"We believed the web was dead"... well there's your problem.
I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]
131–140 of 369 posts
Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]
#132Earlier quoted context omitted.
My sympathies. That's a really sad story. I don't know if it's any consolation that it was at least discussed among the executives. I don't know why you originally eschewed the web. I've developed on closed platforms in the past: Facebook (when Facebook games like Farmville and Mafia Wars were crazy hot), Silverlight, OpenSocial, Twitter, and now Google Apps Script. My work is always worthless in 2-3 years, and what…
In hindsight this was obviously a mistake. We were young and genuinely loved the App Store. We bought the kool-aid (and still drinking it to be honest) that this a new better way to consume content. So we wanted to be as native as possible and take full advantage from the power of being native. We never thought Apple would someday object to us helping promote their platform.
What was the profit angle your team was planning on?
Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]
#133I mean, there’s a point to be made about how much monopoly power Apple holds, and it’s now clear these questions weren’t asked until now because lawmakers were really sweet on the maker of their shiny iPhone - but this letter ain’t it. The author is grovelling to the point of it being honestly pitiful. The amount of derogatory references to the web and Android also make it really hard for me not to question the motiv…
>got his deal reduced by 25% or so by Steve Jobs in person
Was it the task-manager / parallel execution developer?
Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]
#134Wow. I am the author of this email. I have no idea how it resurfaced after 5 years, I was only made aware of this when a friend emailed me the HN link. The sad thing is it was not just my company which was targeted, but Apple removed this entire product category. We never knew the real reason why, or if it was bigger than just a random app reviewer trying to apply Apple policy, until May 2019. That's when Bloomberg i…
Did you get a response? It looks like it was forwarded to some very senior people asking for input.
Never got a response. I am still in shock that it was actually read and even passed along. I wish things turned out differently, I at least they heard me and the got to learn the damage it did.
Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]
#135Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah, but the technology used for all of the games is the same isn't it? It's just streaming. And if it's about content, I doube Apple is pre-approving every Netflix show. I bet some of the offerings on Netflix even show female nipples. https://www.businessinsider.com/why-instagram-bans-freetheni...
Apps and videos pose different security risks, but I assume you know this.
Do you think xCloud copies a binary executable of Halo Infinite on every Android and iOS device?
Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]
#136> In November last year the App Review team made it clear that our apps were not welcome in the Store anymore as they actively removed our main app from the Store. They pointed to the rule (2.26) created just a couple of years ago about what kind of apps can recommend apps other than its own (by the way I still believe my apps fit the description). We of course have been aware of this rule since it came out, as we al…
You seem to not be interested in living with your right to install any app you want on your device, which is fine. But do you also believe that other people should not have the right to install software that has not been blessed by an authority on their devices? Do you think that general purpose computing devices, which an iPhone is, should no longer have the capability to run software without third-party auditing an…
what makes something a general purpose computing device?
Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]
#137Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah, but the technology used for all of the games is the same isn't it? It's just streaming. And if it's about content, I doube Apple is pre-approving every Netflix show. I bet some of the offerings on Netflix even show female nipples. https://www.businessinsider.com/why-instagram-bans-freetheni...
are you really comparing video to executable code?
Am I comparing streaming video to streaming video? Why yes, I am.
Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]
#138Earlier quoted context omitted.
That was an excellent letter by the way. It is too bad the source does not include any responses by the product team.
Thank you. I would have loved to see their response. My guess it was something to the effect of it's our store, and we gave them distribution to begin with. I have seen similar comments here on HN. I honestly get that argument, but they have been rewarded very handsomely for making this platform…they are almost 2 TRILLION dollar company. At some point, the platform is bigger than you. If I was one case, okay fine, bu…
I wouldn't bank on your assumption about how the conversation went after the letter was forwarded. My experience is that when the CEO forwards you something and asks for your thoughts you don't respond without doing the homework.
I suspect there was a fairly detailed conversation about how apps such as yours could be supported while simultaneously being able to detect and mitigate 'cram and jam' strategies where apps pay per install. Short of doing quarterly audits of your books, I'm not sure how those dubious business practices could be avoided[1].
[1] And even with regular auditing, criminal enterprises manage to operate successfully with multiple ledgers.
Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]
#139Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah, but the technology used for all of the games is the same isn't it? It's just streaming. And if it's about content, I doube Apple is pre-approving every Netflix show. I bet some of the offerings on Netflix even show female nipples. https://www.businessinsider.com/why-instagram-bans-freetheni...
are you really comparing video to executable code?
It doesn’t download executables, it streams your inputs to a server which streams synced AV back.
Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]
#140Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah, but the technology used for all of the games is the same isn't it? It's just streaming. And if it's about content, I doube Apple is pre-approving every Netflix show. I bet some of the offerings on Netflix even show female nipples. https://www.businessinsider.com/why-instagram-bans-freetheni...
are you really comparing video to executable code?
What executable code? The executable code running on Microsofts servers?