Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#1

Post by ksec » Thu, Jun 18, 2020, 9:12 PM UTC

Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey
axios.com

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#2

Post by aurizon » Thu, Jun 18, 2020, 9:19 PM UTC

Apple needs to be pissed on from a height - I wonder if they have bribed the monopoly inquisition they face in the USA/Europe

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#3

Post by rhapsodic » Thu, Jun 18, 2020, 9:26 PM UTC

aurizon wrote: post #2

Apple needs to be pissed on from a height - I wonder if they have bribed the monopoly inquisition they face in the USA/Europe

> "pissed on from a height"

I've never heard that expression before. Was it translated to English from some other language?

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#4

Post by ipsum2 » Thu, Jun 18, 2020, 9:26 PM UTC

What's infuriating is Apple's inconsistency. Some apps offer subscriptions outside of the app store and are still there (including Basecamp!)

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#5

Post by Traster » Thu, Jun 18, 2020, 9:29 PM UTC

I don't think picking a fight with Apple as a PR strategy is a good move. The rules on the app store are very clear, if you're charging a subscription for functionality you're providing through an iOS app, that subscription must be available through Apple's payment system. I know people don't like that, but it's not unexpected. So given that Hey knew the rules, it seems a bit manipulative for them to submit their app and then go on a massive PR campaign about how outraged they are. I understand that they may feel that the app store rules are unfair, but this whole fanfare seems ridiculous to me. Instead they seem to think that they're going to benefit from picking a fight with Apple - it reminds of small youtubers who make expose videos about big youtubers to try and get people''s attention.

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#6

Post by ProAm » Thu, Jun 18, 2020, 9:30 PM UTC

Traster wrote: post #5

I don't think picking a fight with Apple as a PR strategy is a good move. The rules on the app store are very clear, if you're charging a subscription for functionality you're providing through an iOS app, that subscription must be available through Apple's payment system. I know people don't like that, but it's not unexpected. So given that Hey knew the rules, it seems a bit manipulative for them to submit their app…

That's fine, let me install software without going to the App store.

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#7

Post by fortydegrees » Thu, Jun 18, 2020, 9:31 PM UTC

Traster wrote: post #5

I don't think picking a fight with Apple as a PR strategy is a good move. The rules on the app store are very clear, if you're charging a subscription for functionality you're providing through an iOS app, that subscription must be available through Apple's payment system. I know people don't like that, but it's not unexpected. So given that Hey knew the rules, it seems a bit manipulative for them to submit their app…

Another problem with this PR campaign is that it really doesn't give Apple an easy way to back down even if they wanted to.

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#8

Post by robmerki » Thu, Jun 18, 2020, 9:32 PM UTC

Traster wrote: post #5

I don't think picking a fight with Apple as a PR strategy is a good move. The rules on the app store are very clear, if you're charging a subscription for functionality you're providing through an iOS app, that subscription must be available through Apple's payment system. I know people don't like that, but it's not unexpected. So given that Hey knew the rules, it seems a bit manipulative for them to submit their app…

Then they should enforce this policy across the board. There are many examples of other apps doing what Hey is doing, without this charade.

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#9

Post by outworlder » Thu, Jun 18, 2020, 9:32 PM UTC

ipsum2 wrote: post #4

What's infuriating is Apple's inconsistency. Some apps offer subscriptions outside of the app store and are still there (including Basecamp!)

EDIT: Having deployed a few apps in the past which required login and not being harassed, I thought something else was going on.

This seems to be an unspoken policy change. I'm joining the outrage bandwagon now.

> What's infuriating is Apple's inconsistency. Some apps offer subscriptions outside of the app store and are still there (including Basecamp!)

That doesn't violate guidelines. Unless your app takes users outside of the app store to purchase stuff(including the subscription itself) without in app purchases.

Having an app requiring login is ok. It doesn't matter that the login is protecting a paid service.

Re: Apple rejects appeal from email app Hey

#10

Post by Hamuko » Thu, Jun 18, 2020, 9:32 PM UTC

>"The Hey Email app is marketed as an email app on the App Store, but when users download your app, it does not work," Apple said in a letter to Basecamp CEO Jason Fried on Thursday. "Users cannot use the app to access email or perform any useful function until after they go to the Basecamp website for Hey Email and purchase a license to use the Hey Email app."

Imagine if all applications on the App Store had to work straight out of the box without any kind of interaction with any kind of an external service. Even my bank would be barred from the App Store since I actually need to get in my car and drive to the bank in order to have an account for the damn thing.

Rival bank's application doesn't even allow you to login even if you have an account if you have not logged into that account at the bank's website at least once. So much for working out of the box.

Banking apps do not have an exception in the App Store Review Guidelines, so I don't really understand why they're getting off so easily.