weather, etc. When one of the developers wrote to Steve Jobs on a whim to ask what unwritten rule their app had violated, Jobs wrote back: "We are not allowing apps that create their own desktops. Sorry." "I see now why people are so angry at the 'murky' nature of the App Store, and I'm starting to agree with them. My Frame was approved by Apple 3 times (once for each version we released), and ... now, at version 1.2 they decide it's to be removed? How can a company be prepared to invest into a platform that can change at any time, cutting you off and kicking you out, with no course of action but to whine on some no-name blog[?] There is no alternative platform, despite what others may say about Android, it's immature and their app store(s) are a wild west nightmare. It really is Apple's way or the highway...." A few blogs have picked up the story.

14 of 716 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting strategy. by ArbitraryDescriptor · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is he hoping that Steve reads:

    "There is no alternative platform, despite what others may say about Android, it's immature and their app store(s) are a wild west nightmare. It really is Apple's way or the highway..."

    and rewards his loyalty with an exception?

  2. Re:It's time. by Pojut · · Score: 5, Funny

    Either that, or a picture of Steve Jobs' face, with one half looking like a wolf and the other half looking like a sheep.

  3. iPhone developer agreement: Eat a bug on camera by David+Gerard · · Score: 5, Funny

    iPhone developers are up in arms at Apple requiring them to use only Apple toolkits, sacrifice a Windows developer at their local Apple Shop every Sunday and maintain an altar to Steve Jobs in their homes. And eat a bug.

    Apple is famous for its rigid control over its devices, in its quest to maintain user quality. Developers have worked under increasing restrictions in their attempts to provide quality applications for the iPhone such as I Am Rich, Magic 8 Ball and iFart.

    "Not a big deal," said Mr Jobs in a personal email. "Cross-platform development leads to a worse user experience every time. Also, the video of you eating the bug has to be H.264 QuickTime or your app is out. Extra points for cockroaches."

    "This clause shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the creative freedom developers need," said iPhone developer Greg Slepak. "Software is an infinitely malleable creation of pure thought. Toolkits, languages and frameworks are only a way to develop something people will want. It's like telling Rembrandt what brand of brushes he's allowed to use."

    He paused to chow down on a palmetto bug for his MacBook's camera. "I'll tell you, a lot of iPhone developers are seriously considering Android, just as soon as Google develops a suitably exploitable stream of mindless thralls that will generate us a gushing torrent of money."

    "Thanks for the video, Greg," said Mr Jobs, "but we've just added section 3.3.1.a: 'In particular, when Greg Slepak submits an application, the bucket of cockroaches in the video have to be Apple-branded and genetically engineered in Cupertino.' So we've rejected your application, cancelled your membership and zeroed your account.

    "Of course, you're free to apply again. Or not, if you don't want a goddamn dumptruck full of money backed up to your house. It's a free country."

    --
    http://rocknerd.co.uk
    1. Re:iPhone developer agreement: Eat a bug on camera by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Funny

      Don't worry, you could always join the heretical sect of the Cult of Mac, the one that awaits the Second Coming of Woz, the True Steve, who shall lead them back to the promised land, flowing with expansion slots and user-customizable features...

  4. Re:It's time. by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 4, Funny

    Steve Jobs wearing robes and holding stone iTablets with invisible commandments?

  5. Re:It's time. by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Part of me is ashamed that I knew what they reference meant immediately.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  6. Re:It's time. by biryokumaru · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Thou shalt not do things I don't like"

    --
    When you're afraid to download music illegally in your own home, then the terrorists have won!
  7. Re:Tired. by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 4, Funny

    quit robbing the rest of us of our mental bandwidth.

    Yeah, some of us are still on 300 baud!

  8. Re:It's time. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    That liver he got has some nasty bile.

    How much do you want to bet his liver transplant came from an early foxconn suicide? You know, way before any new of the high suicide rate hit the media and when Steve really needed a liver?

  9. Re:It's time. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Thou shalt not do things I don't like"

    "Thou shalt not do things iDon't like"

    There fixed that for you!

  10. Re:It's time. by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 4, Funny

    You should be ashamed you watched enough voyager to get the reference.

    --
    Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
  11. Re:Rejected 4 times so far by The+MAZZTer · · Score: 4, Funny

    The obvious solution is to give away a Zune HD, and say Apple recommended you do so.

  12. Re:It's time. by Ossifer · · Score: 4, Funny

    You sank my battleship!

  13. Re:It's time. by bitt3n · · Score: 5, Funny

    Steve Jobs...he's more like Emperor Ming

    no wonder he hates Flash