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Apple Pulls 500px’s Mobile Apps From The App Store

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Re: Apple Pulls 500px’s Mobile Apps From The App Store

#151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

4+, but only shows nudity if you go to the website in a browser, create an account, verify your age, then specify that you want to be able to see "mature" images. Instead, the rationale from Apple and defended by you and others is that it is better to make the entire app 17+, and deny a whole raft of people the ability to use it, on the chance that they might do the above to "get around" the Apple rating system. It's…

>Instead, the rationale from Apple and defended by you and others is that it is better to make the entire app 17+ Yes, then parents can give the device to children, turn on whatever restrictions based on those ratings, and have it work, even if the kid is trying to get around it by doing all those things. This is not only intended to defeat 5 year olds, but 14 year olds. If 500px would prefer to turn that switch off…

Thanks for some common sense. Couldn't this be easily solved by releasing two apps with different age ratings? The 17 rated app could additionally require a login to their verification system if they want to have a complete database of such users. I don't see the problem.

Re: Apple Pulls 500px’s Mobile Apps From The App Store

#152
post #57

The app was rated 4+, yet would show pictures of naked people http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:itunes.... I think trying to paint Apple as bad in this case is pretty crappy, as it's very clear what the different ratings mean and 500px didn't follow the VERY CLEAR list of what each thing means. http://www.internetsafetyproject.org/wiki/apple%E2%80%99s-ap... True nudity only belongs in 17+ in their…

Our society has this totally backwards.

First, to find nudity, you have to go out of your way on 500px. Is it there? Sure. But is a 4 year-old going to run across it without concerted effort? No. And if they do find it, will it really have a negative impact on their development? Highly unlikely.

Meanwhile, you can buy an app that will let you watch UFC fights[1]. It is rated 9+. In case you're wondering whether UFC would be appropriate for 9 year-olds, I refer you to a Google Image Search for the St. Pierre vs. Condit fight from a month or two ago (warning: graphic and bloody) http://bit.ly/VSwUAJ

Like I said, we have this totally backwards.

[1] https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ufc/id534568162

Re: Apple Pulls 500px’s Mobile Apps From The App Store

#153
post #149
post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You do know the web browser and pretty much any apps can be turned off in restrictions right? Please enlighten me as to how to restrict apps other than Safari, Camera, FaceTime, and iTunes, because that's all there is in that menu.

You restrict based on age ratings. That's the whole point of his argument. You set the rating restriction, block the communication apps, Safari, and the kid cannot go download another browser and surf. If Apple goes lax on these ratings, then those parental controls stop working.

I just set my age restrictions to "4+", and was still able to open Chrome, Twitter, Flipboard, etc.

What I want is to be able to lock down certain apps so I can hand my device to my 4-year-old and know that he's not going to get into anything except the few games I have for him. Is that not possible?

Re: Apple Pulls 500px’s Mobile Apps From The App Store

#154
post #148
post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Developers go where the users go (and pay). Until the Windows and Android stores start bringing devs the same type of money, it's still always worth it to "take the risk" of Apple's store. The only way I see this changing is if users themselves cared about an app being pulled, and this app doesn't seem big enough for people to care (maybe if Instagram was taken down).

> Developers go where the users go You are aware that, except in a tiny fraction of the world, users are going massively android, right?

It's probably fairer to say that "Developers go where the users are willing to pay". As I understand it, iOS currently wins hands down in that category.

Re: Apple Pulls 500px’s Mobile Apps From The App Store

#155
post #153
post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You restrict based on age ratings. That's the whole point of his argument. You set the rating restriction, block the communication apps, Safari, and the kid cannot go download another browser and surf. If Apple goes lax on these ratings, then those parental controls stop working.

I just set my age restrictions to "4+", and was still able to open Chrome, Twitter, Flipboard, etc. What I want is to be able to lock down certain apps so I can hand my device to my 4-year-old and know that he's not going to get into anything except the few games I have for him. Is that not possible?

My understanding it's the app store download and install that gets blocked, not the actual running of apps. That's when you see the age-restricted warning, not when you run the app.

An imperfect system for your use case, for sure. An example where multi-user iPad would be great.

