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Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

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Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#31

Post by points »

mcav wrote: post #13
city41 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It still doesn't really matter. They can revoke this stance whenever they want. It still remains risky to base your livelihood on a format completely controlled by someone else who ultimately couldn't care less about your needs.

There's no way they could go back on this now. The outcry would be ten times larger than it was when they first restricted it.

10 * 0.00001 is still pretty miniscule.

Uproar from developers is meh. End users don't care. Apple can do what they want with the app store. If a few whiney devs decide to not play any more, there's an infinite supply of other devs who will.

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#32

Post by tomjen3 »

Does anybody have the links to the actual rules, since this press release, through welcome, is extremely light on details.

If not, can we please not post something this light on content to HN in the future? Maybe instead wait for somebody who knows something to blog about it? I would hate for this to become a place to just post press releases.

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#33

Post by ra88it »

umjames wrote: post #9

Wait, so does this mean Apple doesn't have a problem with a 3rd-party framework becoming the preferred API for iOS development? How does not allowing apps that download code prevent this? Also, does this mean you can't download JavaScript from an external web page in your app?

Apparently Javascript is given an explicit exception.

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#34

Post by tomjen3 »

napierzaza wrote: post #24
sant0sk1 wrote: post #3

Welcome, but long overdue.

What's the point of such a comment. It reminds me of the pundits talking about how it was "About time" copy & paste was devised. Be glad that Apple isn't so prideful that they aren't able to make changes like this. A lot of people and companies wouldn't be able to admit things like thing to make the right decision. Whether it was fast enough for you is entirely besides the point. They couldn't have just opened up the…

The point was that Apple could have avoided much pain and suffering for all concerned if they had done the right thing in the first place.

Now we just need to be able to run programs not purchased through the Apple store and access my iPod without having to use Windows, and I will have to take Apple of my "somewhat evil" list.

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#35

Post by mcobrien »

tomjen3 wrote: post #32

Does anybody have the links to the actual rules, since this press release, through welcome, is extremely light on details. If not, can we please not post something this light on content to HN in the future? Maybe instead wait for somebody who knows something to blog about it? I would hate for this to become a place to just post press releases.

The rules and app store review guidelines are both protected by the developer NDA so no one's going to be eager to post them.

This mostly affects registered developers anyway (and I'd say there are a fair few on HN), for whom the rules are just a click away.

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#37

Post by jakewalker »

tomjen3 wrote: post #32

Does anybody have the links to the actual rules, since this press release, through welcome, is extremely light on details. If not, can we please not post something this light on content to HN in the future? Maybe instead wait for somebody who knows something to blog about it? I would hate for this to become a place to just post press releases.

https://developer.apple.com/appstore/resources/approval/guid...

You need to be an iOS Developer to login. Unclear if it's under NDA or not, but I'm sure this document will leak out eventually.

There are 22 categories of potential violations, and most rules end in "will be rejected."

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#38

Post by mcav »

points wrote: post #31
mcav wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's no way they could go back on this now. The outcry would be ten times larger than it was when they first restricted it.

10 * 0.00001 is still pretty miniscule. Uproar from developers is meh . End users don't care. Apple can do what they want with the app store. If a few whiney devs decide to not play any more, there's an infinite supply of other devs who will.

It's more than whiney developers now. It was one thing when Apple never made clear the guidelines and chose to reject apps; now that they've made guidelines very explicit, going back on them would very publicly damage other companies: Large companies, like Adobe and Oracle, who would be very upset as well if Apple reneged on this change of policy.

They won't go back on it. Not now.

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#39

Post by [deleted] »

johnthedebs wrote: post #20
mcobrien wrote: post #16

If you're a registered developer, you can read the just-published App Store Guidelines here: http://developer.apple.com/appstore/resources/approval/guide... For those who aren't registered developers, it's basically a list of 189 rules, most in the form of "Apps that ... will be rejected"

Any chance someone can make that available to non-developers?

[deleted]

Re: Apple Relaxes iOS Restrictions On Development Tools, Publishes Review Guidelines

#40

Post by nanairo »

jacquesm wrote: post #21

So, how about all those people that were supporting apples' right to run their app store the way they see fit and who said that there is no point complaining about it? I think this proves that complaining about stuff like this is well worth the effort, assuming that that - and not some backroom pressure - is what caused them to back off. They mention it in their release so I figure it must have been a major factor. e…

Well, personally I think there is a difference.

I completely agree that it's always good for a customer to complain about the product if there are problems. Gosh: read all the Mac faithful complains when a new MacOS comes out! Similarly if your phone doesn't work, or your car is not comfortable you go and complain.

BUT, the crucial word there is customer. People who would never buy an Apple product out of principle, or unless Apple becomes totally completely open source/open market/whatever, then those complains are pointless.

It all goes back to "vote with your wallet". Apple may listen to the first ones because their behaviour may change: the latter won't, they'll just complain, and Apple couldn't care less.

That said Apple is also a pretty stubborn company, and often even when it is in their best interest and their customers are complaining (AND voting with their wallet) they may keep their believes. It's one of their problems, though it's of course their right, and it may even make sense.

(for example a luxury brand is more interested in maintaining their recognisable features rather than adapt... but it's their choice: they judge how many customers they lose in the short run vs. how many customers they will retain in the long run)

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