Apple's App Store Rejection Policies Raise Concerns

[Wolfmore]

Apple's response is bull. They should have been honest and told the real reason. They fear the fact the the AT&T network is already being heavily taxed by data downloads. I love the idea of this application and really was surprised that apple didn't make something like this in the first place. If they are working on something like this then they should say it and could tell the developer they will allow his product in the store but he must place a note that says Apple is working to release a similar app in the coming month at no charge...thus people decide how important it is to have it now or later. Or perhaps Apple didn't like the streaming video part as I don't believe there is an app at the store that does streaming video. They should have told the developer that feature was not allowed. He would have decided to remove the feature or proceed otherwise. Followers would have complained but at least apple would be straight with their response. Personally I think the video download feature was to much IMO.

Iphone 3g White, Windows XP

 

[Stella]

I'm laughing at the people who are saying, "Apple should be careful as they will scare off developers". I don't think so! People are dying to find a job every single day of the year so if a company can fire you (which prohibits you from displaying your talents) the company is not at all worried that they will scare off people looking to work for their company. .

Laugh all you like, you have your own opinion of course.

If Apple continue down this road of "randomly" rejecting applications at a ( much more ) frequent rate, you don't think developers will shy away?

Unlike other platforms, if an app gets rejected, thats it - you can't sell it - all that wasted effort. Its one shot. No alternative.

 

[obivoid]

I'm laughing at the people who are saying, "Apple should be careful as they will scare off developers". I don't think so!

Maybe. But they also make customers upset, which want that functionallity
(and there seem to be a lot). That is more serious, IMHO.
And they will get a lot of bad press about it.

Dumb move ...

 

[MacOldTimer!]

Dont worry!

In fact, I would be more concerned, if I would find myself constantly defending OR attacking a single company

Couldn't agree more!

I find competition a very good thing. I'm glad Google, Microsoft & T-Mobile are getting into the Mobile Application development.

Competition will only make the iPhone and the App store better and with the open platform they allow development it may open Apple's eyes to the fact that it doesn't always have to be the Apple Way or the Highway.

I love my iPhone 3G way too much to switch with the current choices in the market but decisions like this may change my mind when my contract runs out.

 

[Rybold]

This could bring about lawsuits. Lawsuits are bad for everyone.

 

[chr1s60]

I agree with Apple that it is pointless to have a store that contains 50+ apps that do the same thing, but my concern is where to draw the line and when to notify the developer. If an app is too similar to another and two or three of that style of app exist, it should be rejected immediately instead of late in the development process. As far as where to draw the line, does that mean there can only be one or two car racing games and only one or two Bejewled style games? Apple needs to redevelop a policy that is clear to all developers and possibly even change the entire app application process. Apple should encourage developers to be creative and develop new things, but also support the developers enough to not let them waste their time in developing an app that will be rejected.

 

[HLdan]

although the App Store is a great way to make money if you create a worth while app, you don't think at all that people might be put off developing for the iPhone if in the back of their minds there is the paranoia that Apple might not even accept their application?

No, you know why? Because this world is built upon challenge. "Tell me what I can't do and I will keep on until you accept what I am offering".
I mentioned age because most of you at that age don't have any REAL financial responsibilities such as paying rent, mortgage, food, kids...etc. Because of this you don't seem to understand that people in need to build their business don't scare off that easily.
Apple sells the most exciting and top selling mobile device on the market which has a store inside of it where I can build an app that makes me money over time. Apple tells me, "You can't have this app on our store". A real entrepreneur would say, "Well, I have a business to build and bills to pay so I will conform to Apple's rules and build an app that will be accepted since my chances of making money are better on the app store than anywhere else".

 

[Rybold]

Apple should have different sections in the App Store, "Apps," "Games," and "junk." They can put all the Apps they deem "junk" in the junk section.
But, I don't think this PodCaster is junk. It makes sense.

