What other companies? Seems to me the new "kids on the block" are touting their openness as an advantage vs. the App Store.
I'd say the policy is OK, they just need to apply it much more consistently.
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Facebook iPhone Application Developer Quits Over Apple's Review Process
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there was a thing last week where tweetdeck's new app was pulled because it crashed constantly. most of the problems with Windows over the last 20 years have been third party apps and drivers and not the OS itself, yet MS got the blame. Apple learned a lesson from that. it took MS years to change the architecture to limit bad code from developers
By offering applications both ways you have an advantage. Apps that want to be listed on the App store need to pass all the usual tests and review process.
By offering applications via your own website you get a warning saying the app wasn't reviewed by app, use at your own risk blah blah blah.
Where's the irony?
Nowhere. It's not ironic. It may be unfortunate, but not in any way ironic.
Walled garden is what makes it work. I don't want everyone in the world to see me on there. I don't want my information on facebook outside of facebook.
It's better because of the walled garden. Sure it might be better functionality-wise if it was open. But my identity is sort of important to me and if that was compromised that doesn't benefit me at all.
So, sure. Irony. But there's a good reason for the walled garden.
I think the irony has to do with the approval process for Facebook applications (like all of those games people play on Facebook), not access to personal information.
I suspect a lot of that approval is related to security of the personal information obtained within Facebook. Don't applications have some access to that information? As a result, yea. The approval is pretty important.
The sandboxing done on the iPhone means no application can access other applications data, and the only access they have is to the address book. This could be mitigated by prompting the user to allow an app to be granted access to the address book in cases where the app wasn't approved by apple.
Security reasons are pretty small on most iPhone applications.
http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/11/facebook-app-developer-is-through-with-the-iphone-blames-app-st/
The original article, which makes a really great recommendation for Apple to remedy the absurdity of the review-process:
The original article, which makes a really great recommendation for Apple to remedy the absurdity of the review-process:
Couldn't Facebook also approve all of their applications by default, and only be given access to a user's personal information by explicit consent of that user?
Like the world has done such a bang up job of being trustworthy, lol. Apple has to do what they believe they have to do to survive and thrive. They haven't done it by the conventional/popular ways of thinking. I never said that Apple is perfect or that their approval process is just right. But it is what it is. People aren't all trustworthy, that's probably a reason why they clamp down (whether right or wrong in certain instances) on app approval.
That's exactly the point I was making, by pointing out how Facebook also has an approval process for their applications (Like those games people play from their Facebook pages). I was not advocating that Apple approve iPhone apps by default.
The problem is that Facebook has much more sensitive information in it than your iPhone address book card. Not only that but significantly MORE information in it.
It's difficult to compare the address book on your iPhone to that of your entire friends list, including possible relationships (family, friends, peers), your phone number(s), your friends phone number(s), their family members, my website address for both personal and professional uses, email addresses for personal and professional use, birthdates, favorites (books, music, movies), etc.
Think of how that could be used.
My iPhone address book card has my emails, address, phone numbers. While those are important it doesn't tell you nearly as much about me that could be used in extremely bad ways. Think more than spam and sales calls.
Facebook iPhone Application Developer Quits Over Apple's Review Process
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TechCrunch reported yesterday that Joe Hewitt, the developer behind the popular Facebook iPhone application, has resigned from the project over his dissatisfaction with the "gatekeeper" model of Apple's App Store review process. In response to a request for comment from TechCrunch, Hewitt explained his views:
Apple has received significant criticism over apparently inconsistent review standards and impersonal communications that have left developers frustrated with the process. Hewitt's comments reveal, however, that his dissatisfaction extends beyond the simple mechanics of the process to the overall model used by Apple, clearly showing his preference for an open system unfettered by reviewers deciding what may and may not be included on the iPhone platform.
Article Link: Facebook iPhone Application Developer Quits Over Apple's Review Process
TechCrunch reported yesterday that Joe Hewitt, the developer behind the popular Facebook iPhone application, has resigned from the project over his dissatisfaction with the "gatekeeper" model of Apple's App Store review process. In response to a request for comment from TechCrunch, Hewitt explained his views:
Hewitt remains employed at Facebook, but declined to discuss his new role in the company.
Apple has received significant criticism over apparently inconsistent review standards and impersonal communications that have left developers frustrated with the process. Hewitt's comments reveal, however, that his dissatisfaction extends beyond the simple mechanics of the process to the overall model used by Apple, clearly showing his preference for an open system unfettered by reviewers deciding what may and may not be included on the iPhone platform.
Article Link: Facebook iPhone Application Developer Quits Over Apple's Review Process
I predict this will be a hot thread for discussion. I'll admit that the app approval process leaves me a bit cold, and is in dire need of some changes.
Perhaps devs jumping ship will spur Apple to action.
Perhaps devs jumping ship will spur Apple to action.
Well put. What makes Apple richest isn't necessarily best for users or developers.
A question for Apple defenders: the quality of applications and security from malware would greatly increase if Apple starting gatekeeping everything that could run on your Mac. Are you in favor of them starting such a policy? If not, why is that different from the iPhone?
A question for Apple defenders: the quality of applications and security from malware would greatly increase if Apple starting gatekeeping everything that could run on your Mac. Are you in favor of them starting such a policy? If not, why is that different from the iPhone?
An iPhone can know its current location. Most people would consider this to be sensitive information. You might say, "Yes, but the iPhone asks the user's permission to use their current location", in which case I'd point out that Facebook applications could behave the same way.
Again, Facebook could theoretically approve all Facebook applications, but still only allow applications to have access to their users' personal information with explicit approval of the user, or even forbid certain kinds of access altogether. Regardless of where a Facebook application runs, doesn't it still have to make requests of the Facebook servers themselves for personal information? And yet, Facebook still explicitly approves Facebook applications. And I think it is reasonable for both Facebook and Apple to do so.
Paraphrasing: I don't like being told what I can and can't do.
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, liberalism, libertarianism... A pretty good definition, really.
Paraphrasing: I don't like being told what I can and can't do.
does your eye roll imply that you like being told what you can and cannot do? I imagine, strangely, that you do.
He's a developer, who writes applications. If he wants to write applications his own way, he should be allowed to. The approval process should come from the iPhone users themselves.
If he writes an app how he wants, and it sucks (as posters here have implied), then nobody will use it and it will die with or without Apple's involvement. If nobody is using his apps, and that is his means of employment, then he will either 1) adapt and survive or 2) push the unemployment in this country beyond 10%.
Paraphrasing: I don't like being told what I can and can't do.
Paraphrasing: I love shiny Apple products! Apple can do no wrong in my (small, illustrated children's) book!! Go Apple! Death to all naysayers!