Considering Apple is all about quality, wouldn't it be in apple's best interest to do proper quality checks on the apps in their ecosystem?
Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
331–335 of 335 posts
Re: Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
#332Earlier quoted context omitted.
If the binary users download isn't the binary you sign and send to app review, what's the point of signing or reviewing anything?
The binary is never changed. Apps can behave differently based on a flag set in the cloud, that’s only triggered after approval. They can behave differently based on geofencing areas, such as Cupertino. As to the point of whether review matters, can you imagine the dreck the store would be filled with without review?
> The binary is never changed.
> Apps can behave differently based on a flag set in the cloud, that’s only triggered after approval.
But if this do-nothing app _did_ do something in the review phase, then why switch that functionality off afterwards? If you've already gone to the trouble of writing (or stealing) code to do _something,_ at least enough not to be refused entry into the App Store with a "does nothing at all" verdict, then your scam will only be hurt by switching even that minimal functionality off: Users will just quit using it all the faster. You'd use your remote switch to activate the scamming bits, not to de-activate the rest.
So I don't believe that's how this particular app under discussion got through. It can't have actually done anything useful in the review phase either.
Re: Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
#333Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think it's necessary to do specific feature testing or verify marketing claims to solve this particular issue. For example, whether or not the app is lying in its description about using AI techniques is irrelevant. Even if it were lying about using AI techniques, it still might be a useful and functional keyboard app. And even if it really did use AI techniques, it still might be a useless impractical app. >…
Apple wants developers to deliver a great experience. It’s not a review requirement. The far larger amount of scams and malware on Google Play vs the App Store clearly establishes its value proposition. Even this garden variety scam isn’t likely to bet its makers more than a few hundred bucks before their account is banned.
> The far larger amount of scams and malware on Google Play vs the App Store clearly establishes its value proposition.
[Citation needed]
Re: Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
#334Earlier quoted context omitted.
Pretty sure that's not how the law works.
"The Law" absolutely runs on "when did this piece of paper arrive at this location". I don't know about DCMA specifically, but yes, most cases where one actor claims another actor is doing something wrong require the reporter to follow specific steps or it's not valid.
This is nonsense. Google cannot simply provide a fake or broken button and get away with it. If Google is required to provide a mechanism for reporting DMCA violations in a timely manner, and they do not, they're going to found liable no matter what kind of excuse they provide.
Re: Apple watch keyboard developer put off by app store scammers
#335Earlier quoted context omitted.
"The Law" absolutely runs on "when did this piece of paper arrive at this location". I don't know about DCMA specifically, but yes, most cases where one actor claims another actor is doing something wrong require the reporter to follow specific steps or it's not valid.
This is nonsense. Google cannot simply provide a fake or broken button and get away with it. If Google is required to provide a mechanism for reporting DMCA violations in a timely manner, and they do not, they're going to found liable no matter what kind of excuse they provide.
The reporting buttons in Play make absolutely no claim that it's for DMCA violations. Because it's not for DMCA violations.
DMCA claims go elsewhere, e.g. mailing them a physical letter or going through their separate reporting system for legal violations: https://support.google.com/legal -> https://support.google.com/legal/contact/lr_dmca?product=goo... . And, honestly, I'd still trust physically mailing them over that form - mailed letters start legal time limits for actions in many (many!) cases, online methods rarely have court-tested equivalent protections.