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Apple Bans Game App That Criticizes Smartphone Production
An anonymous reader sends word that Apple has removed from the App Store a game called Phone Story, which walks players through the creation of a smartphone, highlighting many of the negative aspects. There are four brief stages: running a mining facility in the Congo, saving suicidal factory workers, handing out phones to oblivious consumers, and generating e-waste through planned obsolescence. Apple said Phone Story violated sections 15.2, 16.1, 21.1, and 21.2 of the App Store guidelines, which make reference to "objectionable or crude content" and "offensive or mean-spirited commentary." A short video of the game has been posted at Kotaku.
apple has always been acting very nice to criticism so far, never threatening to sue commentaries it did not like... this is so out of character :)
Never antropomorphize computers, they do not like that
In hindsight, maybe it could've used one more stage.
Where can I donate to Apple and our savior, Steve Jobs?
Allowing the application will reflect negatively on Apple just as much as censoring it (and not for reasons having to do with whether the criticism has substance). I can just imagine the headlines: "Apple is so dumb they will sell you the rope you can hang them with".
its not "offensive or mean-spirited commentary" its the truth, and you are the innovator of it
If anyone wanted to nab a copy it's still on Installous if you are jailbroken. I never use app store anymore really, I like Cydia and Installous where I can install what I want without apple's insane draconian app rules
It needs to be ported to other platforms and renamed "this app is banned on the iphone".
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
I've always jokingly called apple the "Cult of Macintology", but now it's even more obvious. The cult of $cientology sue people when they don't like what they're saying, Apple also take action (by the sole means they can) by killing off criticism.
Can anyone say Streisand effect?
You moved your mouse. Please restart Windows for changes to take effect.
Goes back on his Android.
http://saveie6.com/
what's the search term? I tried phone story and nothing.
The Developer of the App knew they were going to get ban, it was obvious. Its like the child wanting to get up the parent skin just for the fun of it. It's no fun doing in on Android because they don't have guidelines. This is basically just to get attention. In reality most users like Apple's App review system, it get rid of the obvious garbage.
Would I ever heard anything from the game if Apply did not ban it from their phones?
http://www.mueller-public.de - My site http://www.anr-institute.com/ - Advanced Natural Research Institute
I don't have an iPhone as I am not a moral vacuum and so would never have heard of this app normally but now I have... good job Apple. See that they are not completely evil, they want to make sure everyone is properly informed of just what you stand for when you buy an iPhone. Censorship, outsourcing of all production work from the US and turning it into slave labor instead.
Samsung could at this point make Android phones with real kitten fur and still take the moral high ground... I didn't just give somebody an idea did I?
Alright all your Apple cultists, time for you to loudly protest that: vote with your dollars, doesn't apply when the shiny is shiny enough but we should boycot X Y and Z because they are not hip. Oh and claiming that it ain't censorship if it is a company doing it is also a good way to protest (and show that you have no spine).
Ready? GO!
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
Make it into an explicit political statement. That puts it into a realm of much more protected speech, because then Apple is absolutely trying to censor a free dialogue between citizens.
I suggest including references to abortion rights, the environment, same-sex marriage, and transgender relations.
That will put them on the spot.
We are currently considering ...
* Release a version for the Android market and jailbroken ios devices.
Yeah, cause Android phones are made from hemp by fair trade workers.
This is all just a publicity stunt, seems to be working quite well. Congrats to the developer no one had ever heard of.
I found it searching 'phone story' in installous it was about 4 pages down when you get to bottom of screen and it auto loads next screen of search results. there was only 1 source on fileape when I picked it up. http://phonestory.org/banned.html the developer will probably put it on Cydia he mentions on his website also. If the Fileape source is down the listing drops I'll repost in the hackulous forums for a repost. also http://hackulo.us/forums/ - has a request section they have the binary there to install manually
And this wasn't also?
Face it, Apple deserves criticism when it messes up on its decided course to censor all executables for iOS. It is perfectly OK to criticize Apple for not having the balls to approve content which criticizes Apple --- and AFAIK this content wasn't even criticizing Apple directly (unlike the strawman examples you talk about), it was criticizing all smartphone production (and probably, by association, smartphone consumption).
