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TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

blog.tinygrab.com

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Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#61

Post by gokhan »

tjarratt wrote: post #55
Andrex wrote: post #41

"Luckily for TinyGrab for Mac users we still have TinyGrab.com and Apple haven’t, yet, prevented anyone from downloading apps from the world wide web and installing them on their Macs without the Mac App Store." Key word: "yet."

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean it isn't true. Honestly, I don't think blocking paying customers from installing applications and using root permissions effectively is a sound business strategy for the desktop / laptop / OS X market. A macbook pro is fundamentally different from an iphone.

What is the difference that making an iPhone owner unable to install applications? Or why is it allowed on a MacBook?

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#62

Post by theBobMcCormick »

msbarnett wrote: post #19
mryall wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A lot of companies just can't afford to have a group of users who cost the same as everyone else but only bring in 70% as much revenue. True, but it now seems like those who can are going to be the companies who succeed on iOS. It's sad to say it, but this is another situation where companies will need to adapt or die.

That's one possible outcome. Another possible outcome is the one in which iOS, now lacking access to Kindle, Netflix, Evernote, and anything else that made it the least bit useful and interesting, gets kicked to the curb in favor of something that actually supports a lot of consumers' interests. Frankly, the latter is a hell of a lot more likely looking from where I'm sitting.

This seems like a particularly insane time for Apple to risk losing subscription apps like Netflix, Evernote, Kindle, etc. What with Android sells now far out-pacing iPhone sales and WP7 making a fair attempt at getting lets under itself.

IMHO, they could have pulled this off a year or 2 ago because developers had nowhere else credible to turn. Now, they do.

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#63

Post by nickconfer »

amargulies wrote: post #37
nickconfer wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they are correct, Apple could reject their app based on the TOS. Its unclear whether or not they would. I imagine this will be rather murky for a while for all apps of this sort. What I mean by not the real deal though is that TinyGrab doesn't appear to have much of a presence on iOS devices. Apple could have possibly said, "We need 200 hours of additional programming work from you or we'll reject your app in…

Would you have them continue to use their time developing for the iOS platform despite the changes being accepted or rejected is a function of who they get to review their application and how strictly they follow their own rules? Didn't Apple post the guidelines to avoid this exact situation? And what if they are small? How many companies had a large user-base from the beginning? Also, while small companies may not b…

I don't disagree. Its a risk, but keep in mind Rhapsody had this same risk just trying to get their app approved initially. They can work around the TOS to get approved as well, thats part of my point. They are just a screenshot and share service.

In terms of them being small, thats fine too. I'm just stating things as I see it. The company is not stopping production because they can't come up with a solution, its that it likely is not worth their time because they are not all that successful on iOS.

In terms of pressure, this really does nothing to Apple. Rhapsody, Netflix, and Kindle are much bigger deals. It will be the big service providers that push the pressure on Apple.

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#64

Post by extension »

gokhan wrote: post #61
tjarratt wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean it isn't true. Honestly, I don't think blocking paying customers from installing applications and using root permissions effectively is a sound business strategy for the desktop / laptop / OS X market. A macbook pro is fundamentally different from an iphone.

What is the difference that making an iPhone owner unable to install applications? Or why is it allowed on a MacBook?

People expect to have root access to their computers. That has always been the standard and Apple can't change it. People don't generally expect to have root access to their phones. Apple is largely responsible for establishing that standard.

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#65

Post by marshray »

nickconfer wrote: post #63
amargulies wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you have them continue to use their time developing for the iOS platform despite the changes being accepted or rejected is a function of who they get to review their application and how strictly they follow their own rules? Didn't Apple post the guidelines to avoid this exact situation? And what if they are small? How many companies had a large user-base from the beginning? Also, while small companies may not b…

I don't disagree. Its a risk, but keep in mind Rhapsody had this same risk just trying to get their app approved initially. They can work around the TOS to get approved as well, thats part of my point. They are just a screenshot and share service. In terms of them being small, thats fine too. I'm just stating things as I see it. The company is not stopping production because they can't come up with a solution, its th…

Not to mention the world moving with its feet to Android.

A lot of tech people seem to be in love with the iPhone and the press made it seem like the only smartphone in town for a few years there. But realistically I don't think it's ever had more than a minority market share of high end phones.

Apple has historically been very comfortable with a minority share of the market, but I doubt their stockholders will have infinite patience to sit and watch Android eat up its market share _and_ developer mindshare _and_ all the top-brand content provider deals.

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#66

Post by darren_ »

extension wrote: post #64
gokhan wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is the difference that making an iPhone owner unable to install applications? Or why is it allowed on a MacBook?

People expect to have root access to their computers. That has always been the standard and Apple can't change it. People don't generally expect to have root access to their phones. Apple is largely responsible for establishing that standard.

Carrier-locked phones with appstores were the standard long before iPhones came out. See: crappy verizon flip-phones with the BREW store. Fair enough that people might not remember them so well though, because there was literally nothing worth buying on any of them.

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#67

Post by rimantas »

marshray wrote: post #65
nickconfer wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't disagree. Its a risk, but keep in mind Rhapsody had this same risk just trying to get their app approved initially. They can work around the TOS to get approved as well, thats part of my point. They are just a screenshot and share service. In terms of them being small, thats fine too. I'm just stating things as I see it. The company is not stopping production because they can't come up with a solution, its th…

Not to mention the world moving with its feet to Android. A lot of tech people seem to be in love with the iPhone and the press made it seem like the only smartphone in town for a few years there. But realistically I don't think it's ever had more than a minority market share of high end phones. Apple has historically been very comfortable with a minority share of the market, but I doubt their stockholders will have…

I think Apple shareholders are pretty happy to have 50% profits share with 5% market share.

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#68

Post by [deleted] »

msbarnett wrote: post #19
mryall wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A lot of companies just can't afford to have a group of users who cost the same as everyone else but only bring in 70% as much revenue. True, but it now seems like those who can are going to be the companies who succeed on iOS. It's sad to say it, but this is another situation where companies will need to adapt or die.

That's one possible outcome. Another possible outcome is the one in which iOS, now lacking access to Kindle, Netflix, Evernote, and anything else that made it the least bit useful and interesting, gets kicked to the curb in favor of something that actually supports a lot of consumers' interests. Frankly, the latter is a hell of a lot more likely looking from where I'm sitting.

[deleted]

Re: TinyGrab abandons iOS because of new App Store rules

#69

Post by sahaj »

theBobMcCormick wrote: post #62
msbarnett wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's one possible outcome. Another possible outcome is the one in which iOS, now lacking access to Kindle, Netflix, Evernote, and anything else that made it the least bit useful and interesting, gets kicked to the curb in favor of something that actually supports a lot of consumers' interests. Frankly, the latter is a hell of a lot more likely looking from where I'm sitting.

This seems like a particularly insane time for Apple to risk losing subscription apps like Netflix, Evernote, Kindle, etc. What with Android sells now far out-pacing iPhone sales and WP7 making a fair attempt at getting lets under itself. IMHO, they could have pulled this off a year or 2 ago because developers had nowhere else credible to turn. Now, they do.

I think Apple is counting on platform fragmentation to win here. Apple may be thinking that with WebOS, WP7, and Android, these big companies will probably get their biggest profits from Apple if Apple continues to be the biggest shareholder within the mobile platforms.
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