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Apple Rejecting Applications Based on 'Limited Utility'

I have to side with Apple on this one. Not only is this app not worth downloading, the interface that brings up another page of icons confuses it with the regular iPhone desktop.
 
Bye Bye Baby said:
I think Apple made a mistake in pulling the App. It is not on the grounds of relevancy that the App is inappropriate, but that it is vulgar. (Offensive may be too subjective.)

Really, bodily noises? Apple is a serious company that doesn't want its technology promoting vulgarity.

I just wish Apple had of made the call how they saw it. Now everyone will be making comparisons to other Apps that are equally 'worthless'.
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What's vulgar about a naturally occurring thing? Do you not fart? Or does that gas perhaps stay in your head? :) People fart, burp, sneeze, cough, etc. So if I wrote an app that when you rubbed various noses and the iPhone makes a sneezing noise, that would be vulgar too?
 
APPLE CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT!

They are the gate keepers and controls all of the keys.

The convenience and simplicity of the App Store comes at the price of FREEDOM!
 
I think Apple's decision is dumb. It's not offensive, doesn't do anything malicious , etc. If the application works within Apple's guidelines and specifications, can't we as the consumer think it sucks by not purchasing it? I had thought Apple was there to QC these apps to make sure they play well with not only their device but with other apps, not to be the "moral majority" speaker for the Apple community as a whole.

Pointless app sure, would I download it? Most likely. :)
 
Right and good point. Koi Pond is completely useless, but what I think Apple was trying to convey when they shot down Pull My Finger, was the fact that an application like this does little to entertain, let alone pose of value.

Idk, maybe the dev just wanted to get their feet wet and try out iPhone development without spending too much time on a "real" app. :confused:
 
arn said:
My "issue" with this isn't that they rejected a farting application. If that's a defined criteria, that's fine. My problem is rejecting an app due to "limited utility".

arn
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I think they're just trying to be nice. Like, "It's not you, it's me." Just kidding.

Maybe they should have a "Limited Utility" section of the apps store.

I don't know. It's a new service, they're likely adjusting and refining the rules as conditions change and the quality/quantity of submitted apps changes. I'm torn; on one hand, I won't miss any pull my finger apps and certainly wouldn't want to have to sift through endless mounds of garbage to find what I want. On the other hand, you don't want to see Apple bringing the hammer down arbitrarily just because they don't like something. Also, I don't how they screen these applications. I imagine it's a different team of people on any given day, so there may be some judgment calls that one person/people would make that another might not (I'm not a developer, so I haven't read any documentation on the subject, so correct me if I'm wrong). Or perhaps the utility criteria is a new requirement based on a flood of "throw-away" applications. If there's an appeal process where you could make a case for your application, perhaps based on previous approvals, I'd feel better about it.
 
A poll would be interesting here - as I'm guessing nobody is compiling the "pro" vs. "con" answers regarding Apple's decision. Can a moderator start one?

For me, I have to agree with those who say it's an unfortunate decision on Apple's part. As others have said, that's a very subjective thing. My question is, isn't there plenty of room on the App Store for even what some would say are the most "useless" applications? Tiny violin anyone? As long as it's not obviously offensive (i.e., porn), I'm guessing that what many of us would consider an application of "limited utility," someone else would consider a gem of an app. Let the people decide.

I also agree with what someone else said - Apple could institute a policy stating that apps which are don't meet a certain number of downloads within a certain time frame get removed.
 
swingerofbirch said:
If it were free, I would download it.

I have seen a lot more useless apps than this.

Plus what about all the crappy music on iTunes. There's probably songs on iTunes that have only been downloaded once or maybe never.
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Yes, will someone please tell Britney Spears* that her music is of limited utility?

*Sorry, I couldn't think of a more relevant pop music example of the top of my head.
 
Glad to see they are starting to hold their Developers accountable for making decent apps...


However they need to reveiw what is currently available and hold them accountable to the same rules and regulations they are throwing at the new apps...


I dont understand the purpose of many apps on the store currently... like the WHOO! button, or the more cowbell i believe they have the same amoutn of "utility" as this "pull my finger" app would have and would hold the same amount of value to me (free) as its a Gag Joke, its like we need the 'San Fransisco' Store section filled with useless gag props and jokes...
 
Rubbish and more Rubbish

I don't blame Apple, we have waited forever for a cool device like iphone3G and you want us to put crap on it like this.
People are proud of Apple hardware and love to show it off, but would you show your iphone off with this piece of rubbish.
 
1982 games are soooo useful...

Come on. No video and camera applications... No copy and paste... No flash... Useful stuff. Enough 1982 games and flickr upload apps... Give us something really useful.:mad:
 
ppdix said:
Come on. No video and camera applications... No copy and paste... No flash... Useful stuff. Enough 1982 games and flickr upload apps... Give us something really useful.:mad:
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None of those things can be done with the current SDK. People keep asking but the answer remains the same: it's not possible.
 
bigmc6000 said:
How about they just have a category for this kind of stuff - make a link to it on the left hand side and maybe a little banner type deal at the bottom of the page. That would probably solve the problem of loading up the App Store with this stuff and the stuff that's truly funny/fun will make it's way into the top 10.
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A wasteland category would be nice. If it sells really good then Apple can move it to a real category. And another category for Apps that are trolling and mocking Apple or the iPhone. The trolling category.
 
Both Sides

Okay, I can agree with both sides of this argument. Is the app useless? Yes. Would I ever get it? No. But just like the Cowbell app this fits the same criteria and I am sad to admit I have that one.

I think its good that Apple is screening out limited function apps, but I think there should be a different outcome. Instead of rejecting apps based on limited use, how about they just tell the developer that it will have to be free. So you can have a silly app like Pull My Finger but you are not allowed to charge for it. Therefore the developer can at least show the world their hard work and none of us will accidentally give money for something that probably isn't worth a lot. Just my two cents, plus tax.

By the way, can we please separate the App store into Free and Paid. Not just the top 50, I want each category to have the option. Since there are so many apps now, I would like a more focused way to search through them.
 
Ah, the new Apple...paranoid, controlling, and in love with censorship. I still think Apple makes the best products, so I continue to buy them. But I find the company and its corporate ideology pretty revolting at this point.
 
ah, i kinda expected apple would take the high road on apps like this. i don't agree, i believe in the market dictating what is and isn't good for itself in an economic vacuum like the app store.

/pulls your finger
 
lots of crap in app store :)

macduke said:
This app looks a lot better than some of the crap on the app store. For instance, ezone.com's Crazy Metal Head, which is just a metal skull that costs 99 cents and lets you use your finger to move the jaw up and down. Apple either needs to implement these standards across the board or not at all. They can't have it both ways. Half the apps in the store are crap anyway.
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I agree there is lots of what I consider crap so it's clear that Apple review of apps is not fair. I can imagine in another 6 months there will be thousands of apps which will make it a real pain to find good ones.
 
The AppStore IS already overrun with useless apps! ...The developer clearly put a lot of work into that, and I don't think it's fair of Apple to sensor that.

I would never buy it... but I'm sure there's a ton of people that would.
 
It looks way better than the "hold the button down for as long as you can" app.
 
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