Apple Rejects App That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple Rejects App That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes

#51

Post by chmod775 » Thu, Aug 30, 2012, 3:32 PM UTC

thechut wrote: post #23

Build an Android version, I doubt that the Play Store will block the app. And if it does you can have it one of the 1- other available stores.

They don't block any apps. They just remove the ones that do not abide by the rules. Also Google is pretty liberal itself and likes free information (Well, they are a search engine. of course they do) and I do not think they would remove it even if it would say "And this is why democrats suck" in big-red letters on every report. You are free to use the app or to not use it. It's your decision in the end.

Re: Apple Rejects App That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes

#52

Post by TazeTSchnitzel » Thu, Aug 30, 2012, 3:32 PM UTC

DrJokepu wrote: post #13

mike-cardwell wrote: post #3

I can understand Apple wanting to keep its market place "clean", but at the very least, iDevice owners should be able to opt-in to seeing apps like this. Why can't it just be flagged "adult" or something, and you can then opt-in on your device to seeing apps flagged as such? Why does Apple think it is suitable to make these decisions on your behalf, iDevice users? Are you happy with this? Personally, I'll be sticking…

I believe the following parts of the iOS App Store Review Guidelines answer your question: * We have lots of kids downloading lots of apps, and parental controls don't work unless the parents set them up (many don't). So know that we're keeping an eye out for the kids. * We will reject Apps for any content or behavior that we believe is over the line. What line, you ask? Well, as a Supreme Court Justice once said, "I…

Wow, I thought you were joking and making it up. But it turns out these are actual store guidelines, and they are written in this style.

Re: Apple Rejects App That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes

#53

Post by fein » Thu, Aug 30, 2012, 3:33 PM UTC

eevilspock wrote: post #25

fein wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The logical fallacy here is the assumption that the guidelines imposed by apple won't lead to straight up draconian rules, which they almost already have. There is a reason why utopias do not exist.

Jeez louis, who's making that logical fallacy? Don't put your interpretation into other people's mouths. The moment Apple crosses a line, I'll bail. But I disagree that it has. It's just a fucking phone, for Christ's sake. And you can still do this app as a web app. It's a question of two imperfect approaches. Google's "open" Android market (it isn't quite totally open is it?) is far from utopia too, no? All that mal…

One point to make: I didn't give you any downmods, because I can't and refuse to do so.

Let me see if I can explain this in more detail. I'm not saying the android market is perfect, nor am I saying that the iOS market is an ideal solution. My point is that the original statement:

> The ideal walled garden would be one that blocks spammy apps and malware - but not information

is a logical fallacy. Information is a very broad term, so the assumption that an overlord curator can perform their job in a non-invasive manner while magically defining what "bad" means is a road to hell. What we need is effectively the reddit of app stores; one curated by the community instead of a black box of employees. The tyranny of the democratic majority is still an issue, but it seems that this is a far more fair solution than what exists now.

It is an effort in futility to find the perfect end all solution, because that utopia can't exist. I would, however, rather have the risk of getting coal instead of diamonds instead of just what a company tells me is a diamond.

Re: Apple Rejects App That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes

#54

Post by stephengillie » Thu, Aug 30, 2012, 3:40 PM UTC

dlikhten wrote: post #47

rickmb wrote: post #42

As an Apple fanboy, I've been able to rationalize everything Apple has done concerning the app-store up to now, even if I personally would have like to have seen a way more open and liberal approach. And the overblown anti-Apple FUD, using misplaced terms like "censorship" and "monopoly" whenever an app was thwarted by Apples opaque policies has made it easy to ignore the objections of detractors. But I find it impos…

Android FTW. I know this pops up constantly, but this is EXACTLY the reason I advocate for android. This sort of shit does not fly there. Apple has the ability to censor which even the government can't and worse is that it's fully legal. I really wish people would take these stories as a sign that we need to focus on the android market. FWIW: I am not advocating for the baby & bathwater argument. I think we must focu…

Even if both Google's and Amazon's app stores reject an app, there are still other markets. And you can just download APKs from websites/ftp/etc and install them to your android, no market required.

Re: Apple Rejects App That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes

#55

Post by fleitz » Thu, Aug 30, 2012, 3:41 PM UTC

Helping nations keep track of progress through their crimes against humanity is more IBM's business.

