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Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

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Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#241

Post by paxy »

arduinomancer wrote: post #50

I don't get how everyone working on these apps thought there would be no issues doing this. "Yup, getting consumers to bypass the app store and side-load our app is perfectly reasonable, no issues here. No way this could possibly backfire." Only thing I could see is the PM's didn't actually understand what the enterprise certificate program was supposed to be for.

Someone decided (probably correctly) that the benefits of the app while it was distributed were greater than the potential penalties that would come way down the line.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#242

Post by saagarjha »

mjw1007 wrote: post #228
nerdjon wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You buy an iPhone knowing full well that Apple has this control, and for many people is the reason they buy their iPhone. So far they have used the power sparingly, at the end of the day it could have been a cute cat app and did nothing wrong but it still broke Apple's terms that these companies agreed to and Apple acted accordingly.

I would bet good money that the large majority of iPhone users don't know that Apple has this much control (ie, that they can decide whether you're allowed to install custom apps provided by your employer).

I'm sure many iOS users are not aware that you can install apps outside of the App Store.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#243

Post by pixl97 »

imagiko wrote: post #135

> Apple’s move to block Google’s developer certificate comes just a day after Google disabled its Screenwise Meter app following press coverage So Apple got to know it's terms are being violated after the press attention? Did they already know/is there a way they can detect this is happening? If not, then there could certainly be smaller players who have been routinely abusing this contract? I am trying to understand…

Good question. I use an Apple agreement like this to push apps via MDM, and I don't remember seeing anything about Apple monitoring for this. At the same time what would apple monitor for? How would they know if iPhone serial #75346345346 doesn't belong to an employee and how would they know what BusinessApp401 is, that doesn't get sent to their headquarters.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#244

Post by taurath »

Regardless of the reason behind the move, the fact that Apple is MAKING the moves against the 2 largest ad companies seems a bit like a war declaration. They could have told Google "Get rid of this app or we kill your cert" but the fact that they did so without any negotiations means its past a shot across the bow, its a full attack.

I expect we'll see a LOT of Apple Vs Google/FB in the near future - Google/FB's business model is what is under attack here, and I'd bet it'll be fought in terms of public privacy breaches, bugs, and other embarrassments rather than direct marketing. Welcome to politics silicon valley, its gonna suck.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#245

Post by saagarjha »

dannyw wrote: post #207
gojomo wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for a link to a readable version of the agreement! It looks to me like "Permitted Users" includes "contractors" like those in a compensated research panel, and thus the Facebook/Google uses are plausibly enabled under the program.

Can you call a 9 year old getting $20 gift cards a contractor?

*13 year old.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#246

Post by fingerlocks »

zapzupnz wrote: post #167

Yeah, this is pretty clear cut. Apple has rule. Facebook and Google agree to rule. Facebook and Google violate rule. Apple enforces rule. This isn't some grey area where the details are difficult to ascertain. Everything is pretty clear; the enterprise app distribution service is most assuredly not for distributing apps that break the App Store rules to customers . This isn't difficult to understand, so I'm strugglin…

I worked for a small startup that abused the enterprise program in the same way. Originally it was to get around the tiny (at the time) number of beta testers allowed which then was only 100 unique devices. They did this at my suggestion- we needed a lot of testers but we were capped. Over time the CEO started sending out enterprise builds to all sorts of randoms such as potential investors, journalists, family and friends. I warned the CEO that this technically was not allowed, but I could not find a single instance where anyone had been caught violating the program. CEO brushed me off and continued breaking the rules, even after Test Flight was acquired by Apple and the tester cap increased. The enterprise builds were simply way more convenient.

I have since left the startup, but as far as I’m aware they are still continuing with this practice.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#247

Post by gojomo »

torstenvl wrote: post #226
gojomo wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks! But note that section 2.1 expressly allows deployment to "Permitted Users", and "Permitted Users" is defined to include "contractors... who have written and binding agreements with You or Your Permitted Entity to protect Your Internal Use Application from unauthorized use". Compensated members of these apps' research panels are quite literally "contractors" of FB/Google, and possibly even under written contra…

"Internal Use Applications or Passes shall not be . . . distributed or made available to . . . contractors (except for contractors who are developing the Internal Use Application or Pass for You on a custom basis and therefore need to use or have access to such Internal Use Application or Pass)"

But that "shall not" is prefixed by "Except as expressly set forth herein", and other sections clearly mark many "contractors" as "Permitted Users" who are expressly allowed to use such Apps/Passes.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#249

Post by simonh »

pier25 wrote: post #210
askafriend wrote: post #43

Let’s say you’re using a Google API like Maps, and you violate terms by snapshotting sections of their maps and storing them on your severs so you can serve static maps without making API calls. They’d shut down your API access immediately Google and Facebook both knew the terms. They both knew that the Enterprise Distribution Program was for internal use only. They still put ads out in the wild to recruit regular co…

I've worked on enterprise iOS apps that were also shared to some of our customers. I've always felt super paranoid about it and thought Apple would shut us down... Seeing what's going on with Facebook and Google I guess Apple didn't pay much attention to this.

I think it’s just a case that they didn’t know. Unless they get complaints or reports, it’s not necessarily going to be obvious to them.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#250

Post by shhehebehdh »

Varcht wrote: post #159

There are over 100,000 Google and Facebook employees, just a small percentage of them with good old fashion loyalty to their companies could explain the amount offended here.

As a googler, I’m not offended. “Abide by the terms of your agreements,” or, as Stranger Things would put it, “friends don’t lie.” That being said, I am in popcorn mode to see what act of contrition apple will demand.

I would also loooove to know how this clusterfuck came about. But I guess we will never know that. I doubt this crosses Sundar’s desk, but I would be curious to know where the buck did stop. Was counsel involved or did a couple of teams just adopt a better to seek forgiveness stance?

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