 

[Rybold]

No, you know why? Because this world is built upon challenge. "Tell me what I can't do and I will keep on until you accept what I am offering".
I mentioned age because most of you at that age don't have any REAL financial responsibilities such as paying rent, mortgage, food, kids...etc. Because of this you don't seem to understand that people in need to build their business don't scare off that easily.
Apple sells the most exciting and top selling mobile device on the market which has a store inside of it where I can build an app that makes me money over time. Apple tells me, "You can't have this app on our store". A real entrepreneur would say, "Well, I have a business to build and bills to pay so I will conform to Apple's rules and build an app that will be accepted since my chances of making money are better on the app store than anywhere else".

You sound like you work for Apple. I think you are really an Apple spokesperson in disguise.

Steve? Is that you ???

 

[eastcoastsurfer]

Apple is becoming the new Microsoft.

Becoming? Apple's control freak policies have been worse than MSs for a very long time. The only difference was that Apple was a niche player so no one took notice. Now that they are getting more popular you have people attacking those polices (Pystar for example). I have an iPhone and like it, but I refused to buy it until they announced the app store. The original plan of only allowing web apps was a complete waste of a good platform. Now we're seeing the thing everyone said Apple wouldn't do. Reject apps for vague, completely arbitrary reasons.

 

[EricBrian]

No, you know why? Because this world is built upon challenge. "Tell me what I can't do and I will keep on until you accept what I am offering".
I mentioned age because most of you at that age don't have any REAL financial responsibilities such as paying rent, mortgage, food, kids...etc. Because of this you don't seem to understand that people in need to build their business don't scare off that easily.
Apple sells the most exciting and top selling mobile device on the market which has a store inside of it where I can build an app that makes me money over time. Apple tells me, "You can't have this app on our store". A real entrepreneur would say, "Well, I have a business to build and bills to pay so I will conform to Apple's rules and build an app that will be accepted since my chances of making money are better on the app store than anywhere else".

The developer stuck to the rules! Apple did not.

 

[kolax]

No, you know why? Because this world is built upon challenge. "Tell me what I can't do and I will keep on until you accept what I am offering".

I mentioned age because most of you at that age don't have any REAL financial responsibilities such as paying rent, mortgage, food, kids...etc. Because of this you don't seem to understand that people in need to build their business don't scare off that easily.

Apple sells the most exciting and top selling mobile device on the market which has a store inside of it where I can build an app that makes me money over time. Apple tells me, "You can't have this app on our store". A real entrepreneur would say, "Well, I have a business to build and bills to pay so I will conform to Apple's rules and build an app that will be accepted since my chances of making money are better on the app store than anywhere else".

So you think it is a fair challenge for Apple to reject perfectly fine applications without any proper reasoning? Even free applications? So your view is, if Apple reject it, treat it as a challenge and keep trying until Apple accepts it into the App Store? The App Store is made up of developers giving their time to make the apps. If it weren't for them, the App Store would literally be empty.

Developing for the App Store is related to paying mortgages and co how? We aren't just talking about pay applications. A lot of people have developed free apps that have been rejected too. It is the novelty of the developers that give their time to produce something, and Apple just turns them away. If Apple keeps turning apps down, it is going to hurt the App Store. People will just give up. There is more and more cases of perfectly good applications being declined for vague reasons.

And your final point...again, not every app is out there to make money. There is a lot of free applications that people made just for the fun, that are being rejected. Applications that people would get enjoyment out of.

 

[MacOldTimer!]

This app was free right?

Just out of curiosity... Why would it matter?

The same amount of development time and creativity went into the app either way.

We as end users would have had the choice pay for it if he chose to charge for it.

Apple has taken that choice away from us. And for me personally; it would likely have been the first app I would have paid for.

 

[HLdan]

You sound like you work for Apple. I think you are really an Apple spokesperson in disguise.

Steve? Is that you ???

Oh, I see, as long as I don't agree with your rant I work for Apple.
No, I am just a business owner and I understand business practices.

 

[lgoodlove]

wow

That is such a errogant way to reject a app, compition should be welcomed in every way it will advance apple. Me and a freind were thinking about righting some code for the iphone and touch but now that apple is going to do this maybe I'll hold of till a policy is made....

