Apple Seemingly Removing 'Outdated' Apps From the App Store

[dysamoria]

So is Apple going to allow refunds if they are arbitrarily deciding a working paid app should be taken away?

This only hurts end users. This isn't going to magically make devs update an old app.

I'm on the upgrade program so every year I only get the apps still available in the store.

This is getting old with mobile apps.

I want a good SSH app. Ok spend money and buy one. App is abandoned now. Buy this app instead. Repeat.

This app works great let me spend money on the pro version/pro features. With our next update you now have to pay monthly for something you already paid for. Ok find alternative app. Repeat.

Open source just doesn't exist in the mobile space. I have used things like Putty and Notepad++ for years never had to pay they still exist and are actively updated. Hell I've even donated to Notepad++ just because its been so useful over the years. There is literally no equivalent in iOS for basic tools and I don't know where the problem lies.

The problem lies with Apple’s business model.

They sell gadgets, and only use software as bait for new purchases. They treat developers like tools for short term PR, but refuse to establish and maintain long-term relationships.

They want to sell the same gadgets repeatedly to the same customers. It’s in this business model’s interests (focused on pushing stock values and maximizing profits) to try to push people to make unnecessarily premature new purchases. This results in Apple changing things for the sake of change. Some changes are good and welcome, but that’s not how changes are in general, on a matured platform.

I’m all for cleaning out legacy code now and then, but Apple seems to live in a short-sighted realm of “always today”, wiping out lots of existent software, arbitrarily, every few years, just to promote new purchases (would it really have hurt anyone to keep Rosetta 1 for a few more OS versions??). It results in a neat platform with a shallow pool of useful and entertaining software, with iOS being even worse off than Mac OS.

I’m not leaving out any ire for other developers doing the same: many other hardware makers push as feature points, or require use of, software components for their devices to work, and are also guilty of arbitrarily abandoning the software components of products, forcing them to be relegated to “retro” computing setups, or outright useless bricks (looking at you M-Audio/Avid).

You know what would go a long way to solving some of this? A regulation that requires software components to be open sourced after the manufacturer stops updating drivers or other necessary software components. Then the open source community can step in and help out (a piece of software is still apt to end up abandoned, but at least its required software isn’t locked away from those who CAN update it for a new OS, etc).

This doesn’t help iOS device users, since there’s only one “supported” way for users to get software onto their devices. I’m thinking this has to change. I’ve been resistant to it, because I do tend to side with controlling a platform carefully, but Apple (as always with the computer industry) is making itself progressively more of an antagonist than a friend.

Just as with Microsoft, I didn’t start out angry or hateful; these corporations earned negative sentiment via continued failure and outright abuse of customers (and developers).

 

[Unregistered 4U]

So Apple should address them individually. Apple allowed/created this mess. They shouldn’t be punishing good developers in a “solution” that arbitrarily bludgeons everyone. I’m not usually a developer apologist, but this situation is abusive.

Good developers are updating their code. They’re not affected in any way. If they’re a developer, and they’re not updating their code, then, even though they may be a good PERSON, they’re not a good DEVELOPER.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Yes but when apps unload because of lack of space will apps download again? Probably not.

If a developer removes their code from Apple’s repository, then Apple no longer has the ability OR the right to deliver that code to customers. If the developer leaves it in the repository, it’ll continue to show up under “purchased” and would be downloadable.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

They want to sell the same gadgets repeatedly to the same customers.

If that were the case, there would only be slightly over 100 million devices in use. As it is, I believe there’s something like 1.8 billion in use. Some folks may buy another iPhone, and that’s cool. However they don’t depend on folks buying multiple phones. And, with over 6 billion people in the world, there’s still lots of iPhones to be sold to even more new users.

 

[contacos]

Yeah, OkCupid does this almost weekly, and yet not a single bug is ever fixed. It’s obviously only to get people to pay attention to it again.

Also you can only change the App Store description and App screenshots together with an App Update (at least the last time I was involved about a year ago) and one time, our developers forgot to remove the paragraph of a previous promo so we had to push out a new "app update" just to have the text updated. It is kind of ridiculous. On Google Play it isn't the case

 

[cupcakes2000]

If they only they put this energy into removing outright scam Apps that are literally on the Top charts!

Can you send me the link to each of the scam apps that are the top of the charts please?

 

[Gog2495]

They DON’T have to update. If a developer doesn’t do anything, those that are happy with the app keep the app.

Maybe I missed something but according to the article,

"According to an "App Improvement Notice" email sent to affected developers, Apple is removing apps that have "not been updated in a significant amount of time" unless developers issue an update within 30 days..:"

So, if my English serves me correctly, if the developer doesn't update the app, it will be removed from the app store.
Users that already have the app might be able to keep it but no other users will not be able to download it. Also, if for some reason the user erases the app, he will not be able to download the app again.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

but no other users will not be able to download it.

This is correct AND is expected. If a developer is making money on an app, then they can update it. Heck, they may make even MORE money if they update it because the number of systems it’s compatible with could grow.

As long as the app shows up under the list of “purchased” apps, the user will be able to find the app in the list and re-download. Apple has, in the past, removed apps from being able to be purchased AND being able to be re-downloaded (like with Fortnite I think), but this isn’t that case.

 

[dysamoria]

Good developers are updating their code. They’re not affected in any way. If they’re a developer, and they’re not updating their code, then, even though they may be a good PERSON, they’re not a good DEVELOPER.

??‍♂️ What parameters do you use to make this determination?

 

[Unregistered 4U]

??‍♂️ What parameters do you use to make this determination?

A good developer follows the best practices of development, just as a good “anything” follows the best practices of that discipline. A developer doesn’t have to be a good developer to make money (I’ve no doubt there’s many folks here that can tell stories of working with developers that aren’t good).

 

[dysamoria]

A good developer follows the best practices of development, just as a good “anything” follows the best practices of that discipline. A developer doesn’t have to be a good developer to make money (I’ve no doubt there’s many folks here that can tell stories of working with developers that aren’t good).

That’s not answering my question.