Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#221

Post by FuzzyDunlop » Wed, May 02, 2012, 8:08 AM UTC

guelo wrote: post #209

rogerchucker wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think people characterizing this as "too far" are ignorant of that fact that Apple is within its rights to enforce whatever they want to. I think the thread is more about "is Apple being a dick here?"... Unfortunately, Google is probably not capable of exploiting these mini-resentments and I don't think anybody else is either.

Not capable? How about Google blocking Gmail, Youtube, Maps and Docs on iOS? They should do it now, Apple is playing hardball in the app store and the courts, time for Google to fight back.

No one in their right mind would punish their customers/users for making a particular product purchase decision.

They would be cutting their own nose off to spite their face.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#222

Post by exim » Wed, May 02, 2012, 8:16 AM UTC

skrebbel wrote: post #212

Is anyone really surprised? This is what happens if you give a single company so much control over your use of devices. It'll only get worse, we all know that, right?

Well, isn't this because that Apple somehow forgot about existence of such a basic concept as FILE?

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#223

Post by bad_user » Wed, May 02, 2012, 8:19 AM UTC

nupark2 wrote: post #178

cageface wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd rather Apple give developers the choice and let user preference sort it out. In the long run the open market always wins.

In the long run the open market doesn't behave independently rational and doesn't 'win' anything -- it simply is. If Apple wasn't forcing the larger industry to learn how to turn a profit by putting users first, the market would simply saturate the app store with whatever existent concepts are popular today. Remember, prior to iOS, the Mac OS X market was both cry user friendly and very insular. Now, iOS has gone mai…

     Of course, your open market does still exist -- 
     users can choose Android, which thrives on the
     notion of 'user choice'.

That's one reason why I, as a consumer, chose Android in the first place.

When I decided to buy a smartphone, I wanted one that allowed me to block calls and SMS messages completely, without leaving traces in the calls/sms logs. I wanted this because somehow my number ended up on a lot of spam lists and a smartphone should be smart about these things, right? If my email address is protected by spam filters, it should be a no-brainer for my smartphone to do the same for calls and SMS.

Imagine my surprise when I found out that such apps are banned from the iTunes App Store and that the only way to get such functionality on iOS was for me to root it and install software through Cydia. And why should I as a consumer go through so many hoops to use such software, when the company (that receives my money in the process) is actively hostile to my use case, a use case which is in no way immoral or unjustified.

When it comes to Android, building an app that blocks calls and SMS messages is still hard, as the APIs you have to rely on are private and keep changing, so the results are unpredictable. But upon a search on Google Play, I did find one that works well, installed with a single click. And I didn't have to root my phone.

Now that's what openness gets you - user experience is important, but it's all for nothing if the apps allowed don't solve your real problems.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#224

Post by josteink » Wed, May 02, 2012, 8:21 AM UTC

I'm surprised it took Apple this long since launching (the relatively overpriced) iCloud before they started acting like they always do: anti-competitive and monopolistic.

In the name of UX ofcourse. It couldn't possibly be because unethical market grabs tend to generate money. Remember: Apple doesn't really care about money. They care about you and all that money they make is just accidental.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#225

Post by superxor » Wed, May 02, 2012, 8:21 AM UTC

This is a horrible way of treating 3rd party developers. Apple should keep in mind that one of the major reasons any platform has ever been successful is because of a strong suite of 3rd party applications, be it Windows, iOS or Android.

Microsoft is paying its way to please developers and Apple is literally spitting on their face.

I've had very bad experience dealing with Apple for the past couple of months. I am maintaining an app developed using Sencha and PhoneGap. Apple suddenly rejects an update, reason cited was 'the app is not dynamic enough'. When I inquire further, they ask me to implement Push Notifications. Implementing Push Notifications is not a problem, its just that I or my client have no freaking idea what data we could Push to the app. There is just no need for such a feature.

It's obscenely preposterous for Apple to dictate what my App should be. I know I should be grateful that Apple has provided me a platform for writing apps (after all its their ecosystem), but I hope they keep in mind that 3rd party developers like me are an asset to them.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#226

Post by kapowaz » Wed, May 02, 2012, 8:28 AM UTC

josteink wrote: post #224

I'm surprised it took Apple this long since launching (the relatively overpriced) iCloud before they started acting like they always do: anti-competitive and monopolistic. In the name of UX ofcourse. It couldn't possibly be because unethical market grabs tend to generate money. Remember: Apple doesn't really care about money. They care about you and all that money they make is just accidental.

I'm surprised it took this long for an extremist, reactionary post like this to reach the top of the comments.

Remember: Apple couldn't possibly be a large corporation whose objectives and principles occasionally conflict in a way which causes collateral damage to their users or developers. They only care about squeezing out the competition through any means necessary.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#227

Post by codesuela » Wed, May 02, 2012, 8:29 AM UTC

pyre wrote: post #217

adgar wrote: post #206

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> So you can sign up for Dropbox directly and they get 100% of the fee or you can sign up through Apple and they get 70%. That might be more than their entire profit. (Emphasis mine) Sounds like it might be time to find a new business plan, then.

What business are you running that has larger profit margins than 30%?

Obviosly he is a drug dealer

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#228

Post by schraeds » Wed, May 02, 2012, 8:29 AM UTC

josteink wrote: post #224

I'm surprised it took Apple this long since launching (the relatively overpriced) iCloud before they started acting like they always do: anti-competitive and monopolistic. In the name of UX ofcourse. It couldn't possibly be because unethical market grabs tend to generate money. Remember: Apple doesn't really care about money. They care about you and all that money they make is just accidental.

It is a very clear and simple violation of current app store policy. Whether that policy make sense or not is a different question, but there is no conspiracy going on here.

"Once the user is in Safari it is possible for the user to click "Desktop version" and navigate to a place on Dropbox site where it is possible to purchase additional space.

Apple views this as "sending user to an additional purchase" which is against rules."

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#229

Post by rmc » Wed, May 02, 2012, 8:30 AM UTC

cageface wrote: post #176

nupark2 wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In terms of UX and as a consumer, I'd rather the Dropbox API not open a browser or even another app. That is not the best UX, it doesn't provide a security advantage, and it's simply not being done to benefit the consumer. This may not be Apple's primary rational for rejecting these apps, but I'm glad they're doing it. As for the payment question, simply in terms of UX and as a consumer, I want only one payment provi…

I'd rather Apple give developers the choice and let user preference sort it out. In the long run the open market always wins.

In the long run the open market always wins.

The App Store is not an open market, nor is it intended to be an open market.

Re: Apple rejecting applications which use Dropbox

#230

Post by runn1ng » Wed, May 02, 2012, 8:35 AM UTC

kapowaz wrote: post #226

josteink wrote: post #224

I'm surprised it took Apple this long since launching (the relatively overpriced) iCloud before they started acting like they always do: anti-competitive and monopolistic. In the name of UX ofcourse. It couldn't possibly be because unethical market grabs tend to generate money. Remember: Apple doesn't really care about money. They care about you and all that money they make is just accidental.

I'm surprised it took this long for an extremist, reactionary post like this to reach the top of the comments. Remember: Apple couldn't possibly be a large corporation whose objectives and principles occasionally conflict in a way which causes collateral damage to their users or developers. They only care about squeezing out the competition through any means necessary.

So what?

They are acting monopolistically and unethically; this is a fact. The "collateral damage" is OK, if you don't have the majority; Apple does, however.