 

[eastcoastsurfer]

I agree with Apple that it is pointless to have a store that contains 50+ apps that do the same thing, but my concern is where to draw the line and when to notify the developer. If an app is too similar to another and two or three of that style of app exist, it should be rejected immediately instead of late in the development process. As far as where to draw the line, does that mean there can only be one or two car racing games and only one or two Bejewled style games? Apple needs to redevelop a policy that is clear to all developers and possibly even change the entire app application process. Apple should encourage developers to be creative and develop new things, but also support the developers enough to not let them waste their time in developing an app that will be rejected.

So, since we already had plenty of OSs around when Apple developed OSX they shouldn't have been allowed to do it? What you're highlighting is the primary problem of having a single app store. If you're going to limit apps by type who defines type? Who defines if an app is different enough with some evolutionary feature so that it can be included? What if that evolutionary feature is revolutionary? You know how many revolutionary products are simply taking everything that's out there and doing better? There is a big one named Google. If there had been a search engine app store we'd all still be using Excite or Yahoo because that whole search engine thing had been solved.

No, you know why? Because this world is built upon challenge. "Tell me what I can't do and I will keep on until you accept what I am offering".
I mentioned age because most of you at that age don't have any REAL financial responsibilities such as paying rent, mortgage, food, kids...etc. Because of this you don't seem to understand that people in need to build their business don't scare off that easily.
Apple sells the most exciting and top selling mobile device on the market which has a store inside of it where I can build an app that makes me money over time. Apple tells me, "You can't have this app on our store". A real entrepreneur would say, "Well, I have a business to build and bills to pay so I will conform to Apple's rules and build an app that will be accepted since my chances of making money are better on the app store than anywhere else".

Challenge? WTF are you talking about? Businesses manage risks. Writing an app that may or may not be allowed on the only avenue to get onto the iPhone is a pretty large risk, especially if you are trying to something that is either very revolutionary or trying to make something common work better. A real entrepreneur is going to say that Apple has posted no rules to follow (they can reject an app for *any* reason they feel like) so that risk may be too great to take. If they continue to reject apps for no apparent reason, developers will start thinking twice about taking the risk on writing an iPhone app. Apple needs to be careful here, because while the iPhone is a cool device it's the apps that finally make it have functionality close to other smart phones.

 

[krye]

That's BS. Say you spend 6 months working on some kinds of cool playlist creation tool, then Apple turns around and says, "Sorry, we have 'Genius'." You mean to tell me that your app would be rejected because it mirrors a small function within iTunes? That's BS. So we can't come out with some sort of contact manager because they have one too? Were does it end?

 

[jbernie]

I wonder if a court wouldn't void that part of the terms since it leans way too much in Apple's direction. Any lawyers on the board?

Hard to tell, on one side you have the it is Apple's store so they can control the content as they so chose, like a grocery store opting not to stock certain products, on the other hand I would presume there would be concern with the vague nature of the wording and a court could potentially find in favor of someone going against Apple can unreasonably block a Company or developer from releasing content and said Company/Developer has no other way to release their product to the community as a whole.

Away from the App Store, I am trying to think of another example of this. If Albertsons doesn't want to stock your product then you can go to Safeway, Kroeger etc. If you want to sell a part for a car, the manufacturer can refuse to sell it as they have their own parts but you can go through NAPA etc etc for aftermarket parts.

In addition to this, you aren't able to provide your product to iPhone/Touch users any other way than through the App Store, ie a standalone download from your own website, IIRC there is a way you can do a limited install but that is designed with the corporate customers in mind and installing custom inhouse apps for the iPhone and I think it was like a few hundred installs max or something.

This is where it gets tricky, will the court rule in favor of Apple having complete control over installation of applications on your device or does the customer have control? Keeping in mind the iPhone and Touch are closer to actual computers than they are basic phones.

I wonder who will be the first group to try and get apps installed via a web site and circumvent the App Store. Something like that could really hurt Apple, setup a counter site, offer the hosting, and more money goes to the developer.

Speaking off... the $5 price keep in mind Apple gets about $1.30 of that and the developer is really only seeing $3.50 due to apple taking 30%.

Was interesting to hear everyone's views on what I said - I'm always open to other opinions and views and I'd retract my statement.

