Live data from Hacker News

Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

forums.dropbox.com

61–70 of 361 posts

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Significant market share is enough for antitrust to be a concern. You don't need a monopoly, and indeed most companies engaging in anti-competitive behavior don't.

Apple doesn't have anything close to a significant market share. There is LOTS of competition in the market place.

Apple has significant market share. They just don't have anything close to a monopoly.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#62
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. They are blocking applications which allow you to make purchases without using Apples in app purchasing system. See the difference ?

...and using the Dropbox SDK is apparently violating that

THIS version does. And a NEW version doesn't.

There is no specific probelem with Dropbox.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#63
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[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.

That's a weird example to use, since US cable franchises are in fact usually monopolies.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#64

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…

Microsoft got hauled through the courts and turned into the EU's personal cash-register for doing similar things in 'their town'.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#65
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."

You should look up what "linkbait" actually means. A forum discussion between developers about a problem using the Dropbox SDK in the iOS app store assuredly does not qualify.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#66

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

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.

It sounds like the in app purchasing rules are not that well established if they can arbitrarily be applied to some n-depth linking to a spot on the web where the user can make a purchase. They would kind of have to reject any app that has the ability to open a link to Safari. Once in Safari (which technically means you are no longer "in app") you can browse anywhere and make a purchase. So maybe it is not an antitrust issue and just an anti-user issue.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#67
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

You are implying that your opponent's knowledge of antitrust law is limited to a "nerdly" definition he has read on Wikipedia. Perhaps it was not your intention, but that's how it came off to me.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#69
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

You are implying that your opponent's knowledge of antitrust law is limited to a "nerdly" definition he has read on Wikipedia. Perhaps it was not your intention, but that's how it came off to me.

My argument isn't that such a definition of Sherman Act violations is "nerdly". It's that it's wrong. "Nerdly" is just color commentary. And, for what it's worth: it's from one nerd to another.

Happy to clear that up for you.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#70
I don't understand why people think this is new.

I created a website that announced the launch of a small mobile app for both iOS and Android platforms. I was told by Apple that my app would not be approved as long as I had links to competitors (i.e. Android) on the web site.

Post reply on HN