Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 235 posts

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#31

Post by camhart »

tptacek wrote: post #15
camhart wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd happily change the libs if there was an issue. I'm not aware of any and Apple hasn't indicated any. I take effort to keep libraries up to date, but certainly don't have everything on latest.

Do you embed any monitoring, performance tracking, revenue-generation, advertising, or tracing tools in the app? Did you at any previous time? (I think it's just as likely that you're pattern-matching against stalker software that Apple screens for, just by dint of what your app does).

2.5 years ago I had Bugsnag setup as part of the app, but removed it in the redesign because the developer agreement indicated something about analytics/tracking and I felt it'd be safest just to remove it. No advertising tracking in the MacOS app ever.

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#32

Post by throemdiwo »

Fundamentally, you are doing some things that require special entitlements and you are not on the short list of those entitlements.

This has always happened, be it with explicit software entitlement or just with "off limits" areas.

I suggest you find a business partner with better connections. You won't be able to force Apple to notarize your thing...

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#33

Post by maven29 »

You could observe how Corporate MDM solutions approach the problem? For example, a replacement web browser, after forcing them to use the webapp? Actually use the MDM APIs?

As an aside, shaming someone out of a impulsive habit may not be sustainable. I'd say that you're trying to cure a symptom rather than create room for self-reflection and encourage them to chase down the missing pieces and identify the root cause.

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#34

Post by camhart »

maven29 wrote: post #33

You could observe how Corporate MDM solutions approach the problem? For example, a replacement web browser, after forcing them to use the webapp? Actually use the MDM APIs? As an aside, shaming someone out of a impulsive habit may not be sustainable. I'd say that you're trying to cure a symptom rather than create room for self-reflection and encourage them to chase down the missing pieces and identify the root cause.

Holding people accountable doesn't require shaming. Truple isn't a silver bullet, but it is a tool that can be incredibly helpful.

The MDM solutions all require enterprise developer accounts. I want to pursue one, but I hoped to get this resolved first.

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#35

Post by vmception »

Jonovono wrote: post #25

I think we will be moving back to web apps (PWA). The app store was always a hack and the web3 movement is incompatable with app stores. I'm working on a mobile browser for PWAs https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/wapps-private-minimal-browser/...

Web3 is its own ecosystem fortunately

Its just the people trying to provide a service to a crowd that still needs to be onboarded to Web3 who find the problems

Just cater to Web3 users, there are trillions of dollars of value already in the ecosystem which can be used for investment, revenue, goods and services

The people that want dollars are such a small portion at any given point in time, which is perfect

I’ve never thought “wish this was on the App Store”

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#36

Post by newaccount74 »

camhart wrote: post #4
msh wrote: post #3

If someone with access to the phone installs the app, will the monitoring be obvious to a user who is the handed the phone? AKA if someone can install the app is it possible to use it to monitor someone without their knowledge?

There's a persistent notification that says "Truple - Screenshot Accountability" on it, and when it's clicked, it opens up the Truple app or menu depending on the platform. Competitors do a similar thing and aren't running into issues with Apple for it. If Apple had an issue with something like this, they should let me know and I'd adjust according to their feedback. I've asked--all I get back is silence.

Are you sure competitors aren't struggling with App review as well?

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#37

Post by bborud »

This is the main reason why I am not interested in being an app developer. Your business is in the hands of someone who can cut you off and get away with not even giving you the time of day. Not worth the risk.

(That being said: I'm not sure I would have approved an app like yours since it is designed to invade privacy)

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#38

Post by matheusmoreira »

umvi wrote: post #19
bijant wrote: post #13

I‘m sorry for You. I can see how you‘d think that your software is providing society a service. And yet from my perspective your software is malware. I don’t think you have considered the legal ramifications of your software in all markets where the app store is offered. Aside from the legal risk to You, there is also a reputational risk to Apple, a company trying to rebrand itself by focussing on privacy (CSAM nonwi…

> And yet from my perspective your software is malware. So don't buy/install it. But don't take away that choice from other people. I have a good married friend who uses parental control software on himself to reduce the temptation to look at porn. It basically just gives his wife access to his browsing history. Sure, he could bypass it a number of ways if he was really determined, but it's more about just raising th…

> So don't buy/install it. But don't take away that choice from other people.

You mean the choice to install malware on other people's devices? Why shouldn't it be taken away?

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#39

Post by camhart »

matheusmoreira wrote: post #38
umvi wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And yet from my perspective your software is malware. So don't buy/install it. But don't take away that choice from other people. I have a good married friend who uses parental control software on himself to reduce the temptation to look at porn. It basically just gives his wife access to his browsing history. Sure, he could bypass it a number of ways if he was really determined, but it's more about just raising th…

> So don't buy/install it. But don't take away that choice from other people. You mean the choice to install malware on other people's devices? Why shouldn't it be taken away?

Reveal to a loved one, someone of their choosing. It's not revealing it to the world or even to Truple.

> The whole purpose of this software is to the reveal the private life of others. Why should people be able to install malware on other people's devices? People shouldn't be allowed to do it to other peoples devices. People should be allowed to install software on their down devices, for their kids or for their own use to help with online behaviors/addictions.

Re: Ask HN: Apple revoked developer account for 2.5 years and counting

#40

Post by amelius »

Parental control sounds like something the OS should do, not an app. From that viewpoint, I think you chose an application that inherently has a risk of being taken over by Apple, and frankly, you should not be surprised that something like this happened.
Post reply on HN