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Apple Cracks Down on Notification Center Widgets, Says 'Neato' Must Remove Note Taking Feature

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Apple is cracking down on Notification Center widgets in iOS once again, this time telling Neato that its note taking widget is unacceptable and will need to be removed due to the fact that it includes a keyboard.

First launched in early November, Neato installs a quick note taking widget in the Notification Center, letting users type directly in the widget. Notes can be sent instantly to either Evernote or Dropbox. As a widget-focused app, Neato has no other functionality, which means the removal of its keyboard will essentially kill the app.

neatowidget.jpg
According to the developers behind Neato, who spoke to Gizmodo, Apple contacted the company after it became popular, hitting the top 10 business list in more than 65 countries.
We were expecting Neato to be featured by Apple but instead Apple called us on Nov 10th, and we were told that: "Neato does not comply with one or more App Review Guidelines". They required us to remove the keyboard from the widget. But Neato without the keyboard is nothing, and like a limp horse.
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The company attempted to appeal, but Apple stuck with its decision to force Neato to remove the keyboard, stating that its position on the app had "not changed" and that an update removing keyboard functionality would need to be submitted within two weeks.

Apple appears to be having some difficulty deciding on what constitutes acceptable use of the Notification Center as app developers come up with clever ways to take advantage of widget functionality. In late October, Apple told PCalc's developers that the PCalc calculator widget would need to be removed as Notification Center widgets were not allowed to perform calculations, but a day later, the company reversed course and allowed the calculator widget to remain in the App Store.

Another app, Launcher, wasn't quite as lucky. Introduced shortly after iOS 8 was released to the public, Launcher installed a Notification Center widget that provided access to quick actions like making a phone call, opening a pre-defined Maps route, or sending a tweet. Launcher was only available for a few days in the App Store before Apple opted to pull it.

According to Apple's App Extension guidelines, Notification Center widgets should have a "simple, streamlined UI," a limited number of interactive items, and are prohibited from creating "a mini version" of an app. Apple has run into several apps that, like PCalc, were not expected widget use cases and are not outlined in the widget guidelines, leading to apps that are accepted and then later rejected as Apple further defines how it wants the Notification Center to be used.

Neato can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Apple Cracks Down on Notification Center Widgets, Says 'Neato' Must Remove Note Taking Feature
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/11/18/apple-cracks-down-on-neato/
This one does sound like a little much.. Not sure who's side I'm on regarding notification widgets yet.
 
Apple reverting to old ways. Thought WWDC was all about "opening up". Clearly Apple hates innovation unless it comes from Apple.
 
To be fair adding a full keyboard might have been a bit much. Apple specifically states you can't have the keyboard in the notification centre. I'm just surprised it got approved to begin with.
 
I don't understand what's their problem. If users are happy with this, why would they remove it just for the sake of "simplicity" like if iOS users are children:mad:
 
Rules are the rules but it would be nice to know why they dont allow this at the moment
 
christarp said:
This one does sound like a little much.. Not sure who's side I'm on regarding notification widgets yet.
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If it's a bit much for you, then don't use the app. Simple.

I don't understand why Apple and some of their user base are so afraid of added functionality.
 
I can't understand Apple, they're severely restricting the Notification Centre from reaching it's true potential. Developers ought to be rewarded in coming up with helpful and useful widgets that many will find beneficial in their daily lives, not punished and told that it doesn't comply with their dubious App Guidelines whenever they feel like it.
 
SolarShane said:
Care to provide proof of your accusations?
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He made no accusations. He said that it's possible that this could be exploited, which is obviously is.

He's not saying Neato is tracking keystrokes, and it probably isn't. But if Apple allows Neato to have a keyboard, it must allow any widget to have a keyboard, and in the long run one of them have a keylogger is practically inevitable, and would be an awful user experience anyway.
 
Welcome to the open and customizable world of apple's widgets.

"Hey, look I have a new widget. It's called Neato, let me show you. - Oh wait it's gone. Apple took it away... from MY phone"

edit:

It's not the end of the world though. You will just have to wait a year for the next WWDC , when Apple tells you that they added this cool new feature, where you can take notes and stuff directly in the notification center while the keyboard just pops up there magically.
 
I would imagine having a keyboard in notification center would use a fair amount of resources. :apple: probably has performance (User experience) in mind.
 
Hustler1337 said:
I can't understand Apple, they're severely restricting the Notification Centre from reaching it's true potential. Developers ought to be rewarded in coming up with helpful and useful widgets that many will find beneficial in their daily lives, not punished and told that it doesn't comply with their dubious App Guidelines whenever they feel like it.
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Let's just put the whole app in the notification center. And why not? Let's let every widget achieve its full potential!

Widgets aren't apps. They have to be small and simple and fast, or the system becomes useless. And including a keyboard is obviously over the line. I can't believe this is even in question. If you want this level of functionality, just open the damn app!
 
iHack13 said:
Welcome to the open and customizable world of apple's widgets.

"Hey, look I have a new widget. It's called Neato, let me show you. - Oh wait it's gone. Apple took it away... from MY phone"
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When apps are removed from the App Store they are not removed from the phone.
 
StarManta said:
He made no accusations. He said that it's possible that this could be exploited, which is obviously is.

He's not saying Neato is tracking keystrokes, and it probably isn't. But if Apple allows Neato to have a keyboard, it must allow any widget to have a keyboard, and in the long run one of them have a keylogger is practically inevitable, and would be an awful user experience anyway.
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Exactly.
 
Richardgm said:
Except there is no rule barring keyboards in the Notification Center.
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I'm guessing because no one at Apple figured that anyone would think that would be acceptable. I can't blame them.

Like the submission guidelines for apps themselves, the guidelines for notification center widgets will take time to sort out, as Apple learns A) what developers think they will be able to get away with and B) where it wants the balance of features-vs-simplicity to lie for NC widgets. Obviously it should be significantly closer to the simplicity side of the line than apps themselves.
 
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