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I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]

judiciary.house.gov

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Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]

#201

Post by scarface74 »

detaro wrote: post #198
scarface74 wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ll just repost what the top comment said. But I see it as really disingenuous to try to put what you are trying to do, in the same category as Basecamp/Hey, whose side I completely support. Here's the thing: why should anyone trust that you will actually honor this 3-day money back guarantee, or that even if you honor it now that you will continue to honor it in the future? Part of the benefit of the App Store paym…

What does the parent comment have to do with payments? What are they "trying to do" that's relevant to that quote?

He linked to his initial complaint about why Apple rejected his app.

My app has been repeatedly rejected because I do not offer free in-app trials (but offer money-back guarantee on my website) and also do not offer in-apps purchases. I asked if I offered in-app purchases, would the app be approved? No, since I offer 3-day money-back guarantee on website-based purchses, I must ALSO offer a free trial in the app. But I don’t want to offer free trials. I’m ok offering a 3-day money-back guarantee, but Apple says that’s not an option for apps. They insist that I (1) change my business model from 3-day money back guarantee to free trial and (2) purchase a shit ton more infrastructure to handle the audience that free trials attract (I’ve tried free trial business model and it created a lot of use but no more revenue than 3-day money back guarantee). The money-back guarantee seems to weed out a lot of free loaders, at least in this domain — not necessarily others.

Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]

#202

Post by myko »

654wak654 wrote: post #184
halfFact wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can't you install chrome?

All browsers on ios use the safari engine. Only thing chrome can do is sync your bookmarks.

I think they go a bit more advanced than that - IIRC they use their own networking stack.

But yeah the rendering / JS interpreter is all Safari.

Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]

#203

Post by nautilus12 »

tr33house wrote: post #199
ransom1538 wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1) I worked at a game company 2011: kicked out of facebook (quizzes restrictions were added to the toss) 2) I worked at a mobile ads company 2013: kicked out of apple store 3) I worked at a mobile hosting company for small shops 2015: salons, restaurants, etc: kicked out of apple store 4) I worked at a mobile social network company (2017): kicked out of apple store. 5) I built an app where people can promote their gi…

you've really had it rough. I guess the lesson to all of us is to never rely on third-party platforms as much as possible

Should also be a lesson to anyone trying to build a third party platform that if you build a walled garden, people will start to resent it

Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]

#204

Post by dzonga »

mhafez17 wrote: post #29

Wow. 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…

I feel sorry for you. but you placed your bets, on a closed platform you don't control.in short, you dug your grave. in your own words, the web as we know it is dead [sic]. Had you stuck to the web, maybe the business would still exist to this day.

Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]

#205

Post by sillysaurusx »

ransom1538 wrote: post #194
mhafez17 wrote: post #29

Wow. 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…

1) I worked at a game company 2011: kicked out of facebook (quizzes restrictions were added to the toss) 2) I worked at a mobile ads company 2013: kicked out of apple store 3) I worked at a mobile hosting company for small shops 2015: salons, restaurants, etc: kicked out of apple store 4) I worked at a mobile social network company (2017): kicked out of apple store. 5) I built an app where people can promote their gi…

Dude, you win today's unluckiest developer award. Most of those were good ideas to work on, right up until they were banned.

The flip side is, you've been involved with a lot of projects. And that's often a big advantage. Some devs stay with the same company for 5 to 10 years.

Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]

#206

Post by steelframe »

sillysaurusx wrote: post #205
ransom1538 wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1) I worked at a game company 2011: kicked out of facebook (quizzes restrictions were added to the toss) 2) I worked at a mobile ads company 2013: kicked out of apple store 3) I worked at a mobile hosting company for small shops 2015: salons, restaurants, etc: kicked out of apple store 4) I worked at a mobile social network company (2017): kicked out of apple store. 5) I built an app where people can promote their gi…

Dude, you win today's unluckiest developer award. Most of those were good ideas to work on, right up until they were banned. The flip side is, you've been involved with a lot of projects. And that's often a big advantage. Some devs stay with the same company for 5 to 10 years.

> Some devs stay with the same company for 5 to 10 years.

Depending on how you play it, that doesn't have to be the worst thing in the world. The megacorps have an incredible diversity of roles you can try out.

Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]

#207

Post by tomc1985 »

fsckboy wrote: post #197
tomc1985 wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, making fun of old platforms like the web (which isn't even that old) suggests that the writer is the kind of wide-eyed business huckster playing into Americans' cultural affinity for new tech, and folks like that are a huge chunk of the reason why we have so much technology churn today Old, mature technology is a treasure. Not something to make fun of

I don't know if you meant to, but you just described Steve Jobs.

I've described a lot of technology businesspeople. At least Jobs had vision.

Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]

#208

Post by tlogan »

scarface74 wrote: post #195
vmception wrote: post #45

> I fear App Review is getting too powerful. It's no longer about keeping iDevices safe or protecting the user's best Its amazing that people right here on hackernews, 5 years later, actually think it is about keeping iDevices safe when they see these legislature and regulatory movements against Apple I’m glad to see your email now

We also see government “movements” against them Post Office, voting, the right to have encrypted messages, net neutrality, citizens being able to film police misconduct, etc. So am I suppose to trust the government?

The government is not some imaginary person in the sky: it is me and you. You can influence it - but you cannot influence Apple.

Of course, being involved in government / politic is hard and takes time. You cannot change things by posting on internet forums. I'm trying to be involved in politic on local, state and federal level. And here are some hints if you are in interested:

- Call a member of congress. Try to get someone on the phone, rather than leaving a voicemail (which, like an email, can be ignored). Ask to speak to the member of Congress.

- Find (or make) a group for key your issue

- Show up on town hall meetings (with your friends, group)

- Volunteer

Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]

#209

Post by sillysaurusx »

steelframe wrote: post #206
sillysaurusx wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dude, you win today's unluckiest developer award. Most of those were good ideas to work on, right up until they were banned. The flip side is, you've been involved with a lot of projects. And that's often a big advantage. Some devs stay with the same company for 5 to 10 years.

> Some devs stay with the same company for 5 to 10 years. Depending on how you play it, that doesn't have to be the worst thing in the world. The megacorps have an incredible diversity of roles you can try out.

Absolutely! I only meant to encourage them / focus on the silver lining. It's true that there are some wonderful megacorps to work for.

Re: I fear App Review is getting too powerful (2015) [pdf]

#210

Post by AYBABTME »

ransom1538 wrote: post #194
mhafez17 wrote: post #29

Wow. 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…

1) I worked at a game company 2011: kicked out of facebook (quizzes restrictions were added to the toss) 2) I worked at a mobile ads company 2013: kicked out of apple store 3) I worked at a mobile hosting company for small shops 2015: salons, restaurants, etc: kicked out of apple store 4) I worked at a mobile social network company (2017): kicked out of apple store. 5) I built an app where people can promote their gi…

If you don't mind, it would be helpful to the discussion if you can explain why/what justification was given in each case.
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