AppGratis pulled from the App Store. Here’s the full story • Hacker News Board

Re: AppGratis pulled from the App Store. Here’s the full story

#111

Post by querulous » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 9:34 PM UTC

OoTheNigerian wrote: post #82

The lesson here to me is simple. If you do not have an email address, you have not 'acquired' a user. If they had email addresses, they could have focused on sending out emails while trying to seek other platforms to develop for. As for the people offended about AppGratis' business model. Can you explain the difference between it and Groupon? Or any super bowl ad? It is wrong for someone to have money to promote thei…

i'm not offended by AppGratis' business model but i am offended by the notion that Apple are in the wrong for cracking down on paid installs. AppGratis can do whatever they want but they shouldn't expect Apple's support

Re: AppGratis pulled from the App Store. Here’s the full story

#112

Post by jdechko » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 9:38 PM UTC

k3n wrote: post #79

rimantas wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> are aimed directly at people who don't know how to use > computers What does it even mean? iPhone and OS X are aimed at people who want to use their computers, instead of getting CS degree. I've heard that majority of cars in US are with automatic transmissions and few people know how to drive "stick". Are there voices suggesting that auto manufacturers are aiming their products at people who don't know how to driv…

For the most part, yes, though it depends on your definition of "drive". If you base your definition of "drive" as "being able to do the most basic of tasks", then sure, most everyone can drive a car. However, if you're an auto enthusiast, then to you being able to "drive" takes on a whole new definition; can you J-turn? How about drift? Can you jumpstart a car with a dead battery by push-starting? Can you correct yo…

Just as with computers, I'd wager most people don't give a crap. Most people use cars to get from one place to another. Hauling groceries, kids & whatever else. Most people use computers to check email, Facebook, pay bills, write letters and play a couple of casual games. In both cases, there are users and there are enthusiasts.

Re: AppGratis pulled from the App Store. Here’s the full story

#113

Post by belorn » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 9:40 PM UTC

If your business model is complete and utterly depended on a single third-party company, one need to be aware of the risk. It should be in every iphone exclusive company mind that Apple is in complete control, and are the sole dictator in what business models is allowed to exist on the phone.

Startups should thus do risk analyzes as part of creating a business plan. If your depended on a single supplier, then it need to be calculated in. If the supplier ever feels threatened, or has reason to enter your market, then there is nothing one can do to prevents them from cutting you of. The only option is to either gamble that it wont happen, or diversify your business to the point where you are no longer in a fully depended relationship with the supplier.

It should be mentioned that the business model of service providers when they implement a "walled garden" (Closed platform) is to retain a complete level of control. If app developers would refuse to develop to walled gardens, then this kind of problems would not exist.

Re: AppGratis pulled from the App Store. Here’s the full story

#114

Post by homosaur » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 9:41 PM UTC

They pulled AppShopper, now they pull AppGratis. This is stupid. Apple's store sucks. You can't discover anything unless it comes out that week and has the hype of Apple's week one marketing behind it unless someone you follow on Twitter starts pimping it.

Re: AppGratis pulled from the App Store. Here’s the full story

#115

Post by snowwrestler » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 9:43 PM UTC

untog wrote: post #86

ricardobeat wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You should be aware that a hefty percentage of software developers use OSX, I'd say 70% around here. They are easier to use for everyone, not just "people who don't know computers", and one of the best unix environments for development. They are certainly (specially iOS) not aimed at people who like to spend hours messing with a thousand settings screens, buttons and checkboxes - self-proclaimed "power users".

He did say "OSX lately ", and I agree. Snow Leopard was probably the best version of OS X, it's just been downhill from there. I don't want/care for things like Launchpad being in my OS.

I don't understand why people complain about Launchpad. It's no dumber than Front Row, which shipped on Snow Leopard and several versions prior, and like Front Row, it's totally hidden unless you choose to invoke it.

Re: AppGratis pulled from the App Store. Here’s the full story

#116

Post by dsl » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 9:43 PM UTC

myko wrote: post #94

mdmarra wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is a violation of the OS X EULA. install, use and run up to two (2) additional copies or instances of the Apple Software within virtual operating system environments on each Mac Computer you own or control that is already running the Apple Software, for purposes of: (a) software development; (b) testing during software development; (c) using OS X Server; or (d) personal, non-commercial use. http://www.apple.com…

Would this hold up in court? It seems laughable upon reading it.

"You can only run our software on our hardware" has already held up in courts. It's been a few years, but I think it was Allen Bradley or Siemens.

Re: AppGratis pulled from the App Store. Here’s the full story

#117

Post by 2pasc » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 9:45 PM UTC

credo wrote: post #16

Detailed post, but it doesn't seem to address two things. 1. The WSJ report noted that Apple was concerned that " AppGratis was pushing a business model that appeared to favor developers with the financial means to pay for exposure." Simon hasn't addressed this point. Do they make paid recommendations ? If they do make app-recommendations based on payments, it makes a lot of sense for Apple to ban them. As an iOS (an…

Re: Rule 5.6. Aren't all commerce apps - especially Flash Sales apps violating Rule 5.6? I could get an app every day from Fab, Rue La La, Threadflip, Gilt, and others, and every week from Postmates, Instacart, etc...

Rule 5.6 seems crazy to me, unless I have misunderstood something. What are the apps that are using push notifications for other reasons than what Rule 5.6 prevents? Communications apps? If that's the case, then Urban Airship needs to pivot very fast, because their business is built on something forbidden!

Re: AppGratis pulled from the App Store. Here’s the full story

#118

Post by Livven » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 9:46 PM UTC

knes wrote: post #63

I have zero sympathy for Simon. AppGratis business model is dirty at its core because basically it's just a way for developers with cash to splash to have a big burst of downloads to help them climb the App Store Rank and get "organic download". An even dumber thing is to bet everything its iOS app when you saw that a far superior product from one of your competitor was banned from the App Store 4 months ago (App Sho…

Oh come on. It's certainly "dirty" to push your app up the charts with fake downloads from bots, but this is just advertising. There are much worse things happening in the world... and in the App Store.

Plus however you might feel about apps like this, the much larger issue is that Apple is now pulling apps it doesn't like. While it's of course within their rights, this really shouldn't be just happening like this. With over 400 million or so iOS devices out there, even if it's no monopoly, there should be some regulation to prevent Apple from screwing around like this. There is a difference between rejecting apps based on an intransparent process and pulling apps afterwards because they don't fit with your business model.

Re: AppGratis pulled from the App Store. Here’s the full story

#119

Post by jacquesm » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 9:52 PM UTC

planetjones wrote: post #90

Is it really that simple to raise 12 million dollars of funding - for a company which can be destroyed pretty much overnight by Apple. Do the investors not think about this? The world really has gone mad.

> Do the investors not think about this?

Some do, some don't. The ones that don't get burned like this.

Re: AppGratis pulled from the App Store. Here’s the full story

#120

Post by lnanek2 » Tue, Apr 09, 2013, 9:54 PM UTC

Hmm, even just reading his blog post I think his daily push message promoting a deal on another app violates the guidelines - and that's his side of the story which should be the most favorable, heh.