Apple Disallows Previously Approved Calculator Widgets for iOS 8 Notification Center

[Lictor]

Feel sorry for everyone who paid $10 just for the widget...

It's not for the widget, it's for what is currently the most advanced calculator on the AppStore (baring HP49 emulators). The widget was just an added bonus that was added recently... I bought the application, but I have not installed the widget for instance.
I don't really see the point of having a calculator in the notification center, but I don't see the point of prohibiting it either...

 

[BC2009]

The App Store reviewer who sent this to PCalc needs to have a talking to.

In fact on OS X, Apple provides a built-in Calculator widget for Notification Center (very similar to PCalc's).

I think PCalc needs to appeal this and get it overruled by upper management.

If Apple actually pursues they are making a dumb decision. This is the perfect use of a widget.

 

[MikeyMike01]

The iOS implementation of widgets is ridiculous and useless for me.

On Android you can pick and choose what you want on each screen, so you have a nice organized phone. Maybe I want my calendar to be right on the main screen along with weather. News on another. Etc. In iOS they just keep stacking and stacking under "today" - how does putting them under "Today" even make sense? If I want 5 widgets, why should they all have to be grouped together on a single screen - sure I can move them up and down, but that's it. So pointless.

That's interesting.

During several years of Android phone use, I never used a single third-party widget. Trying to find widgets that were useful, aesthetically coherent, and fit together onto the pages was difficult if not impossible.

Conversely on iOS 8 I have already found quite a few useful, convenient widgets that I have neatly arranged in a list.

Different strokes, I suppose.

 

[BC2009]

Oddly, Apple provides their own Calculator in the Yosemite Notification Center.

Yup.... That's why I think this is some App Store reviewer at Apple who is has made an error and needs to be corrected.

For Apple to say that this is not the proper use of a "Today" widget, only to do the same thing in the "Today" view on OS X is kinda ridiculous.

I am expecting a reversal of this quite soon as Apple apologizes to PCalc for the error.

 

[avanpelt]

So can the standard, default calculator. $10 seems steep.

They also have a free version if you just need to do basic calculations. I downloaded the free version last week just because of the widget. It's super handy.

 

[ghettochris]

I don't get what the big deal about a calculator in the notification window is when you get one in the control center so easily.

 

[Lictor]

I agree that full featured applications do not belong to the notification center. The appropriate solution, actually, would be for Apple to open the bottom tray (the one with the torchlight and Apple calculator) to extension by developers. This application would belong right in there as a replacement for Apple's calculator. Likewise, other applications that need instant access (for instance, bill splitters, currency converters...) could be added there...
Maybe for iOS9 ?

 

[Pfhortune]

Went ahead and created a change.org petition. The notification center is nearly useless without widgets like this

 

[Jessica Lares]

That's interesting.

During several years of Android phone use, I never used a single third-party widget. Trying to find widgets that were useful, aesthetically coherent, and fit together onto the pages was difficult if not impossible.

Conversely on iOS 8 I have already found quite a few useful, convenient widgets that I have neatly arranged in a list.

Different strokes, I suppose.

See, I feel the same way too. I even went through the effort to decompile apps just to fix the widgets.

 

[DoctorKrabs]

Just like when they forced Camera+ to remove the ability to use the volume buttons to take a picture.

Then they took that idea and put it in iOS 5.

Expect a native Calculator widget in iOS 9.

 

[dotme]

Quite possible that Apple got a takedown notice from a patent troll too. Until they either reverse course or provide more details, it's all just speculation.

 

[BMcCoy]

What is it that is so difficult about pressing on an app icon to open it, that makes users excited about swiping down to find it instead?
Is it an android thing?

 

[12vElectronics]

£10 for a calculator? No thanks. I'll just swipe up.

I am still waiting for them to add the compose Tweet, Facebook etc buttons BACK to the notification centre.

I agree I'm missing the Tweet functionality very much!

 

[LordQ]

So currency widgets will be taken down as well?

 

[sparky08]

I'm picturing Apple's 1984 Big Brother commercial.

What comes around, goes around.

 

[Cyberius11]

That's interesting.

During several years of Android phone use, I never used a single third-party widget. Trying to find widgets that were useful, aesthetically coherent, and fit together onto the pages was difficult if not impossible.

Conversely on iOS 8 I have already found quite a few useful, convenient widgets that I have neatly arranged in a list.

Different strokes, I suppose.

Yep, different strokes. I used them extensively. The Google Now widget (with flight cards, upcoming TV shows, time to home or work, etc.) was very cool. The app drawer to hide apps was nice too. Hopefully Apple adds these features in, which they probably won't. If someone doesn't use them, it doesn't affect them, they can keep using what they have now, but it will encourage the rest of us who are sitting here with their eye twitching to stay with iOS instead of changing back.

 

[avanpelt]

I'm with the others who have said that until Apple includes their own calculator widget in iOS like they've done in Yosemite, they need to leave PCalc alone. Of course, if Apple puts their own widget in that does calculations, that would violate their own rules. Interesting conundrum.

Notification Center has the exact same functionality whether it's on the Mac or iOS. Apple has worked hard to ensure that. In that case, if calculator widgets are allowed on the desktop, they should be allowed in iOS.

 

[BC2009]

Hey Apple, if you are looking for an app to reject from the App Store please look no further than CurrentC -- leave PCalc alone.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I would agree however it is featured under notification center widgets. Why would you allow it under that section if you are removing the widget?

I guess they've not gotten around to it, yet.

 

[sdf]

I think so too. I just don't understand why they didn't clearly say that. "We're protecting your data" is a lot better than the presumed "We're annoying and hate math".

I think they're not saying that because it's not true. There's a Dropbox widget. You're trying to tell me that PCalc is harder for Apple to secure against than Dropbox? Not buying it.

 

[PassiveSmoking]

Wow.

That's just a dick move.

 

[MarkCollette]

Surprise surprise, Apple is asking that notification centre widgets actually be for notifying you of something, and widgets that are really apps, should instead be apps.

 

[LSUtigers03]

Good thing I downloaded PCalc already. The widget is very convenient.

 

[jtrenthacker]

New feature in iOS 9, calculator in notification center.

 

[simon48]

Eventually Apple will probably come around and let the user do what they want if recent trends continue. If someone wants their Notification Center to be two miles long with widgets, that should be their choice.



The widgets aren't turned on by default just because the app that supports the widget is installed. The user has to intentionally scroll down to "Edit" in NC and add the widget.

That's all fine and dandy, but (whether or not this was a good idea) what Apple is helping stop, is the side affects of someone running badly developed widgets tainting Apple. If someone is running a lot of resource intensive widgets and they complain of slowness some people will say "iOS X is slow, Apple doesn't know what they're doing."