Apple has threatened to remove Amphetamine from the App Store • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple has threatened to remove Amphetamine from the App Store

#101

Post by TheRealSteel » Fri, Jan 01, 2021, 8:00 PM UTC

trestenhortz wrote: post #30

lhoff wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You didn't read the post, did you? Please go and read the post. Especially the following section: https://github.com/x74353/SaveAmphetamine#what-arguments-can... The App is named Amphetamine and not Meth which imho is a big difference.

You pointing out semantics makes zero difference to how I feel about meth/amphetamines and how regardless of semantics these are insensitive product names. When I hear “Amphetamine” I instantly think if they people I know who’s lives have been destroyed, but you feel I’m mistaken and you’ve got a good argument against my line of thinking. Telling me how to think.

By your logic nobody should be able to call their app "lemonade" since it's a drink and some people are alcoholics

What about all the people with ADHD, eating disorders, and other problems whose lives have been saved due to amphetamine?

Also I take it you'll be demanding the removal of WINE from all package managers due to the existence of alcoholics?

Re: Apple has threatened to remove Amphetamine from the App Store

#102

Post by smarx007 » Fri, Jan 01, 2021, 8:00 PM UTC

didibus wrote: post #45

I wonder what's the rationale behind this policy. I can think of three reasons: 1) They are worried of bad PR from a headline being published that goes: "Apple encourages drug abuse with multiple apps such as Amphetamine". 2) They are worried of a lawsuit if it is found some app contributed to the sell of illegal drugs. 3) They are worried of parents complaints being concerned that they've found an app called Ampheta…

My manager (who uses Windows as a daily driver) overheard me recommending a colleague to install Amphetamine and gave me a very puzzled look. Another time I had to explain secops people why do I have an executable called "riot" on my machine (part of Apache Jena if you are curious). So I can imagine Apple just got tired replying to complaints (semiautomated?) from IT sec departments that Amphetamine has nothing to do with drugs and decided to force Amphetamine to rebrand instead.

PS: I vote for Redeye as a new name (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-eye_flight, just as Amphetamine was used by pilots in the past https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_and_culture_of_substit...).

Re: Apple has threatened to remove Amphetamine from the App Store

#103

Post by marmaduke » Fri, Jan 01, 2021, 8:00 PM UTC

I don’t use this and don’t care. But I can imagine my kids asking, what are amphetamines, why is it named that way, did you ever try them, what is it like.

Just like you’d say to kids, you don’t ever need to take those pills, maybe you should use your energy to push Apple so that your app isn’t necessary? I certainly try to educate my kids such that they will not be in a position to need those meds.

We like to think we own our hardware and make decisions about how it works and Apple sucks cuz they take away ownership, but cmon like you got to choose sensible defaults for your brain? “What’s in your .brainrc?” Random lines from your parents and friends at school, that’s what

Re: Apple has threatened to remove Amphetamine from the App Store

#104

Post by Bud » Fri, Jan 01, 2021, 8:00 PM UTC

rgovostes wrote: post #54

qppo wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't necessarily agree that TV/Music/books need more moderation in terms of censorship (and they do have plenty of that), but more curation. Apple TV is a good example of that, it's highly curated. Books are really bad though. Amazon is no better, neither have any modicum of curation or taste when it comes to their bestsellers lists. The New York Times doesn't put salacious romance novels at the top no matter how…

I mean the opposite—not that they should censor/moderate their other stores, but why are they hypocritical (edit: or inconsistent, if you prefer) in saying that certain content is harmful when consumed as an app, but not as a book or movie that they are happy to sell to you?

That's not hypocritical; it's surprising you can't see that.

An app is software that can be harmful to your device. Books and movies are not software and can't affect your device in any way.

Therefore, there is a very obvious justification for disallowing some apps; that doesn't apply for books or movies.

