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'Dash' App Removed From App Store for Alleged Review Manipulation

Since this is a popular app, it would make more sense to contact the person behind with a warning - and maybe start a dialogue about the situation before just shutting the app down entirely.

Even {IF} the person behind is to blame for the fake reviews, I think he learned a lesson now :oops: and if it's competing app-developers, who have submitted false positive reviews... this could be a very serious flaw to the entire App Store.

This is a very popular app - so let's just get it online again, please Apple :apple:;)
 
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Their detection system is clearly going to be automated but once suspicious activity is found, humans have to step in and do further investigation. Further, if a very high-level employee (the marketing guy) has gotten involved, he's surely told the group that operates the app store to triple-check everything before he responds.
 
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This is why I'll never buy an iOS device again. No supported way to install the apps I choose.
 
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MRrainer said:
That may quickly backfire.
Imagine trying to hire a killer for your wife on craigslist (or on the dark-net, if you're not a total moron).
I believe the FBI has rooms full of people that answer to these requests...
And even if you manage to find a contractor that isn't a fed, what are the chances that he just doesn't rat you out - first to your competitor and then to the feds. After you've paid, of course?
Click to expand...

Relax mate. It was just an innocent joke. :eek:
 
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So all I need to do to get my competitors apps pulled is to pay a review farm to spam their app with reviews hmm interesting.
 
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The iOS App Store dictatorship is definitely frustrating (I've released several apps). The people working on the customer 'service' side of the multi-billion dollar ecosystem are seriously lacking in competency, in my opinion.

Lack of information and a "no looking back" attitude is their MO. If a reviewer makes a mistake and rejects your app, you have to re-submit and wait another 3-10 days. The Appeals process is useless.

I've had phone calls with people when iOS submission systems were not working properly and nobody could help me. The issue eventually fixed itself (it appeared the issue was due to iTunesConnect being upgraded during my binary upload). Apple called me and asked how I had fixed the issue.

We do kind of have one side of the story (the developer). Apple says there are alleged "repeat" violations in this case so there is an accusation - why not provide more info to the developer?

smh
 
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pmjoe said:
Presumably "review manipulation" for your own product would be in the form of positive reviews, so hiring a 3rd party to post fake POSITIVE reviews to competitor's app, hoping Apple would notice, would be a bit bizarre.
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Would it?
 
Such a prick move on Apple's part. Now..do you think Apple just crossed the line? Or not yet?
[doublepost=1475780292][/doublepost]
pmjoe said:
This is why I'll never buy an iOS device again. No supported way to install the apps I choose.
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No iphones and ipads, right?
 
Rafterman said:
"Apple’s decision is final and can’t be appealed."

That is the particularly BS part of all this. Third Reich much?

But Apple cancels orders for no reason, so why not developer accounts.
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What do you want a court trial? Obviously it was appealed, to the highest level at Apple. He did the commonsense thing and ordered a review and was satisfied that they were correct in terminating his account.
 
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Dave-Z said:
I use this app on iOS and Mac and I'm pretty disappointed in its removal.

I suggest everyone go to apple.com/feedback to request some sort of appeal process be opened.
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Wow, a reasonable post in this thread.

So much better than the posts about how Apple=Third Reich, hiring hitmen, scheming to commit fraud, and all the people that are apparently leaving the app store/iOS/Apple forever due to a breaking story.
 
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danielbahl said:
Since this is a popular app, it would make more sense to contact the person behind with a warning - and maybe start a dialogue about the situation before just shutting the app down entirely.

Even {IF} the person behind is to blame for the fake reviews, I think he learned a lesson now :oops: and if it's competing app-developers, who have submitted false positive reviews... this could be a very serious flaw to the entire App Store.

This is a very popular app - so let's just get it online again, please Apple :apple:;)
Click to expand...


Please, think for a minute. It was for "repeated" fraud. Do you think Apple took this action lightly? When he complained, it was reviewed at the highest level. You can't just submit a fake review and get someone in trouble.
 
macsrcool1234 said:
Apple can't even be bothered to provide with the developer with the evidence leading to termination? That's just ridiculous.

Also interesting that Phil himself commented on this.
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Yes, think about that for a minute. Do you think he would comment and let everyone know that he had personally looked into it and agreed that there was "repeated" fraud if he wasn't confident that was the case? Some critical thinking would really help on MR.
 
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Rafterman said:
"Apple’s decision is final and can’t be appealed."

That is the particularly BS part of all this. Third Reich much?

But Apple cancels orders for no reason, so why not developer accounts.
Click to expand...

Oh good grief. Could you be any more insulting to Jewish people who died by comparing what happened to them to not being able to sell something in an app store?
 
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Sounds like another f.lux ordeal where it was killed by Apple and replaced with Apple's Night Shift. Why didn't Apple flag or remove the reviews instead of removing the app entirely which is extreme?
 
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