The whole iOS ecosystem is design with one user per device in mind. Apple ID, single user, etc.

Re: Apple Pulls 500px’s Mobile Apps From The App Store

#156
post #148
post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Developers go where the users go (and pay). Until the Windows and Android stores start bringing devs the same type of money, it's still always worth it to "take the risk" of Apple's store. The only way I see this changing is if users themselves cared about an app being pulled, and this app doesn't seem big enough for people to care (maybe if Instagram was taken down).

> Developers go where the users go You are aware that, except in a tiny fraction of the world, users are going massively android, right?

Either your parent edited after your post or you conveniently skipped the '(and pay)' in your argument. I'd like to see some solid comparison of revenue numbers between Play store and Appstore. I'm pretty sure iOS would still come out ahead in that regard, until I get disproven on this. Of course I'm not saying that one should ignore Android, since this will quite possibly change in the (near) future, but still, from an economic standpoint it IMO still makes sense to target iOS first.

Re: Apple Pulls 500px’s Mobile Apps From The App Store

#157
Now this is getting too much. Apple should be putting some sensible reviewers there. I wander what kind of people take such steps.

Additionally, "we also received customer complaints about possible child pornography", what kind of bozos report such things.

Dear Apple, Chrome and Safari let me access porn too easily, I just need to follow following steps: 1. Open Safari 2. Tap address bar. Then tap s,e,x,.,c,o,m keys and press return. 3. PORN!

OMG, now will you block Safari as well!

Re: Apple Pulls 500px’s Mobile Apps From The App Store

#158
post #155
post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just set my age restrictions to "4+", and was still able to open Chrome, Twitter, Flipboard, etc. What I want is to be able to lock down certain apps so I can hand my device to my 4-year-old and know that he's not going to get into anything except the few games I have for him. Is that not possible?

My understanding it's the app store download and install that gets blocked, not the actual running of apps. That's when you see the age-restricted warning, not when you run the app. An imperfect system for your use case, for sure. An example where multi-user iPad would be great. The whole iOS ecosystem is design with one user per device in mind. Apple ID, single user, etc.

I get that, and it's a source of much frustration. The idea of buying an iPhone for your four-year old strikes me as lunacy. These things are marvelous at keeping kids entertained and quiet when you're waiting at a restaurant or checking out at the grocery store, and expecting that there will only be one user of the device ever is annoyingly myopic. It also occurs to me that if you're going to gate it at install time, the iTunes password already does that. Don't give the kid the password, she can't install anything that isn't approved.

There's a tremendous disconnect between how it should work and how it does work. If I want to put my device in "four-year-old mode", I shouldn't have to uninstall everything to get there.

Re: Apple Pulls 500px’s Mobile Apps From The App Store

#159
post #158
post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My understanding it's the app store download and install that gets blocked, not the actual running of apps. That's when you see the age-restricted warning, not when you run the app. An imperfect system for your use case, for sure. An example where multi-user iPad would be great. The whole iOS ecosystem is design with one user per device in mind. Apple ID, single user, etc.

I get that, and it's a source of much frustration. The idea of buying an iPhone for your four-year old strikes me as lunacy. These things are marvelous at keeping kids entertained and quiet when you're waiting at a restaurant or checking out at the grocery store, and expecting that there will only be one user of the device ever is annoyingly myopic. It also occurs to me that if you're going to gate it at install time…

Agreed. My guess is that we'll get somewhere closer to what you're looking at eventually. True focus of the company is very much in the personal device area, though.

However, they have started some work mainly focused on accessibility that might be good for this use. iPad only at the moment: http://www.gottabemobile.com/2012/10/01/how-to-lock-the-ipad...

Re: Apple Pulls 500px’s Mobile Apps From The App Store

#160
post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Developers go where the users go You are aware that, except in a tiny fraction of the world, users are going massively android, right?

Either your parent edited after your post or you conveniently skipped the '(and pay)' in your argument. I'd like to see some solid comparison of revenue numbers between Play store and Appstore. I'm pretty sure iOS would still come out ahead in that regard, until I get disproven on this. Of course I'm not saying that one should ignore Android, since this will quite possibly change in the (near) future, but still, from…

I didn't edit for the record.
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