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

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#61

Post by zamalek » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:27 PM UTC

Someone1234 wrote: post #33

yoda_sl wrote: post #10

Not sure what really is the big deal here... Apple had I think such requirements for not mentioning any other products or even mentioning pricing in your product description aka "On sale today only for $0.99" will get the same rejection... It is ok to put a % So this is nothing new and just one Apple employee/reviewers that follow the rules from the guidelines... If the folks that were submitting the app try to resub…

You seem to be suggesting that this isn't wrong just because a rule exists. That position is predicated on the assumption that the rules themselves cannot be wrong. It is essentially circular logic to try and avoid discussing the topic at all, and the fact you are arguing that "It shouldn't even made it in the top HN stories IMHO" is quite evident of that belief. An explanation of the rule doesn't really justify Appl…

> I'd criticise Google or Microsoft for exactly the same thing.

Microsoft was litigated for less. Imagine the uproar arising from "you can't install a browser on Windows if it mentions another OS."

I think it would be fair if they could require that you mention Apple's products alongside competing products ("Supports Pebble and iWatch"). That way I could browse the store for apps supporting my device, without Apple losing business to their own store. I think that's far too much to expect from this anti-competitive behemoth.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#62

Post by zak_mc_kracken » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:27 PM UTC

marcosdumay wrote: post #46

jonhohle wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple has no monopoly in any market. Their platform terms and conditions may (or may not) be draconian, but what antitrust concerns can be taken seriously? Apple owns a small (but profitable) share of every market in which they operate.

They have a total monopoly on the software market for iDevices. Even if the way they got that monopoly wasn't abusive, they are abusing it now.

I don't think you understand anti-trust laws nor the meaning of "abusing a monopoly".

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#63

Post by jackweirdy » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:28 PM UTC

Someone1234 wrote: post #15

This forum appears to have an invalid certificate: Domain: forums.getpebble.com CN = *.vanillaforums.com If you use HTTPS Everywhere, you'll want to uncheck this specific site, remove the HTTPS part of the URL and reload. PS - I love HTTPS Everywhere but it always surprises me just how many sites have broken HTTPS implementations.

And surprises me how few SSL-deploying sysadmins use HTTPS Everywhere! (Or perhaps, how few browse their own site...)

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#64

Post by piyush_soni » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:28 PM UTC

berkay wrote: post #18

The title is misleading at best. Apple does not care what support you have. They just don't want you to advertise that in their app store.

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.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#65

Post by hbbio » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:29 PM UTC

yoda_sl wrote: post #10

Not sure what really is the big deal here... Apple had I think such requirements for not mentioning any other products or even mentioning pricing in your product description aka "On sale today only for $0.99" will get the same rejection... It is ok to put a % So this is nothing new and just one Apple employee/reviewers that follow the rules from the guidelines... If the folks that were submitting the app try to resub…

And what should they write?

"We support also a device made by another company that you can wear on your wrist. Our maps will be displayed there."

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#66

Post by hurricaneSlider » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:29 PM UTC

k-mcgrady wrote: post #32

Total BS title. They are rejecting apps that mention other products in the metadata. If you submit an app that says 'also available on Android' the same thing will happen and it has been enforced for years. The rejection was very clear.

That is a very different situation. The app in question has pebble integration. It is not simply saying that SeaNav also has a pebble app, it is saying that one of SeaNav's features is that it can communicate with an Apple Phone.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#67

Post by AlexandrB » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:29 PM UTC

cybrox wrote: post #44

Drakim wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would it be okay for Google to censor competitors in their search?

Ask the EU - and compare that hilarious case to the apple store problem we have here.... http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-4781_en.htm

The difference is that Google has a near monopoly on search whereas Apple has no such monopoly on mobile platforms.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#68

Post by vinceguidry » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:31 PM UTC

piyush_soni wrote: post #64

berkay wrote: post #18

The title is misleading at best. Apple does not care what support you have. They just don't want you to advertise that in their app store.

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.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#69

Post by AlexandrB » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:31 PM UTC

fmsf wrote: post #47

My guess is that in Europe they could get an anti trust lawsuit. Comparing it with internet explorer on windows anti trust lawsuit from EU, Microsoft was forced to acknowledge and provide choice of competitor platforms that where compatible with the system (Firefox, Chrome, Opera,...). Under the same logic, pebble is just an laternative platform compatible with the system (IOS + SeaNav). But either way that is a beha…

Antitrust requires a monopoly position, which Apple doesn't have (but Microsoft did have). Apple are being dicks and should be smacked down for it in the market, but I doubt antitrust would stick.

Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support

#70

Post by zamalek » Thu, Apr 23, 2015, 2:31 PM UTC

AlexandrB wrote: post #57

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. These jerks needed to be slammed with a lawsuit long before this one single example of their flamboyant and abundant anti-competitive behavior. While Apple are being increasingly huge dicks with their ecosystem I think you'd be hard-pressed with an antitrust case because Apple does not have a monopoly (or even a majority marketshare) on mobile devices.

> I think you'd be hard-pressed with an antitrust case because Apple does not have a monopoly on mobile devices.

> [Merriam-Webster] of, relating to, or being legislation against or opposition to trusts or combinations; specifically: consisting of laws to protect trade and commerce from unlawful restraints and monopolies or unfair business practices.

It doesn't only apply to monopolies but it is a very good tool for dealing with them.