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Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

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31–40 of 414 posts

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#31
post #4

I am no lawyer, but this sounds like an antitrust lawsuit waiting to happen. Apple, IMO, should not be allowed to monopolize their platform in this way.

In what way? They aren't rejecting the app, they're rejecting the use of the trademark "Pebble" in the app's description.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#33
post #10

Not sure what really is the big deal here... Apple had I think such requirements for not mentioning any other products or even mentioning pricing in your product description aka "On sale today only for $0.99" will get the same rejection... It is ok to put a % So this is nothing new and just one Apple employee/reviewers that follow the rules from the guidelines... If the folks that were submitting the app try to resub…

You seem to be suggesting that this isn't wrong just because a rule exists. That position is predicated on the assumption that the rules themselves cannot be wrong. It is essentially circular logic to try and avoid discussing the topic at all, and the fact you are arguing that "It shouldn't even made it in the top HN stories IMHO" is quite evident of that belief.

An explanation of the rule doesn't really justify Apple's actions in this case, or how this rule has been applied before and after Apple had a competitive product in this specific space. Overall I think Apple's actions are very anticompetitive (maybe not illegally so, but we can still judge/criticise them).

All in all Apple wants to make it harder to find a competitor's product on their store. So they're actually willing to hurt their customer's usability if it means also hurting a competitor's market share. Really shows what their priorities are.

PS - I'd criticise Google or Microsoft for exactly the same thing.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#34
post #18

The title is misleading at best. Apple does not care what support you have. They just don't want you to advertise that in their app store.

Yep. Same if you mention in your app that it's also available on Android.

Fascist? Yes. Surprising? No. New? Certainly not.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

iOS is far from having a monopoly in the market (smartphones and tablets). No, monopoly over their devices doesn't count.

Vendor lock-in does count as monopolistic behaviour https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendor_lock-in

    may result in antitrust action against a monopoly.
You need to have a monopoly first.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#36
post #18

The title is misleading at best. Apple does not care what support you have. They just don't want you to advertise that in their app store.

Still though, as a user, I want to know which platforms the app I'm downloading/buying supports. Granted, you could say it's advertisement but if you scratch every mention of any 'other' platform from App stores, platform compability and therefore user conform is decreased drastically!

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#37

Makes sense. Apple doesn't want you using their app store in a way that could be promoting their competition. For example, maybe I'm browsing the app store for new apps and I come across this app in question. Reading the description I see it says something about the Pebble watch...hmmm..I've never heard of this. Now I look it up, it looks cool, I like it, now I want to buy the Pebble instead of the Apple watch. Their…

Would it be okay for Google to censor competitors in their search?

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#38
post #10

Not sure what really is the big deal here... Apple had I think such requirements for not mentioning any other products or even mentioning pricing in your product description aka "On sale today only for $0.99" will get the same rejection... It is ok to put a % So this is nothing new and just one Apple employee/reviewers that follow the rules from the guidelines... If the folks that were submitting the app try to resub…

Then how did Pebble get this in the store? https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pebble-smartwatch/id59201272...

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#39
post #27
post #10

Not sure what really is the big deal here... Apple had I think such requirements for not mentioning any other products or even mentioning pricing in your product description aka "On sale today only for $0.99" will get the same rejection... It is ok to put a % So this is nothing new and just one Apple employee/reviewers that follow the rules from the guidelines... If the folks that were submitting the app try to resub…

Apple had I think such requirements for not mentioning any other products... They have a line about not mentioning other mobile platforms. The latest version of SeaNav is 3.2.6, so it's been there for a while, with Apple happily accepting it and its description. What appears to have changed is Apple have decided that Pebble is a "mobile platform" only since the launch of the Apple Watch. That is arguably change to th…

The OP title is " Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support" Sorry but no Apple is not rejecting such apps... It just doesn't want other product name mentioned. And yes Apple is the gatekeeper of the Apple ecosystem... It is just the way it is. I am not saying that what Apple is doing is right, but the OP statement is wrong

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

iOS is far from having a monopoly in the market (smartphones and tablets). No, monopoly over their devices doesn't count.

Vendor lock-in does count as monopolistic behaviour https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendor_lock-in

Not really, even the Wikipedia article you sourced doesn't see it that way.

> Lock-in costs which create barriers to market entry may result in antitrust action against a monopoly.

It's anticompetitive behaviour that suddenly becomes relevant if you're a monopoly.

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