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Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

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Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#41

Post by olalonde »

tptacek wrote: post #32
jack-r-abbit wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Competition law, known in the United States as antitrust law, is law that promotes or maintains market competition by regulating anti-competitive conduct by companies."[1] One could argue that rejecting apps that make use of (or in this case encourage signup to) Dropbox is anti-competitive conduct since Dropbox is a competitor of iCloud (isn't it?) [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_law

It is hard to name any proprietary product platform, from cars to KitchenAid mixers, which would not run afoul of this common nerdly definition of "antitrust". In reality, the presence of very viable substitutes in the market for the iPhone (to wit: Android) probably moots the argument here. To go further with this argument, you will need to venture beyond Wikipedia summaries.

Your argument would be more effective without the unnecessary ad hominem. i.e.:

> In reality, the presence of very viable substitutes in the market for the iPhone (to wit: Android) probably moots the argument here.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#42

Post by starnix17 »

I had a simliar rejection because of my app's Rdio integration.

If the user had Rdio installed, my app would open the song in the Rdio native app.

If the user didn't have the app installed, my app would open the song on the Rdio web site in MobileSafari. Apple didn't like this since you could purchase an Rdio subscription on that webpage bypassing the IAP and Apple's 30% cut.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#43

Post by rogerchucker »

trieu wrote: post #38

This is linkbait because it suggests that Apple is rejecting any app that uses Dropbox. That's patently untrue. For example: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drafts/id502385074 It looks like Apple is rejecting apps that use the Dropbox SDK in a way that violates the TOS. But then the headline may as well read, "Apple rejecting applications which use code."

So bloody what if it is linkbait? The issue at hand deserves attention and debate.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#44

Post by tptacek »

olalonde wrote: post #41
tptacek wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is hard to name any proprietary product platform, from cars to KitchenAid mixers, which would not run afoul of this common nerdly definition of "antitrust". In reality, the presence of very viable substitutes in the market for the iPhone (to wit: Android) probably moots the argument here. To go further with this argument, you will need to venture beyond Wikipedia summaries.

Your argument would be more effective without the unnecessary ad hominem. i.e.: > In reality, the presence of very viable substitutes in the market for the iPhone (to wit: Android) probably moots the argument here.

I do not think the word "ad hominem" means what you think it means. An "ad hominem" argument is one that targets a specific person advancing the opposing argument. Ad hominem arguments are fallacious when the characteristics of those people aren't germane to the argument.

Obviously, no part of my argument focuses on whoever it was who said Apple's Dropbox rejection is an antitrust violation.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#45

Post by snarkinatree »

ChuckMcM wrote: post #28
kennywinker wrote: post #18

This has gone way too far. The other day I downloaded the Google Play Books app. I started it up, signed in.. and nothing. No prompt to go buy books online, no hint at what the app does... just a blank screen. It's completely scummy. You can buy Apple's iCloud storage upgrade from within the OS, and now you can't even LINK to a place where you could link to a place where if you click the right link you could buy Drop…

[I have a zillion snarky type replies that itch to be free, but we'll keep that monster in the box today.] "Way to far" is an interesting characterization. Apple has rules about their playground, they like their rules, they make Apple very profitable. So the question becomes can Google leverage this liability to increase the penetration or market share of Android tablets? Once these tactics hurt Apple in the market t…

Please share the snarky replies!

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#46

Post by jack-r-abbit »

tptacek wrote: post #32
jack-r-abbit wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Competition law, known in the United States as antitrust law, is law that promotes or maintains market competition by regulating anti-competitive conduct by companies."[1] One could argue that rejecting apps that make use of (or in this case encourage signup to) Dropbox is anti-competitive conduct since Dropbox is a competitor of iCloud (isn't it?) [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_law

It is hard to name any proprietary product platform, from cars to KitchenAid mixers, which would not run afoul of this common nerdly definition of "antitrust". In reality, the presence of very viable substitutes in the market for the iPhone (to wit: Android) probably moots the argument here. To go further with this argument, you will need to venture beyond Wikipedia summaries.

sorry. no real desire to go further. I was simply pointing out that perhaps "antitrust" does mean what AJ007 thought it did. I believe there is a hint of that here. Probably not enough to make a legal case but enough to add another example to the "Some times Apple can be a real dick" list.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#47

Post by taligent »

jack-r-abbit wrote: post #23
taligent wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1) Research antitrust. It doesn't mean what you think it means. 2) Apple has done nothing different than has been done before. It is an existing in app purchasing rule.

"Competition law, known in the United States as antitrust law, is law that promotes or maintains market competition by regulating anti-competitive conduct by companies."[1] One could argue that rejecting apps that make use of (or in this case encourage signup to) Dropbox is anti-competitive conduct since Dropbox is a competitor of iCloud (isn't it?) [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_law

True. Except for two little things:

1) There are specific scenarios for when antitrust takes effect. This isn't of them.

2) Apple is NOT rejecting apps specifically for using Dropbox. It is because of the well known and well established in app purchasing rules.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#48

Post by tomrod »

rogerchucker wrote: post #25
taligent wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1) Research antitrust. It doesn't mean what you think it means. 2) Apple has done nothing different than has been done before. It is an existing in app purchasing rule.

I thought Apple was all about giving consumers the best UX and that revenue would automatically follow... how does a move like this help UX? How come Apple's reviewers are so freaking vigilant about in-app purchases while letting a fart app or a tethering app (or even, until one point, those uploading address books without any alert) slip through so often?

Because the training of the reviewers doesn't cover those cases. Apple is no startup!

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#49

Post by jvm »

ChuckMcM wrote: post #28
kennywinker wrote: post #18

This has gone way too far. The other day I downloaded the Google Play Books app. I started it up, signed in.. and nothing. No prompt to go buy books online, no hint at what the app does... just a blank screen. It's completely scummy. You can buy Apple's iCloud storage upgrade from within the OS, and now you can't even LINK to a place where you could link to a place where if you click the right link you could buy Drop…

[I have a zillion snarky type replies that itch to be free, but we'll keep that monster in the box today.] "Way to far" is an interesting characterization. Apple has rules about their playground, they like their rules, they make Apple very profitable. So the question becomes can Google leverage this liability to increase the penetration or market share of Android tablets? Once these tactics hurt Apple in the market t…

I think parent was speaking as a consumer, not moralizing about it. In the eyes of the law or economics, of course this is completely reasonable, it is absolutely Apple's right to do this. But the consumer experience is horrible, something parent is probably not used to from Apple.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#50

Post by cooldeal »

[deleted] wrote: post #14
AJ007 wrote: post #6

I can not be the only one thinking there is an antitrust issue here? I would guess the book thing means Apple is under quite a bit of scrutiny. While I'm not involved in mobile, I've had similar experiences for over half a decade dealing with the banal, highly questionable, and non-uniformly enforced rules Google imposes on its own advertisers. Some of the stuff is bad enough it makes you think it would fall under RI…

[deleted]

So if Apple and Samsung independently do this, there can be norecourse since both of them aren't monopolies even if they have around 90% marketshare together. Even though the harmful effects on the market is the same.

I guess that explains why the US wireless and cable franchies suck and have the lowest consumer ratings.

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