It's also not "hypocritical" for Apple to choose to have a curated App Store (which is feasible and realistic) but choose not to actively censor books (which isn't really feasible).

Re: Apple has threatened to remove Amphetamine from the App Store

#105

Post by dj_mc_merlin » Fri, Jan 01, 2021, 8:01 PM UTC

mmaunder wrote: post #23

You’re angry. I’ve felt this in a trademark lawsuit. You think the world should get behind you and change the corrupt system. My advice is to immediately rebrand as gracefully and effectively as possible and use all that activist energy to effect the transition. They kind of have a point which doesn’t make them right, but they hold all the cards and you will lose this one and regret the wasted bandwidth.

That advice is better for the individual, but these constant complaints that reach social platforms do eventually add up and cause change. The author doesn't have as much to lose here as if he were running a business. Choosing to die on this hill is respectable.

Re: Apple has threatened to remove Amphetamine from the App Store

#106

Post by alisonkisk » Fri, Jan 01, 2021, 8:01 PM UTC

aftergibson wrote: post #18

By this logic 1000s of Apps should be removed. Does Fruit Ninja glorify violence? It sounds like someone is trying to justify their job, can’t go after apps that impact Apple’s bottom line so chase apps like this. Huge fan of Amphetamine(the app) but its Apple’s walled garden. This nonsense is a consequence.

Unrralistic violence to vegetation is generally considered less abrasive than realistic violence to animals.

Re: Apple has threatened to remove Amphetamine from the App Store

#107

Post by DoofusOfDeath » Fri, Jan 01, 2021, 8:01 PM UTC

leppr wrote: post #69

Can we stop endlessly puting Apple's various authoritarians missteps under the spotlight? It's been literally decades now, we know they can and will do whatever they want in their walled garden. Stop giving them attention. Complaining clearly does not work, if you want to make a difference, change platforms. Nobody is forcing you to develop for Apple.

Apple is under heightened antitrust scrutiny IIUC, so it's plausible that past and current discussions were/are actually helpful.

And fwiw, you're welcome to just ignore any threads or stories that you feel are getting repetitive. Many of us have a personal list of such topics, but our lists may not match.

Re: Apple has threatened to remove Amphetamine from the App Store

#108

Post by scrose » Fri, Jan 01, 2021, 8:01 PM UTC

leppr wrote: post #69

Can we stop endlessly puting Apple's various authoritarians missteps under the spotlight? It's been literally decades now, we know they can and will do whatever they want in their walled garden. Stop giving them attention. Complaining clearly does not work, if you want to make a difference, change platforms. Nobody is forcing you to develop for Apple.

> Can we stop endlessly puting Apple's various authoritarians missteps under the spotlight?

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or if you think the whole 'if you don't like something then shut-up and move' strategy is actually a logical solution.

Re: Apple has threatened to remove Amphetamine from the App Store

#109

Post by amelius » Fri, Jan 01, 2021, 8:02 PM UTC

leppr wrote: post #69

Can we stop endlessly puting Apple's various authoritarians missteps under the spotlight? It's been literally decades now, we know they can and will do whatever they want in their walled garden. Stop giving them attention. Complaining clearly does not work, if you want to make a difference, change platforms. Nobody is forcing you to develop for Apple.

Can we stop upvoting Apple stories on HN then? If not, then the best solution is to at least show us a balanced account of things.

Re: Apple has threatened to remove Amphetamine from the App Store

#110

Post by dekhn » Fri, Jan 01, 2021, 8:02 PM UTC

fishnchips wrote: post #58

Unklejoe wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Amphetamine on the other hand has only one very well defined use case. Are you referring to the widespread use of it as an ADHD medication for children all throughout the nation?

Apologies, where I come from this is not a common treatment for ADHD. I’m not a specialist but as a father of two lively boys I did my share of reading about diagnosing and treating ADHD in Europe.

Vyvanse was approved in Europe ~5+ years ago and is a hugely successful and widely used product.