Apple takes down another indie dev • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple takes down another indie dev

#81

Post by yohui » Tue, Sep 30, 2014, 6:21 PM UTC

happyscrappy wrote: post #74

freyrs3 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh, we most certainly do have a choice, especially as developers. If enough of us don't support their infrastructure or buy their products then we most certainly can effect change and their bottom-line. Don't be upset and powerless, be proactive and don't support Apple in any way.

If you don't develop for Apple because you are under the misapprehension that the Play Store is more open there will be plenty of people willing to take the money.

The Play Store does allow app launchers (alternative home screens and themes are even popular), but they do still ban other non-malicious apps, most notably: pornography, apps that block ads in other apps, and YouTube video downloaders. Though the latter is allowed in the Amazon Appstore, I think.

Re: Apple takes down another indie dev

#82

Post by photofriendly » Tue, Sep 30, 2014, 6:34 PM UTC

millerm wrote: post #3

It's plainly stated in the terms ( https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ ) Section 10: 10. User interface 10.4 Apps that create alternate desktop/home screen environments or simulate multi-App widget experiences will be rejected So, like it or not, it's what we agree to if we develop apps for iOS.

Then why was it accepted in the first place? This specific instance goes to show they are not really checking what they are approving. Instead, probably just making sure it "looks" like it follows the iOS design guidelines. After the app started to get more attention is when Apple started to look into this is what it seems like.

Re: Apple takes down another indie dev

#83

Post by pflats » Tue, Sep 30, 2014, 6:41 PM UTC

pgodzin wrote: post #55

kijeda wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article essentially chronicles surprise that this app would be rejected. What you describe is you believe the terms are unjust. These are two different things. I may not agree with the speed limit on the freeway, but I am not surprised if I am ticketed for going over it.

A big issue is that the app was approved in the first place. If I'm having an emergency and a cop stops me and says it's fine to speed, then tickets me a mile later, I would be surprised.

What happened here, though, is that the cop said it's fine to speed, and then his boss saw you speeding a mile later.

I agree that Apple should have never approved the app in the first place. Once they let it through, there was no good solution.

1. Allow all widget launchers, which they don't want and are explicitly against the TOS.

2. Allow only this widget app to stay, giving it an unfair monopoly. Cue kingmaker article.

3. Allow this version of the widget app to stay, reject all updates. Like #2, but worse in every way.

4. Pull the app off the store; allow it to continue to function for people to have it.

5. Push the big red button to pull the app off the store and every phone.

Any time a flagrant TOS violation sneaks through, whether by App Review oversight or by subterfuge, this happens. Apple always chooses #4.

Re: Apple takes down another indie dev

#84

Post by FireBeyond » Tue, Sep 30, 2014, 8:44 PM UTC

draker wrote: post #60

millerm wrote: post #3

It's plainly stated in the terms ( https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ ) Section 10: 10. User interface 10.4 Apps that create alternate desktop/home screen environments or simulate multi-App widget experiences will be rejected So, like it or not, it's what we agree to if we develop apps for iOS.

Are you trolling? Your profile states: >my AppleTV runs XBMC Which breaks the terms of your Apple TV software agreement. http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/appletv.pdf >You may not, and you agree not to or enable others to, copy (except as expressly permitted by this License), decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, attempt to derive the source code of, decrypt, modify, or create derivative works of the Apple S…

I'm fairly certain you're trolling. If my Apple TV, hardware I purchased, is running XBMC, it's not running Apple software.

Reverse engineering and installing third party software in addition to, or over OEM software, has been widely held as legal, in addition.