Hopefully we didn't torch you too much Will give you a free pass and say it was early and you didnt have enough coffee to get the mind in high gear. And you don't need to fully retract we all place different monetary values on what an application can do.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

I've advised people to hold off on iPhone development for this very reason, and I recall making some posts here on similar lines; the response was generally "Apple would never do that!" because it would discourage developers, etc. Yet Apple make it quite clear in their licensing agreement that they can terminate your iPhone developer agreement for any reason they please - and, as any fule kno, if the stronger side in an agreement gives itself more power than is reasonable, it will eventually abuse it.

Thinking hypothetically about spending $99 for the "privilege" of writing a useful free app for the mere love of coding then finding it's rejected because it competes with Apple's own offering is enough to discourage me from writing for the platform.

Oh what a load of crap. And with this advisement have you paid them millions for not developing seeing as some of these developers are on their way to that achievement?

 

[EricBrian]

No, I am just a business owner and I understand business practices.

I think you are not telling the truth here. If you were a business owner, you'd be pissed.

 

[nicholasm]

The question of whether or not this is a free app or not has come up a couple of times. I don't think that should make any difference here, but for the record I would happily pay $10 or $20 for this.

I am currently subscribed to 49 podcasts through iTunes, and just wrote this in an e-mail to friends about Stitcher a few days ago:

What makes this great is that it's also available as an app for the iPhone/iPod Touch, meaning that until Apple enables WiFi podcast syncing (should have been done long ago!), you can get your talk radio fix without downloading/reconnecting to your computer.

And yes, some video podcasts can be 300 MB, but wouldn't streaming via YouTube, Pandora, Stitcher, Tuner, etc. require lots of bandwidth too?

P.S. Registered just to post this!

 

[MacOldTimer!]

That's BS. Say you spend 6 months working on some kinds of cool playlist creation tool, then Apple turns around and says, "Sorry, we have 'Genius'." You mean to tell me that your app would be rejected because it mirrors a small function within iTunes? That's BS. So we can't come out with some sort of contact manager because they have one too? Were does it end?

Genius is nothing more than a rip off of a very good application called "Pandora". You choose an artist and the application streams songs that meet the same criteria as the artist you chose. By the way it's a free application.

Does this mean Pandora is going to be pulled because now in concept it's competion for Apple and allows "Free Streaming of Music" instead of offering songs you may be interested in.

 

[HLdan]

So you think it is a fair challenge for Apple to reject perfectly fine applications without any proper reasoning? Even free applications? So your view is, if Apple reject it, treat it as a challenge and keep trying until Apple accepts it into the App Store? The App Store is made up of developers giving their time to make the apps. If it weren't for them, the App Store would literally be empty.

Developing for the App Store is related to paying mortgages and co how? We aren't just talking about pay applications. A lot of people have developed free apps that have been rejected too. It is the novelty of the developers that give their time to produce something, and Apple just turns them away. If Apple keeps turning apps down, it is going to hurt the App Store. People will just give up. There is more and more cases of perfectly good applications being declined for vague reasons.

And your final point...again, not every app is out there to make money. There is a lot of free applications that people made just for the fun, that are being rejected. Applications that people would get enjoyment out of.

Your logic so flawed. News flash, the free apps are a lure to get you to knowing the developer so when they offer a great app that you have to pay for you may be more willing to buy it. Sheesh, you don't see that?

Without developers the app store would be empty?? LOL. Try this, without the app store it's one less opportunity for developers to build their business. The app store is hot, don't downplay it. Ever heard of a starving artist? For many developers, making applications is all they do and many of them are dependent upon the app store to build their business.
Take a business class, maybe you will understand why some apps appear "free".

The only thing I do agree with is that Apple needs to revamp their policies so developers will know what to do but I don't think that will stop developers from going at the app store reckless abandon.

 

[Trip.Tucker]

I agree 100% with Apple rejecting it. I would too.

If you guys don't get it... tough. You aren't owed anything, much less an explanation.

 

[Kwill]

I want that app. I've been waiting for that kind of functionality ever since podcasts started being produced.

You can have it for $9.99+ donation. Click the link and type in your email address for instructions.