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iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

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Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#71
post #59

I love these guys. They have tons of other shitty/scammy apps: - Fruit Defense (ripoff of Fruit Ninja): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fruit-defense/id527599882?mt=... - File Manager (a game!): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/file-manager/id529097807?mt=8 - Orient Fight (icon is a ripoff of Temple Run's): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/oriental-fight/id527894964?mt... - F1 Birdie Driver (bird looks like an angry bird)…

You feel that Apple should reject "every single shitty app"? Really? You do realize that such things are subjective, right?

Sure, there's no reason why apple shouldn't be able to make subjective quality value judgments. When I go to any retail store, the purchasers have already made hundreds of subjective rejections for me. Some stores are stricter than others, and that's OK.

I like knowing that something I buy at Nordstrom probably won't be complete and utter garbage. If Apple wants to be the Nordstrom of app stores, that's their right.

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably near closing time and failing to meet quota... I mean, with the number of apps they have to check, it must be a sweatshop.

I'd be very interested to know in which country these app reviewers are, whether they're educated, whether they're being paid well, and how the working conditions are for them.

You should ask Mike Daisey to check that out for us.

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#73
post #67

reminds me of The Asylum film studios - they do the same thing, except for movies. I've been tricked into renting their movies instead of the real ones before, when I had forgotten the correct title. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Asylum

Yes! I went from very confused to very angry when I watched "Battle Of Los Angeles" on Netflix streaming thinking it was "Battle: Los Angeles". And that didn't cost me anything (other than the 20 minutes wasted before I realized I had been tricked).

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#75
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes you can. Just a few days ago, 'The EagleBook' changed its name to 'The CIA World Factbook', for example: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/eaglebook-cia-world-factbook/...

You can change the name, but to do so requires you to change the app metadata in XCode, rebuild a new binary, and upload it back to iTunes Connect like you would any other update. That would trigger another round of reviewing, so in theory you shouldn't be able to "sneak" a name change past Apple.

Exactly, not sure why I got the down-vote above. You can't simply edit the app name and change it after the app has passed review.

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#77
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then don't buy an iOS device.

Did you forget about the Cydia marketplace & jailbroken iPhones?

That also brings down the sandbox, which is nice to have when you run apps from developers you wouldn't necessarily trust. Too bad there's no way to side-load unsigned (or signed by a custom CA) apps while still maintaining the sandbox restrictions.

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#78
post #44
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Apple's position is "it's not our job to police your trademarks, since you don't tell us when you license them to developers".

Nope. When I first submitted SharePics the logo had a white space at the bottom. They rejected it because they said it looked like a Polaroid. Apple needs to be more consistent, either curate the hell out of it, or don't. Inconsistent application of the rules make it more confusing for naive users.

Not only naive users, it makes it pretty hard to get a feeling for what's acceptable even for seasoned developers with good intentions. (Volume button for camera, anyone?)

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#79
post #52

Is this a case of the app getting approved as something else and then the developer turns around and changes something in the meta that doesn't require approval?

As I understand it, even if you don't change the actual binary, changing the meta info still requires another review.

Re: iOS App Store - Fake Microsoft Word 2012 Approved

#80

I love these guys. They have tons of other shitty/scammy apps: - Fruit Defense (ripoff of Fruit Ninja): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fruit-defense/id527599882?mt=... - File Manager (a game!): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/file-manager/id529097807?mt=8 - Orient Fight (icon is a ripoff of Temple Run's): http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/oriental-fight/id527894964?mt... - F1 Birdie Driver (bird looks like an angry bird)…

Apple is not in the business of justice. They will go to great lengths to protect their business, and other things are only important as long as they are relevant to their business. Now, the shittiness of the app store should concern them. I believe they are doing a pretty good job of promoting good apps, and letting the bad reviews bury horrible apps. If an app like this one floats up all the filters and publicly shames them, they will take down the app and probably all the other apps by the developer. So, if they will take dramatic action, it will probably on a case basis; which is both more conservative as an action from their part, and probably as effective as a countermeasure.
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