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Apple Rejecting Applications Based on 'Limited Utility'
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http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=178995701&s=143444
If this is fine with Apple then the App should be too.
If this is fine with Apple then the App should be too.
Actually, the reason the app was denied is because the next iPhone software upgrade will add odors and this app may cause watering eyes or a public stampede if activated in an elevator
Difference is though - Apple are funding and hosting the App Store themselves. There is nothing to stop people publishing their applications outside the App Store.
hehe... it gave me a laugh. (it's been a long day at work!)
It's a joke app, I don't see anything wrong with it. If you don't want to download it, don't.
The guy spent a while making it, he paid his money.. what's the problem?
Why doesn't apple have a 'novelty' section in the downloads.
Then put all the phone sabers, beer apps, i am rich apps in the same place, separate from the useful stuff.
It's a joke app, I don't see anything wrong with it. If you don't want to download it, don't.
The guy spent a while making it, he paid his money.. what's the problem?
Why doesn't apple have a 'novelty' section in the downloads.
Then put all the phone sabers, beer apps, i am rich apps in the same place, separate from the useful stuff.
I really think that Apple should just shovel this one and the rest of these goofy, arguably useless applets into a new category called "Novelty." That way, if people really want a fart sound or a looping video clip of a monkey peeing on itself, they can download it, but we wouldn't have to wade through a sea of crap to see useful programs.
I still wonder what the best way to handle the hoards of "me-too" applications is. I mean, there are like 37 "flashlight" apps and 21 "voice-recorders" on the App Store.
I still wonder what the best way to handle the hoards of "me-too" applications is. I mean, there are like 37 "flashlight" apps and 21 "voice-recorders" on the App Store.
We really don't know the full story here. I wonder how much the developer wanted to charge for this (if it was free I don't see a problem) or what "category" the developer wanted to place it in ("limited utility" sounds like the author wanted it in the "productivity" section or something). Apple might have been worried about complaints and chargebacks here too—if the developer wanted to charge $5 or something... kids buying this, moms intervening and wanting a refund, etc.
While I sympathize with the developer, paying $99, learning objective-c and then making an application like this is so juvenile. It sounds to me they passed this app around the reviewers, the votes was pretty even-handed to kill or keep it, so they erred on caution and shot it down. The only thing that doesn't add up is the reason.
The developer could have easily made this a web app too... store the sounds/graphics in a sql lite db so the client only has to get the whole db once then load in the graphics and sounds in on the fly.
While I sympathize with the developer, paying $99, learning objective-c and then making an application like this is so juvenile. It sounds to me they passed this app around the reviewers, the votes was pretty even-handed to kill or keep it, so they erred on caution and shot it down. The only thing that doesn't add up is the reason.
The developer could have easily made this a web app too... store the sounds/graphics in a sql lite db so the client only has to get the whole db once then load in the graphics and sounds in on the fly.
Apple has ALWAYS been a company that exercised extraordinary control over the software that runs on their hardware.
The iPhone is not a democracy. Apple has the right to decide what will be supported/run on it and what won't.
In this case 'Limited Utility' is clearly a euphemism for poor taste.
While it may be a bad precedent I think it's a necessary one. Sooner than we can imagine the App Store will be overloaded with more useless programs than useful ones. Lest we have such a noble venture as the iPhone turn into Facebook Apps.
FYI
A search on Apple iTunes US site in general shows at least 150 songs, spoken word files, podcasts, movies, TV shows and other items with the word "fart" in them. It even shows the "album" name such as "Smelly Ringtones", "Sound Effects 104", "Songs about Poop...", "the Fart Guys", etc.
About 90% of these have the "Apple Ringtone" icon on them indicating that for an extra 49 cents, you can turn these into a Ringtone for your iPhone.
What "utility" do these items have Apple?
A search on Apple iTunes US site in general shows at least 150 songs, spoken word files, podcasts, movies, TV shows and other items with the word "fart" in them. It even shows the "album" name such as "Smelly Ringtones", "Sound Effects 104", "Songs about Poop...", "the Fart Guys", etc.
About 90% of these have the "Apple Ringtone" icon on them indicating that for an extra 49 cents, you can turn these into a Ringtone for your iPhone.
What "utility" do these items have Apple?
And how would they do that? You can't install apps other than jail breaking and via app store.
Put me down for a copy as well! Hey, if Apple wants to censor the App Store, start with the reviews. 50-word minimum or something. Many of the "reviews" are one-line or even one-word blather. Worse, some are racist (read the reviews of KosherMe, for example).
Remember the words of the late, great George Carlin: "Not only can you not say the word fart on television, you can't even refer to farts!"
LET IT IN, APPLE! It's not child pornography, it's just gas.
-K
Remember the words of the late, great George Carlin: "Not only can you not say the word fart on television, you can't even refer to farts!"
LET IT IN, APPLE! It's not child pornography, it's just gas.
-K
Exactly. If he could sell his app as freely as he can with other smartphones, then I don't think people would have any problem with Apple censoring apps from their store.
Instead, you can spend a lot of time developing an app, only to have it turned down.
Just possible Apple is now listening to all the complaints about their being allot of junk apps in the store. People complaining can be a very bad thing or a good thing.
This is a bad precedence by far. Apple is starting to err more on the Microsoft side of thngs which worries me. There is plenty of music on the music store which I would describe has little utility, maybe that should be taken down.
I'm glad see that Apple is finally declining Apps that are of "limited utility." A full video game is one thing, but an App where you just pull a finger is a complete waste of people's time.
How about an App that uses the speaker to read recordings of prepared legal statements for a whole variety of situations that you might find yourself in?
How about an App that uses the speaker to read recordings of prepared legal statements for a whole variety of situations that you might find yourself in?