If someone wants to worship censorship because it's Apple's censorship, he should at least be honest about it. In the case of the Apple App Store, Apple took the decision to censor all executables so that it could give a "walled garden" experience. I can understand how consumers benefit from having malware walled out; I can imagine some consumers enjoying the walling out of various content which offends them (e.g., naked breast images); but I find the submission of the executable in question here (be it classified as a game, an app, or propaganda) to be an interesting commentary on society --- it emphasizes the fact that consumers enjoy not having to deal with criticism of themselves (since they encouraged the production of the smartphone they use by buying it).
It fun to out verb.
To, or not to. That the question.
Golden age of app distribution over? Can't get your crummy apps seen or sold? Want armfuls of publicity for your company/cause?
1. Write an app that deliberately criticises the smartphone production process, dish out lots of dirt over alleged sweatshops, suicides etc. ..
2. Wait for the ban.
3. Pow! Instant news story! The tech press will lap it up! Anti-apple and Apple fanbois will whip it into a frenzy. Folks will relish being the first to spot a potential Streisand Effect.
4
5. Profit*??
(*or at least tons of free exposure)
This 'game', which seems only to be used as a propaganda platform, has seriously some questionable content, if not simply defamatory (which would make it illegal).
I'm all against arbitrary censorship and, I have to admit, this looks damn like it. After all, the people targeted by the propaganda are those having to play the censor role. But I think this app should have been taken down regardless of whom it 'targets'.
Then, watching the game video again, I wonder. Who writes an app like that. What kind of app developer does that? Why? I come to believe that this is just an elaborate troll (that we are feeding without end right now). It's someone who's intention was to put Apple in this difficult position. On one side Apple had probably no choice to removed it (and not only because of their EULA) and if they hadn't they might even have gotten themselves some legal trouble. On the other side, they look totally evil taking it down, regardless how stupid that app was (because, as I see here, critics of censor action are somewhat narrow sighted). Nice catch 22.
VERY mean-spirited towards Evil. Whole cities destroyed. But perhaps this falls under the Parody Rule.
-- thinkyhead software and media
Why the fuck should they be allowed to dictate what we can purchase? Are we children?
Apple has a brand to protect, in a similar manner to Disney, which sounds weird, but then you go to Times Square in 2011 and nothing will ever seem that weird again.
-- thinkyhead software and media
Pity it's off-base.
How about, "Apple bans game that portrays suicide & child slavery, and offers to collect donations outside the usual rules for the App Store."
But that doesn't have the same attention-pulling power, does it?
The actual violence and abuse of children is crude and objectionable. The contortions you'd have to go through to make it not be so would rob the app of any hope it ever had of making an impact.
Don't thank God, thank a doctor!
. . . then Apple still has only themselves to blame. They willfully demonstrated previously that they're willing to censor content for their own petty and arbitrary reasons, and now they can't (easily) back out of that. They've therefore opened themselves up to substantive criticism regarding the consistency of their censorship.
Who in their right mind would want an iphone when you can't play quality games like this one?
Yes, thank you for explaining their point for those without the two brain cells needed to work it out for themselves...
Bad analogies are like waxing a monkey with a rainbow.
Your conspiracy theory is just ridiculous. People creating the game just meant to inform people in a funny way. Of course you can disagree (if you bothered to inform yourself first). I'm somewhat concerned by people like you who totally fail to see the dangers of letting Apple decide what can and cannot be published. It's time for new laws ensuring that owners of publishing platforms (in a broad sense) don't get to interfere with what Americans call 1st amendment rights.
Check out my cross-platform apps
So some eco-friendly hippies make an app that teaches people how smartphone pollute and Apple takes it back because it's offensive ?
I honnestly for the life of me still don't understand how anyone can have a good image of this company.
How do they get ANY support ? They are the douchiest mean f*cks and they have no ethics whatsoever.
