Apple Responds to Dash Controversy

#1

Post by lazerwalker » Mon, Oct 10, 2016, 10:07 PM UTC

Apple Responds to Dash Controversy
loopinsight.com

Re: Apple Responds to Dash Controversy

#2

Post by Cyph0n » Mon, Oct 10, 2016, 10:14 PM UTC

Well that's definitely strange. Why would the developer do such a thing when Dash is basically the best app of its kind out there?

Edit: To other commenters, why would Apple accuse the dev of faking reviews if it wasn't true? I don't see Apple getting anything out of it.

Re: Apple Responds to Dash Controversy

#3

Post by daeken » Mon, Oct 10, 2016, 10:16 PM UTC

There's proof, but we're not going to link it because ... reasons. Why would they not include any proof that might exist?

Re: Apple Responds to Dash Controversy

#4

Post by Lazare » Mon, Oct 10, 2016, 10:17 PM UTC

This is a very weird definition of "proof".

A much more accurate headline might be "Apple responds to Dash controversy by insisting they were right all along and refusing to provide proof."

Edit: The tone of the entire article rubs me the wrong way; it reads like a press release that nobody could be bothered to re-write.

> The integrity of the App Store is as important to Apple as it is to consumers.

Citation needed? Plus it immediately follows an unsubstantiated claim that Apple has been ignoring evidence of review manipulation for two years, so even if we take the article at face value...that doesn't sound like they think it's important?

> This is part of the reason we trust Apple and the App Store.

That's the most circular argument. "We trust Apple because they claim they're trustworthy!"

Re: Apple Responds to Dash Controversy

#5

Post by threeseed » Mon, Oct 10, 2016, 10:26 PM UTC

Lazare wrote: post #4

This is a very weird definition of "proof". A much more accurate headline might be "Apple responds to Dash controversy by insisting they were right all along and refusing to provide proof." Edit: The tone of the entire article rubs me the wrong way; it reads like a press release that nobody could be bothered to re-write. > The integrity of the App Store is as important to Apple as it is to consumers. Citation needed?…

It seems like Apple was very reluctant to remove the account given the Dash is the sort of app they want people to make.

So I am not surprised they gave a lot of leeway to the developer.

Re: Apple Responds to Dash Controversy

#6

Post by Lazare » Mon, Oct 10, 2016, 10:26 PM UTC

Cyph0n wrote: post #2

Well that's definitely strange. Why would the developer do such a thing when Dash is basically the best app of its kind out there? Edit: To other commenters, why would Apple accuse the dev of faking reviews if it wasn't true? I don't see Apple getting anything out of it.

As one of the other commenters, I wasn't suggesting that Apple is purposefully accusing innocent developers as part of a nefarious plot; I was suggesting that they might be mistaken, and obliquely hinting that it would be nice if they'd respond to the controversy with actual proof, as the article title (apparently falsely?) claimed they had.

> I don't see Apple getting anything out of it.

Refusing to admit innocent error is a very understandable course of action. If, of course, that's what they're doing. From where I stand the entire situation is completely muddy, and I don't think the linked article clarifies anything.

Re: Apple Responds to Dash Controversy

#7

Post by xsmasher » Mon, Oct 10, 2016, 10:27 PM UTC

daeken wrote: post #3

There's proof, but we're not going to link it because ... reasons. Why would they not include any proof that might exist?

Because they're in an arms race with review spammers, and telling the spammers how they were detected causes them to evolve new, undetected behaviors.

It might not be fair, but it's logical.

Re: Apple Responds to Dash Controversy

#8

Post by shahzeb » Mon, Oct 10, 2016, 10:28 PM UTC

daeken wrote: post #3

There's proof, but we're not going to link it because ... reasons. Why would they not include any proof that might exist?

I think a major reason is still probably customer confidentiality. They've got to play it on the defensive.

Re: Apple Responds to Dash Controversy

#9

Post by tjohns » Mon, Oct 10, 2016, 10:28 PM UTC

daeken wrote: post #3

There's proof, but we're not going to link it because ... reasons. Why would they not include any proof that might exist?

I suspect it's because that would reveal what signals their abuse detection system is looking at, making it easier for malicious actors to bypass those checks. It's very common with these types of systems to keep the details secret.

Unfortunately, it does create a frustrating situation when you're on the other end of a complaint.

Re: Apple Responds to Dash Controversy

#10

Post by threeseed » Mon, Oct 10, 2016, 10:28 PM UTC

Lazare wrote: post #6

Cyph0n wrote: post #2

Well that's definitely strange. Why would the developer do such a thing when Dash is basically the best app of its kind out there? Edit: To other commenters, why would Apple accuse the dev of faking reviews if it wasn't true? I don't see Apple getting anything out of it.

As one of the other commenters, I wasn't suggesting that Apple is purposefully accusing innocent developers as part of a nefarious plot; I was suggesting that they might be mistaken, and obliquely hinting that it would be nice if they'd respond to the controversy with actual proof , as the article title (apparently falsely?) claimed they had. > I don't see Apple getting anything out of it. Refusing to admit innocent…

Apple has often made mistakes in the removal of apps.

Usually they just apologise and put it back up. It would be very uncharacteristic to stubbornly refuse to acknowledge and rectify the mistake.