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Apple has threatened to remove Amphetamine from the App Store

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

#91

Post by [deleted] »

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.

[deleted]

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

#92

Post by floatingatoll »

I couldn’t have guessed the purpose of the app from this name, and now that I know what it does, I would specifically avoid giving money to it due the name alone.

I’m glad someone made an alternative to Caffeine.app but “they’re both drugs” doesn’t weaken my personal objection to the choice of name. I am glad that Apple is compelling the name to be changed, and I hope the author complies. This is where “universal freedom” clashes directly with “common sense for a department store” for me, and while I understand others aren’t on my side, I prefer department stores to flea markets.

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

#93

Post by xwalltime »

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…

I would agree, but I can't because Apple is a monopoly. If monopolies are allowed to exist then they must be required to reflect the principles of the governments in which they operate.

If everyone could see this decision and easily move over their apps to 1 of 20 other iOS app markets then it might be reasonable for Apple to have self-determined restrictions in place.

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

#94

Post by gambiting »

fishnchips wrote: post #17
epx wrote: post #4

Next, some app named Nitrogen will be banned because it is related to explosives and therefore to terrorists.

Nitrogen is an element, and a very common one at that. Explosives are a fringe use case. Amphetamine on the other hand has only one very well defined use case. I get the reference to another similar app (Caffeine) but this is a step too far, indeed portraying a dangerous drug in a positive light.

Like the author pointed out, millions of Americans take legal amphetamines every year. I'd wager a bet that legal users of amphetamines outnumber the illegal users 10,000 to 1. Besides, amphetamine is just the name of the compound, it doesn't suggest anything. If you imply that simply knowing that amphetamines can keep you awake is dangerous, then I'd like to point you towards centuries of proof that not telling people about sex totally stops them from having it.

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

#95

Post by dane-pgp »

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.

Do you similarly think that American newspapers should stop publishing articles about China's various authoritarian missteps?

You could just ignore articles that don't interest you, and you certainly don't need to go to the trouble of commenting on them, although I support your efforts to encourage people to change platform (and reduce their customer base by half).

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

#96

Post by reaperducer »

silentsea90 wrote: post #37

The name was approved by Apple years ago. The developer built the brand on that name. What changed? Apple's policies (on their whims). If Apple has to come down hard, they should bear the cost of the re-branding at least to measurably communicating widely regarding the rename. It is sad that Apple exercises so much power callously.

What changed? Apple's policies

Companies change policies all the time. I get dozens of terms of service revision alerts in my e-mail each year.

Same goes for government policies, and even personal policies. You wouldn't make decisions today based solely on things you thought ten years ago.

Life changes. Policies change. Things change.

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

#97

Post by rgovostes »

alisonkisk wrote: post #59
rgovostes wrote: post #25

Well-written argument for the app reviewers to get bent, especially the highlighted examples of other apps that show the rule is clearly applied inconsistently. Apple's App Store moderation is embarrassing. They routinely fail to catch harmful junk—I've shut down a few top-grossing bogus antivirus apps for Mac, and the publisher of Untitled Goose Game routinely posts screenshots of clones that are trying to make mone…

When apple bans an app, it ceases to exist on ios, effectively. Books, Music, and TV can be accessed through non-Apple controlled channels. What are some TV content that's similar to these banned apps?

I think this is helping to make the case that they could be consistent in applying the guidelines to books/music/TV. "We're trying to be family-friendly, so we're not interested in selling any content that references drug use, but you're more than welcome to get it elsewhere." But they aren't; they only censor such content on the App Store.

Both Drone+ and Phone Story could have been done as web apps (which iOS supported before native apps), but of course there are many APIs that you cannot access from WebKit.

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

#98

Post by ffhhj »

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.

But the controversy is giving them media attention.

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

#99

Post by appletrotter »

thrower123 wrote: post #47

The problem here is that there is a centralized app store that can gate your product. On Windows, you could just host the msi or exe on your website.

Of course the same is true on mac, as well. Both OSs have stores, but allow sideloading.

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

#100

Post by reaperducer »

paozac wrote: post #2

That's very silly. The times are ready for a new job title: software product namer, to make sure a name won't offend anyone or violate trademarks and store guidelines.

The times are ready for a new job title: software product namer, to make sure a name won't offend anyone or violate trademarks and store guidelines

This profession already exists, and has for at least a century. Where do you think the name "Exxon" came from?

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