Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#121

Post by pjc50 » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:54 PM UTC

AlexandrB wrote: post #97

captainmuon wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They have a monopoly for the iOS platform, at least. And in some jurisdictions you don't need a monopoly to be guilty of anticompetitive behavior.

Do you have the same stance on Twitter? Twitter has a monopoly on the Twitter platform and may choose not to provide API keys for apps that it doesn't want to exist. Is this abusing a monopoly? If not, why not?

Twitter's stance of shutting down apps that get too many subscribers definitely looks bad to me - although it's a little different in that no money changes hands.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2104603/metrotwit-vanishes-as...

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#122

Post by pasta_2 » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:55 PM UTC

It's really amusing that so many of you actually think that Apple is threatened by Pebble in the slightest that they would remove apps that supported it.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#123

Post by zamalek » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:55 PM UTC

ptaipale wrote: post #88

zamalek wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The truth is that it goes far beyond the unfairness to this specific developer and far beyond whether the developer neglected to check the TOS 4 years ago. Apple is a vile anti-competitive monstrosity. These jerks needed to be slammed with a lawsuit long before this one single example of their flamboyant and abundant anti-competitive behavior.

> Apple is a vile antitrust monstrosity. I think you want to say "anti-competetive", not "antitrust". Antitrust legislation is what is used against anti-competitive companies. But yes, otherwise you are absolutely right: Apple's behaviour is monopolistic and unfair and "vile" is not unjustified.

Edited, thanks

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#124

Post by bencollier49 » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:56 PM UTC

d0m wrote: post #76

It's a bit tricky. I agree with most comments here that Apple is in the right to control what appear in the description and metadata. Not just from a competitive standpoint but in a way to make the it better for the user experience. That being said, in the Pebble case, I think it makes the user experience worst for the user. I.e. if I have a pebble watch and am looking for an iphone app that play well with it, I'd wa…

"It seems like Apple is doing that as a way to kill competition and promote their own watch, which is fair from a business standpoint."

Google are currently being taken to the cleaners by the EU for something wholly analogous to this.

I can imagine the chaps in Brussels rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of getting their hands on all the dodgy offshore cash that Apple have got piled up in Dublin.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#125

Post by Alupis » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:56 PM UTC

druidsbane wrote: post #77

toxican wrote: post #2

I think I want to see more information before I grab my pitchfork. From the replies, > are you sure you're a developer? because this has been part of iOS submission guidelines for 4 years. (developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#metadata) I mean I really wouldn't put it past Apple to start enforcing this more aggressively because of the iWatch, but a forum post by some dev is hardly proof that Apple is inte…

So apps for cars would be rejected? Tesla is literally a "mobile platform", hehe.

Well, you jest now, but if rumors ever come to fruition (I don't believe they will) and Apple enters the "smart car" market, by this policy, Apps for Ford or Honda compatibility would start to get rejected.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#126

Post by BinaryIdiot » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:57 PM UTC

ommunist wrote: post #101

Gooood case for a brave lawyer to make himself a name. He can try prohibit sales of all Apple products in the EU on the basis of the current anti-monopoly EC legislation using this as a case.

Every lawsuit seems to try this and it practically never works so I wouldn't get my hopes up.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#127

Post by exelius » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:57 PM UTC

rrss1122 wrote: post #109

d0m wrote: post #76

It's a bit tricky. I agree with most comments here that Apple is in the right to control what appear in the description and metadata. Not just from a competitive standpoint but in a way to make the it better for the user experience. That being said, in the Pebble case, I think it makes the user experience worst for the user. I.e. if I have a pebble watch and am looking for an iphone app that play well with it, I'd wa…

"It seems like Apple is doing that as a way to kill competition and promote their own watch, which is fair from a business standpoint." It's nowhere near fair. It's extremely anticompetitive. This is the kind of behavior that gets a company in trouble with the FTC.

It's also ultimately shitty for consumers, which will drive people away from Apple's products. Microsoft pulled this shit for years with MS Office, and it opened the door for Google.

This behavior may get them in trouble with the FTC, but it's also not likely to be very popular in the market. I get if they want a "premium" experience with the Apple Watch, but they shouldn't block other devices. The Apple Watch should be able to win on its own merits; the wearables space is still small enough that IMO any competition should be welcomed as it drives the whole market forward.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#128

Post by bontoJR » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:57 PM UTC

loumf wrote: post #112

mey wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Under US law, it would be anti-competitive to use market control to stifle competition. I agree on your point about android, but you should be able to see what the software supports. Of course a court would need to decide, IANAL etc

Apple doesn't have control of the smart phone (or phone) market. Having control of the iPhone market is not considered monopolistic.

> Having control of the iPhone market is not considered monopolistic.

...and in an hypothetical lawsuit this will just turn in favor of Apple.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#129

Post by gibsonje » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:57 PM UTC

toxican wrote: post #2

I think I want to see more information before I grab my pitchfork. From the replies, > are you sure you're a developer? because this has been part of iOS submission guidelines for 4 years. (developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#metadata) I mean I really wouldn't put it past Apple to start enforcing this more aggressively because of the iWatch, but a forum post by some dev is hardly proof that Apple is inte…

The OP replied in that article's comments saying that their appeal was rejected with a statement that any reference to Pebble in the description had to also be removed.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#130

Post by tveita » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:59 PM UTC

vinceguidry wrote: post #68

piyush_soni wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is kind of stupid right? If I'm supporting a platform, wouldn't I need to WRITE THAT in my description? What a load of BS these Apple guidelines are.

I think Apple expects you to bury it on your app's webpage.

I think it's pretty clear Apple expects you to not add support at all, since you can't advertise it anywhere users will see it anyway.

It is a tool for controlling the behavior of both users and developers by using their control of an unrelated platform.