Apple’s Double Standard App Store?
September 16, 2008 by Ryan Ray
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We all love the iTunes App store. I’ve said this many times before I know, but no other cell phone nor software platform has this wonderful kind of central location to get some great software. But have you heard of the apps that Apple is rejecting? Apple has been placed in an interesting situation lately with the newest app store debacle. Apparently to many developers it seems as if Apple is picking and choosing apps they want to be in the store and don’t want to be there instead of following their own terms. Apple’s agreement says your app can’t replicate a function already on the iPhone without 3rd party apps. For instance, and I say this supposedly, you can’t develop a calculator app to rival Apple’s one already there. A little silly? I think so, but these are Apple’s iPhone Laws.
So here’s what’s been happening lately with the app store. Apple has some set terms on what apps they will allow in the store. Obviously apps that are malicious and deem to steal information and the such are automatically rejected. Some of the other that might break AT&T’s terms are not allowed, like the tethering application called Netshare that was in and out of the store for a week or so. Other apps that Apple deems inappropriate or could be abusive they won’t allow either. But here is where some developers are getting very ticked off. Apple has made one developer mad enough that he is trying out the AD-HOC distribution method. The AD-HOC method is meant more for companies that want to distribute their own in house apps to their corporate iPhones. What you do is the corporation would have all of the iPhone’s ID numbers and can simply distribute the app over their network to all of their corporate owned iPhones. Now since this developer was denied the app store, he’s gone out and offered this way for people who want his app. I believe this only works for 100 iPhones so it’s definitely first come first serve for this method, but his app was rejected because it duplicates the functionality of the podcast section of iTunes.
First it makes no sense because there are other apps that allow you to watch podcasts, but yet they are still for sale. His app let’s you download podcasts directly to your phone which iTunes does not let you do, and his was rejected. Here’s what Apple said;
Apple Rep says: Since Podcaster assists in the distribution ofpodcasts, it duplicates the functionality of the Podcast section ofiTunes.
Just take for example all of the weather apps that duplicate the functionality or add to it, compared to the Yahoo weather app on the iPhone. Also what about the calculator apps? To me it seems Apple is really sticking it to you to only use iTunes for your media needs. Streaming podcasts must be fine, but if you want a direct download you can’t have it. I almost feel that Apple has set up double standards on this. By letting apps in that duplicate a lot of the iPhone’s original functionality then only denying a few just because they can. It makes no sense to me!
So I was wondering if you genius iPhonenuts.com readers have any ideas on Apples strange policies. Right now I am lost and wondering why let some in and some not? HELP ME INTERNET! I mean this is starting to scare iPhone developers off in fear of the time they will spend on an app and then just randomly be chosen to be denied. Apple better be careful. Leave a comment and explain your position on this, thanks!
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