When you get to the point where people saying your shit doesn't smell good enough to be put in their sink gets you mad, I think it's really time to see a psychiatrist. Hopefully Jobs departure will put an end to this decade of giant ego and utter douchery (but I wouldn't hold my breath)
i love it... an internet with no criticism, debate, or dissent.
well, thats just a laudy, noteworthy accomplishment in the further development of the art form that is the computer game.
the hypocrisy is here is just overwhelming. look at the video games you have played in your life, now try to apply the logic you are using against this game to any of those other games.
this thread is the ultimate proof that playing video games makes people unable to apply logic and reason to an argument.
http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-8-app-store-approval-policy-outlined
seems to have a faster approval process.
But apple and ms should have a adult area with little in the Content Compliance area.
So how is this any different then lets say China banning internet web pages to leave people clueless about the outside world?
Someone make an app that clearly criticizes Google (whenever right or wrong doesn't matter, it's not the point), and put it in the main Android store and tell me Google doesn't get it moved.
No real story here, just sexy Apple headlining.
Argue that Android has 3rd party sources for apps that you could still get this app, fine.
A company that can and does remove material painting it negatively, give me a break, they all do when they can.
thanks anyway bro it's not there I checked all 10 pages. Guess I will keep reading hackulous. Cheers.
Why, what's wrong with that? It points out what is so very wrong with government regulation. The "regulation" in this case being that pesky freedom of speech most people have to adhere to. If we just got rid of the government, then the free market can sort out everything - just like Apple is doing. Then we'll be in free market heaven, won't we?
Besides the awkward verbiage with inconsistent contractions usage, and self-important jabs at the viewer, the authors really have missed the point. Yes, people do buy status symbols, but most are buy means to ends. I think most would say they use their iPhone to find directions without having to run home and grab printouts from Google Maps. Or to keep in touch with family and friends. Or to take photographs. And so on. I have yet to meet one person who says, “my iPhone makes me dynamic and special!” No.
They missed another point. You cannot live in the modern world and use any modern convenience without causing some harm to the environment or someone else. Should we try to improve that? Yes. Should we avoid contributing to bad working conditions? Absolutely. But opposing technology—which this game seems to do—is not the answer.
Here comes Apple's bitches, running, shouting and blabbering.
Well, good. It was stupid and useless. And Apple played right into their hands so they could have an inflammatory news story to promote their "back to hunter-gatherer lifestyle" agenda.
Maybe next time they can create one called Pencil Story.
"Somebody has to do something. It's just incredibly pathetic it has to be us."
--- Jerry Garcia
I don't have an iPhone as I am not a moral vacuum and so would never have heard of this app normally but now I have... good job Apple. See that they are not completely evil, they want to make sure everyone is properly informed of just what you stand for when you buy an iPhone. Censorship, outsourcing of all production work from the US and turning it into slave labor instead.
Samsung could at this point make Android phones with real kitten fur and still take the moral high ground... I didn't just give somebody an idea did I?
Alright all your Apple cultists, time for you to loudly protest that: vote with your dollars, doesn't apply when the shiny is shiny enough but we should boycot X Y and Z because they are not hip. Oh and claiming that it ain't censorship if it is a company doing it is also a good way to protest (and show that you have no spine).
Ready? GO!
Well I have a Mac, but I've never owned an iPhone or other smartphone.
Frankly, I think it's pretty silly to expect any company to actually distribute something that openly criticizes it. And no, I don't think that's "evil" or "censorship," just a company doing what companies do.
I guess that makes me a "cultist" for not "boycotting" the corporation for being the shamelessly self-aggrandizing, money-grasping corporation that it is. I'm sure you consider me a "hypocrite" as well, because I'm not doing the "hip" thing.
When I do get a smartphone, I'll surely consider your advice to buy a Samsung phone, because I take your word that Samsung would hypothetically suck it up and distribute a hypothetical anti-Samsung parody over the distribution channels that it doesn't have, if it hypothetically did have them. Because Samsung is, I'm sure, just as self-effacing and open-minded as you believe, and not at all like Microsoft or Apple or all those "evil" companies that I'm supposed to have been boycotting. (Yeah, incidentally, I don't boycott Microsoft, either; I bought a copy of Office for my Mac. I guess I'm just a hopeless corporate stooge.)
