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Apple Taking Steps to Address App Store Name Squatting?
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This is great. Name squatters are the scum of the earth, just like domain name squatters (probably the same people in many cases). Along with the recent publishing of the app store rejection rules, I'm hopeful Apple is finally getting their stuff together on the app store. Hopefully they're learning where the sweet spot is between openness and control and will be heavy-handed only when it really benefits their customers.
So I'm not clear on how this works since I'm not an iOS developer. But couldn't you start your app development, and then when you're nearing completion (at least within 90 days of anticipated release), register the name then?
Yes, there's a chance the name could be taken by then, but then you just rename your app.
Perhaps this will cause some developers to upload squatter applications as placeholders. The catch is that Apple has been less willing to approve useless apps. But developers may still be able to use the tactic to stall in case they can sell the name before time runs out.
You could but the name can be a big part of the success of an app and its a part of the creative process. With the little development I've done, coming up with the concept is followed by naming the game. Maybe that's just me... But take 30 seconds and come up with a better name than Angry Birds.
The name could be a part of the developer's vision. I'd probably be very disappointed if I started developing a game that I thought was going to be great and the name wasn't used yet, do all the programming and when I get to that 90 day window went to register the name to find out it was taken then. End of the world? No, but frustrating and disappointing. If I found out the name was gone right when I started development then its much easier to live with.
Just my $.02
Again with the "FART" reference and use. I know the "Fart Dude" is on the team, but come on, Apple needs to get a handle on terminology use in light of their public image.
Just saying
That had nothing to do with Apple. I guess you missed this note: "(developer name and details altered for privacy)". Pay more attention.
It's about time! I've got this great app that I wanted to call Fartorama, but the name was taken!
Now I can start making my millions!
Too bad they aren't accepting fart apps anymore.
No, it shouldn't. Apps can go down in popularity and sell few copies for a while, then regain it later and get back in the charts. As long as the dev is willing to pay $99/year, who cares how many copies are being sold.
They've actually made quite a lot of improvements since the store began, and most people have no issues. It's just that "Things are going pretty well, no major complaints" is kind of boring and doesn't get the page views....
--Eric
My oldest domain effectively has a "parking page".
Some dolt recently gave me a sarcy response when I told him how much I'd expect him to pay for it for the inconvenience of updating a 13 year old e-mail address.
Domains are for more than web sites.
There's hundreds of apps with the name "flashlight" and all they do is add some signs, like ^flashlight^
I have quite mixed feelings on that one ... in general its good to avoid that people can squat k app names so they could not be used anymore.
On the other side: there are many single developer outside whom (like me) might have a real job in real life and might be even have a family. So the time to finish a project is limitted. But choosing a name is quite a decision for a project and a change can impact the design quite hard.
So instead of impacting "innocent" small developer it would be better to cross check if someone has a squatting tendency and force those to release. Set the limit to five for each developer account for example.
I even would be willing to pay for an extension. But this way I will be forced to upload a not finished version ... just to keep the timestamps clean ...
On the other side: there are many single developer outside whom (like me) might have a real job in real life and might be even have a family. So the time to finish a project is limitted. But choosing a name is quite a decision for a project and a change can impact the design quite hard.
So instead of impacting "innocent" small developer it would be better to cross check if someone has a squatting tendency and force those to release. Set the limit to five for each developer account for example.
I even would be willing to pay for an extension. But this way I will be forced to upload a not finished version ... just to keep the timestamps clean ...
I have to agree with you there. Almost as bad as the domain name squatting that was going on in the mid-90s. Has anyone tried to park an app name on the domain store that may be trademarked by the USPTO?
Does anyone at Apple do a check with the USPTO trademark database before accepting the claim? Has there been any C&D orders given to an iPhone app developer over an app name for alleged trademark infringement? What is Apple Legal's policy here?
I'm just confused that there is a news story about Apple's developer policies with an overwhelming positive response. Are all the Apple-bashing developers ok? You guys haven't been in an accident or something?
Then make sure to have something that is closer to shipping once you get to integrating the name into the app and making your marketing material.
Seriously, you can paperdoll and prototype an app, write the code for behind the scenes stuff and then add the UI branding. If your app name is so entrenched in your app design, you have a bad app design.
In my case it would not be so dramatic; but highly inconvenient. But in case one would have paid an external designer for what ever kind of work you might have to change such paid work again; just because the name is expired.
Why are they squatting on fartorama? Why are they holding back? Release it already.
In-u-endo!
Hard? Just do what Apple (and others do!):
i[noun]
e[noun]
[noun]aholic
[noun]oholic
[noun]-o-palooza
[noun]arama
[noun]orama
[noun]zilla
I could go on all night.
might be a good idea, however, i'm not sure the download number will be a good measuring tool. for very specific applications, i don't think you'll get a constant monthly download rate,.... i'm curious with what SJ will come up with
the guy that just got kicked?
If you're paying a graphics artist for branding and final design before the code is in beta stages and almost ready for shipping, again, you aren't planning your project very well.
Use temp graphics while coding. The code doesn't give a crap about how your graphics look, it will load a ****** PNG made with GIMP in 5 minutes just so you can get your app working.
Once you're almost ready to ship code, give your designer the go to make stuff that isn't branding specific. Once everything is tight, reserve your name, give it to him and 90 days should be plenty to ship a binary for review.
If you fail at these simple steps, you deserve all you get. Apple is doing the right thing here, and anyone with half a clue on how to run a project will not be impacted. The ones that will are the squatters and the amateurs that are way too amateur for their own good.