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Apple has removed us from the App Store

blog.rescuetime.com

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Re: Apple has removed us from the App Store

#21

Post by rando444 »

CharlesW wrote: post #6

> Critically, using the persistent location API also allows us to use an acknowledged acceptable way to capture when our users have active screen time. They're admitting to using background location to infer screen time, which is clearly "misuse" according to section 2.5.4. Whether the decision is right or wrong, I find it hard to believe that the developer is actually confused by this.

The app has a feature that allows you to see where you are spending your time on your phone. This could be helpful to get an idea about time wasted at work vs. commuting by train or whatever.

I'm not going to say it's super useful, but it has a use.. I would categorize this in the same bucket as Snapchat needing your GPS.

Anyway, the complaint is that they are using this data for more than features and functionality.

Their side of the story leads me to believe this is not the case, and only Apple knows why they think this company is abusing the data they are collecting.

Re: Apple has removed us from the App Store

#22

Post by ancorevard »

Slightly related. Only a month ago I deleted my RescueTime account and the app from my Mac. With all the privacy issues lately, I finally realized how much data I'm sending RescueTime, and a made a decision.

I don't have a reason to mistrust them, but I also don't have a reason to give them this much of my trust either. A breach of the RescueTime database would be insanely invasive.

Re: Apple has removed us from the App Store

#23

Post by ancorevard »

writepub wrote: post #15

Time for some anti-trust regulations on the app store. In the "mobile apps" market, Apple is an overwhelming monopoly with 66% market share [1]. Some stats: - Total app store market revenues for 1st half (1H) of 2018: ~$33B - Apple's app-store revenue for 1H-2018: $22B - Apple's market share: 66% They constantly abuse their power and stifle competition by: 1. Banning apps (this app, steam streaming, ....) 2. Stifling…

This is not an abuse of power. This is looking out for their users' privacy.

I would have thought most people at this time would know that Apple does not take lightly a situation where an app is sending lots of privacy related user behavior to some kind of server somewhere. At a minimum, store this analytics on the phone only. But then again, you may use APIs for reasons other than their intended purpose.

Re: Apple has removed us from the App Store

#24

Post by lostmsu »

whalesalad wrote: post #9
lostmsu wrote: post #5

I still wonder how is this legal.

How could it be illegal? If you sold bread in a grocery store and the grocery store decided they preferred their own brand and didn't wanna sell yours anymore... would that be illegal?

It should be if there are 3 grocery stores in the country, and your bread can't be sold by other 2. This is a great case to be a precedent.

Re: Apple has removed us from the App Store

#25

Post by scarface74 »

writepub wrote: post #15

Time for some anti-trust regulations on the app store. In the "mobile apps" market, Apple is an overwhelming monopoly with 66% market share [1]. Some stats: - Total app store market revenues for 1st half (1H) of 2018: ~$33B - Apple's app-store revenue for 1H-2018: $22B - Apple's market share: 66% They constantly abuse their power and stifle competition by: 1. Banning apps (this app, steam streaming, ....) 2. Stifling…

Or you know instead of getting the government involved, you could just get an Android phone like 80% of other smart phone users....

Re: Apple has removed us from the App Store

#26

Post by scarface74 »

danmg wrote: post #19
gagege wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it should be legal for the owner of a store to decide not to sell a product, whatever the reason.

Not when the market is a monopoly.

How is Apple a “monopoly” with less than 20% of the smart phone market?

Re: Apple has removed us from the App Store

#27

Post by danmg »

scarface74 wrote: post #26
danmg wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not when the market is a monopoly.

How is Apple a “monopoly” with less than 20% of the smart phone market?

100% of that market. The apple app market is not the same as the android app market. They're not in competition with each other. Owners are captive.

Re: Apple has removed us from the App Store

#28

Post by scarface74 »

weinzierl wrote: post #8
debt wrote: post #2

Apple has a very interesting approach to these type of app monopolies. It "nationalizes" the monopoly app by creating a generic version of the same app. The problem is, the generic app versions are exceptional in that they have much deeper access to the phone than a traditional independently built App Store app. Seems unfair.

> It "nationalizes" the monopoly app by creating a generic version of the same app. Out of curiosity: Is there a generic version of RescueTime? > The problem is, the generic app versions are exceptional in that they have much deeper access to the phone than a traditional independently built App Store app. This is what Microsoft allegedly did with Office. Sysinternals' Mark Russinovic documented that so called "Native…

Every single application built since the dawn of OOP has public documented methods and private methods....

Re: Apple has removed us from the App Store

#29

Post by scarface74 »

petepete wrote: post #4
debt wrote: post #2

Apple has a very interesting approach to these type of app monopolies. It "nationalizes" the monopoly app by creating a generic version of the same app. The problem is, the generic app versions are exceptional in that they have much deeper access to the phone than a traditional independently built App Store app. Seems unfair.

Apple aren't interested in an even playing field, this type of muscling in is possible by design. There's a risk they'll turn developers off their platform, but providing they don't piss off too many at once, barely anyone will notice.

Because Apple would lose all of the money they are making from the Screen Time app...
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