Apple is merely interested in the fall from grace, not the accounting.

Re: Apple Rejects App That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes

#56

Post by ktizo » Thu, Aug 30, 2012, 3:41 PM UTC

lukeschlather wrote: post #48

rickmb wrote: post #42

As an Apple fanboy, I've been able to rationalize everything Apple has done concerning the app-store up to now, even if I personally would have like to have seen a way more open and liberal approach. And the overblown anti-Apple FUD, using misplaced terms like "censorship" and "monopoly" whenever an app was thwarted by Apples opaque policies has made it easy to ignore the objections of detractors. But I find it impos…

This is not the first time that Apple has rejected an app on purely political grounds. This may be the first time they've removed something and offended liberal/libertarian sensibilities, but a couple clear examples from a while back: http://mashable.com/2011/03/23/apple-removes-gay-cure/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/24/apple-manhattan-dec...

Or rejecting apps by pulitzer prize winning political cartoonists for "Ridiculing Public Figures" - http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/15/when-youre-good-enough-for-a-...

Re: Apple Rejects App That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes

#57

Post by ken » Thu, Aug 30, 2012, 3:45 PM UTC

jcromartie wrote: post #27

DrJokepu wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe the following parts of the iOS App Store Review Guidelines answer your question: * We have lots of kids downloading lots of apps, and parental controls don't work unless the parents set them up (many don't). So know that we're keeping an eye out for the kids. * We will reject Apps for any content or behavior that we believe is over the line. What line, you ask? Well, as a Supreme Court Justice once said, "I…

The review guidelines have a surprisingly human tone to them.

Yes, many (but not all) of Apple's developer documents do, especially developer release notes for new and/or experimental features.

Re: Apple Rejects App That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes

#58

Post by lutusp » Thu, Aug 30, 2012, 3:48 PM UTC

mc32 wrote: post #46

lutusp wrote: post #36

This is a tempest in a teapot. Obviously the same content could be placed on a Web page containing an incarnation of Google Maps, with an updated overlay containing publicly available data about air strikes. Then iPod/iDevice owners could simply launch a browser and visit the site for the latest data. It's obvious from the article graphic that the app is using Google Maps to display its data, so hosting it in a Web p…

What's more, this incident likely created more interest than they would have ever had -had this not been rejected. Not saying rejection was their anticipated motive, but in retrospect, it did give the data visibility. So, in that sense, it is a likely positive outcome for their purpose.

Agreed -- and not unlike filmmakers who tune their film during editing to achieve an R rating, or better, who create some pre-release publicity around what rating the film should have.

Re: Apple Rejects App That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes

#59

Post by ktizo » Thu, Aug 30, 2012, 3:51 PM UTC

myared wrote: post #6

The irony is that this news aggregator is being denied, yet someone could make a game called "Drone Wars" where you operate a drone on missions and Apple would have no problem with it.

Perhaps the coder could make a game, which invites you to play at flying each drone attack as each one gets reported in, with lots of american flags and funny voiced terrorists to kill. Call it "Patriot Death Force" and have a heavy metal sound track and stuff.

That would probably get through fine.

Re: Apple Rejects App That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes

#60

Post by Splines » Thu, Aug 30, 2012, 3:54 PM UTC

woodsielord wrote: post #45

DrJokepu wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe the following parts of the iOS App Store Review Guidelines answer your question: * We have lots of kids downloading lots of apps, and parental controls don't work unless the parents set them up (many don't). So know that we're keeping an eye out for the kids. * We will reject Apps for any content or behavior that we believe is over the line. What line, you ask? Well, as a Supreme Court Justice once said, "I…

BS argument through and through. 1st* You need an Apple ID with a credit card to use the App Store. Ergo, adult work. Ergo, parental controls can be integrated into the credit card screen by the simple checkbox "Is the user of this account an adult?" 2nd* Supreme Court Justice is given the authority by the state to decide on immense matters after years of honorable (which is their title, by the way) service. Nice att…

> You need an Apple ID with a credit card to use the App Store. Ergo, adult work. Ergo, parental controls can be integrated into the credit card screen by the simple checkbox "Is the user of this account an adult?"

I'm pretty sure you don't, at least beyond the first-time setup of the account. My son has an iTunes account and we "fund" it through iTunes gift cards. There is no credit card attached at all. Once his gift card credit is used up, no more purchases for him.