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Apple Rejects iOS App for Citing Pebble Support in App Store Description [Updated]
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FTC are Eunuchs
The FTC won't do anything, but one of these days the European Community is going to go after Apple for billions of Euros. There busy right now with Google and Gazprom.
The FTC won't do anything, but one of these days the European Community is going to go after Apple for billions of Euros. There busy right now with Google and Gazprom.
Endomondo also supports a Pebble app and countless others have a Pebble companion app, yet I don't see any of them mentioning that on the AppStore, they do however in the Pebble app for iPhone. This will blow over as soon as they remove that mention from the description but the free publicity still stands. Moving on, nothing to see here 
Oh **** you Apple. Actions like this just make me even less interested in the Apple Watch.
No, of course they won't remove that stuff. This is nothing but a shallow pretense to try and kill a direct competitor to their new product line.
No, of course they won't remove that stuff. This is nothing but a shallow pretense to try and kill a direct competitor to their new product line.
Nice, still in high school? Wouldn't be the first time I switched from iPhone to Android.
But all the rumor sites report on this anyway because pumping out stories is more important than anything these days.
It probably wasn't even rejected. Timing suggests the developer was seeking free publicity with the apple watch craze.
Nope. I'm an adult and my guess is so are you. Just tired of the "if they do this then I'm gone" statements. They have been doing this for years. One macrumors post and people freak out. This is not a big deal.
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I have a pebble, this is BS. All the apps that support pebble don't advertise it in the App Store. Run keeper, jawbone up etc. You have to go to the pebble store app to see what apps work. That's all this app developer had to do.
But all the rumor sites report on this anyway because pumping out stories is more important than anything these days.
Ergh, I was afraid this was the case. Still, I think a discussion needs to happen regarding Apple's anti-competitive practices in other areas. Mostly against Amazon, now that I think about it.
It seems like most of these 'app rejected due to [x]' stories end up being much ado about nothing. Developers understandably panic and get upset when there's some snafu in getting approved, but it seems like we've seen more of these stories than have ultimately been merited by the facts or were not resolved by some modest amount of communication with Apple.
It seems most likely that this is a mistake by the low-level reviewer. They seem to be trained to be conservative... When in doubt, reject.
But there's a process for fixing these kinds of mistakes. This dev should go through the normal process before drawing any conclusions. The appeal is annoying and sometimes stressful, but it seems to work.
But there's a process for fixing these kinds of mistakes. This dev should go through the normal process before drawing any conclusions. The appeal is annoying and sometimes stressful, but it seems to work.
That's like every grocery store refusing to carry any product that has a logo on it because it's advertising its self. It's a nonsense argument.
It is so completely idiotic for Apple to reject an app just for mentioning Pebble support.
Now, if the description were worded like this I'd understand:
"Supports the Pebble Smartwatch, which is the best smartwatch on the market!"
But no, all it states is a fact, that the app supports the Pebble.
I'm betting the app will soon support Apple Watch too. Why is it even an issue?
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All they're doing is mentioning that they support Pebble. They're not promoting the Pebble, saying that it's better than Apple Watch. Just saying that it's supported. A fact, not an opinion.
It sets a really bad precedent if you can't even mention the name of a competitor's product that you just happen to support. I understand a rejection if they said "Supports the amazing Pebble Smartwatch!" but it wasn't worded that way as far as I know.
Now, if the description were worded like this I'd understand:
"Supports the Pebble Smartwatch, which is the best smartwatch on the market!"
But no, all it states is a fact, that the app supports the Pebble.
I'm betting the app will soon support Apple Watch too. Why is it even an issue?
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All they're doing is mentioning that they support Pebble. They're not promoting the Pebble, saying that it's better than Apple Watch. Just saying that it's supported. A fact, not an opinion.
It sets a really bad precedent if you can't even mention the name of a competitor's product that you just happen to support. I understand a rejection if they said "Supports the amazing Pebble Smartwatch!" but it wasn't worded that way as far as I know.
If you follow the thread that the original complaint was posted on you'd have read the below statement. Also for those wondering about Apple Watch support, read that last sentence.
"We tried an appeal and they came back asking us to remove the portion of our app description that refers to the Pebble Smartwatch. The real irony is, we submitted the new version of SeaNav specifically to add new Apple Watch support!"
just my $.02
I think Apple is correct. It's not the same product that works on the pebble device, it's different code. Technically, these guys are marketing a different product (although it does the same thing) for a competing device. Why would Apple want that on their store?
If I was building widgets and approving selling individuals' pegs that fit into my widget through my own store. I wouldn't want those individuals advertising in my store that they make the same pegs for a competitor's widget. I don't want my customers to look at another widget. I want them to buy mine.
I think Apple is correct. It's not the same product that works on the pebble device, it's different code. Technically, these guys are marketing a different product (although it does the same thing) for a competing device. Why would Apple want that on their store?
If I was building widgets and approving selling individuals' pegs that fit into my widget through my own store. I wouldn't want those individuals advertising in my store that they make the same pegs for a competitor's widget. I don't want my customers to look at another widget. I want them to buy mine.
Not at all -- it's something available in a company's store that's advertising compatibility with a competitor company's product. It's much more like, say, Whole Foods carrying some food product with a sticker on it that says "goes great with [some side dish] from Trader Joe's!" than anything else. Can't blame Whole Foods for not wanting that in their store.
or.... maybe the apps were reviews by two different people. One person caught it and one person did not.
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That would be Whole Foods 365 Cola brand.
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That would be Whole Foods 365 Cola brand.