(The only company that I can think of that does distribute things like that is News Corp, which lets the writers on The Simpsons mock it regularly on its own network. But then, The Simpsons brings in so much money that I can see why News Corp laughs all the way to the bank.)
If anyone wanted to nab a copy it's still on Installous if you are jailbroken. I never use app store anymore really, I like Cydia and Installous where I can install what I want without apple's insane draconian app rules
..."I like [Cydia and] Installous where I can install what I want without *paying*. FTFY. Unless you just use Installous to try out apps before paying for them you're just using it to steal apps. Don't kid yourself you're just trying to get around some imaginary "insane draconian app rules".
...to ban an app in this manner shows that the iphone isnt for me.
The fact that they would shows that apple isnt for me.
when will people learn that attacking negative publicity just creates more of the "thing" you are attacking? :o)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
what we fight, we become, what you resist persists etc etc etc..
Yes, companies tend to get a little snippy when you directly attack their production problems. Since they are in control of most of the money in the entire world, they can back up their anger. This accomplished its goal, however, which was likely pointing out the flaws in the industry and showing people just what kind of thing they are donating their money towards. Remember, only your MONEY matters not what you think. If you don't like how someone's manufacturing choices affect the areas they actually manufacture in, then you don't buy it. All these words we keep printing and saying are totally worthless and mean absolutely nothing unless the sway of public opinion takes the dollars out of their pockets.
Phone Story is a game for smartphone devices that attempts to provoke a critical reflection on its own technological platform. Under the shiny surface of our electronic gadgets, behind its polished interface, hides the product of a troubling supply chain that stretches across the globe. Phone Story represents this process with four educational games that make the player symbolically complicit in coltan extraction in Congo, outsourced labor in China, e-waste in Pakistan and gadget consumerism in the West.Keep Phone Story on your device as a reminder of your impact. All of the revenues raised go directly to workers’ organizations and other non-profits that are working to stop the horrors represented in the game. Needless to say, the app is no longer on the App Store, and Apple is apparently being mum about why the app was pulled. We’ve got to admit, though, we’re a little uncomfortable with Apple banning this game based on its description. It doesn’t sound as if the title explicitly criticized Apple’s iPhone manufacturing process Affiliate Programs Review
, just the state of the smartphone manufacturing industry in total. And by stamping down on an app that was raising money for groups striving to protect the human rights of the people putting together our gadgets — including our iPhones and iPads — Apple has seemingly opened itself up to a lot of criticism about its commitment to its own ethical guidelines.
http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Giant-machine-Amazon-com-Second/dp/1456555359/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316022293&sr=1-3
http://www.amazon.com/Survival-Guide-Step---Step-ebook/dp/B004L9KNTY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316022332&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Your-Place-Bookstores-ebook/dp/B003WMA7H4/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1316022197&sr=1-3
Slashdot. You really need to start using your Borg icon for Apple articles just as you do for Microsoft articles.
Apple had preexisting rules that this app violated. The only reason any one cares is because it happened to violate them by aiming itself at (effectively) the iphone. If I shoplift 10$ or 100$, it's still shoplifting. It's not like I get a free pass if I steal gay porn from a priest.
well crap sorry about that, I guess once the source for it on fileape was taken down the listing dropped. keep eye on hackulous forums. it will turn up.
"....walks players through the creation of a smartphone, highlighting many of the negative aspects. There are four brief stages: running a mining facility in the Congo, saving suicidal factory workers, handing out phones to oblivious consumers, and generating e-waste through planned obsolescence." Sounds exciting. Maybe they should release a sequel
well crap sorry about that, I guess once the source for it on fileape was taken down the listing dropped. keep eye on hackulous forums. it will turn up.
Don't kid yourself, they banned it from the pirate sites too.
It's on Installous now, for anyone who's still looking, see: http://hackulo.us/forums/index.php?/topic/147134-phone-story-banned-app-on-apptrackr-and-file-ape/page__hl__%2Bphone+%2Bstory__fromsearch__1