FFS, when will the qq stop about the app approval process, like it or leave it, no one is forcing them to develop for the iphone...
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Facebook iPhone Application Developer Quits Over Apple's Review Process
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In all honesty, he took the job knowing that he has to submit all his software he makes for facebook to Apple. I don't understand why he has to make a public comment whining about why he doesn't want to submit his software to a "middleman". Cool, next week I'm going to go whine to my boss saying I don't like him telling me what to do. I'm sure my boss, i.e. Apple, doesn't give a ****! It's a job!!!! If you want to be your own boss then do that, but don't whine about the role of employer/employee when you took the job!
In a way he is right. why bother writing a iPhone app if you can do the same job with a web based app? If it is web based it runs on any phone and there is no risk of rejection by Apple.
That is the worst part and the biggest reason why no one puts to much effort into iPhone Apps: Risk. How would want to put much effort into anything if it could be rejected for any random reason?
That is the worst part and the biggest reason why no one puts to much effort into iPhone Apps: Risk. How would want to put much effort into anything if it could be rejected for any random reason?
You know, If I had to guess, I'd say that most folks aren't so upset about submitting their apps as they are upset about the somewhat seemingly arbitrariness in what get's approved, and what doesn't and how long it takes, the vagueness of many of the reasons for declining an app, etc.
How is Apple's application approval process any different from what Microsoft, Nintendo, or Sony do with their game consoles? Why doesn't anyone seem to care about open development for those platforms? 
I believe that was the developer's exact point. He's leaving so he doesn't have to complain about it anymore. Nobody is forcing him to, so he's decided not to. Do you develop iPhone apps or have first hand knowledge about how arduous the process is? If not, then feel free to take your ignorant opinion elsewhere. Personally, I don't develop iPhone software, so I will say that I do not know how arduous of a process it is, but I can imagine that after putting all of that work into something and having them take weeks to decide to tell you that you can't make it, based on some asinine reasoning, it seems ridiculous.
This sort of totalitarian control is why there will always be a community of jailbreakers out there who want to use the hardware to its full capabilities.
While I'm no fan of Apple's "random" app approval, I am glad that it does have some standards. The last thing I want is for the app store to be overrun by malware and virus coded apps, not stop pop-ups, system grossing apps, and (what is 97% of the internet) porn apps. Sure these can be found in safari, but i don't want to have to sift through all that when I'm just trying to find a game or a navigation app.
I thought he was gonna share a specific experience or incident that got him fed up
Instead he's just vehemently opposed to the model, which means he should have never started coding in the first place. When you code a release up to 3.0 and then quit on basic principle, that's retarded
Instead he's just vehemently opposed to the model, which means he should have never started coding in the first place. When you code a release up to 3.0 and then quit on basic principle, that's retarded
Amazing, how many half-wits are out there!
There is a larger issue in Hewitt's statement, which seems to totally go over some people's heads.
And to the "Facebook sucks" crowd: may be so, but there are a lot more Facebook users, than iPhone users. So it's still important.
And really, over the last few years, my otherwise beloved Apple has turned into the George W. Bush of PC companies. Look at their newly found moral stance, regarding applications. Or their strong-arm tactics. Or the picking of wars not likely to be in their own interest - like the ones with Google, and Adobe.
Or, the fact, that the truly religious (and uninformed), blindly follow, no matter where.
There is a larger issue in Hewitt's statement, which seems to totally go over some people's heads.
And to the "Facebook sucks" crowd: may be so, but there are a lot more Facebook users, than iPhone users. So it's still important.
And really, over the last few years, my otherwise beloved Apple has turned into the George W. Bush of PC companies. Look at their newly found moral stance, regarding applications. Or their strong-arm tactics. Or the picking of wars not likely to be in their own interest - like the ones with Google, and Adobe.
Or, the fact, that the truly religious (and uninformed), blindly follow, no matter where.
It probably has to do with the three20 project incident a couple of days ago. Basically some devs had their apps rejected because they were using three20 which had some private API calls.
Unfortunately, I don't think the silent majority of drones who use the facebook app care about the approval process. All that matters to them is that they get their facebook.
So let's say facebook were to pull the app in protest, or development stalls indefinitely. Who'd get blamed by the population as a whole? Facebook or Apple?
So let's say facebook were to pull the app in protest, or development stalls indefinitely. Who'd get blamed by the population as a whole? Facebook or Apple?
It's just a retail store
"...clearly showing his preference for an open system unfettered by reviewers deciding what may and may not be included on the iPhone platform."
I think if you asked most of the population, the vast majority would find it 100% reasonable and appropriate that any retail company, in any business sector, decides what they will or won't sell in their store - be it WalMart, The Gap, Starbucks, or your local corner grocery store. Apples retail store is just that... a retail store --- and the norms of business retail don't go away, to be replaced by a magical la-la land where people get to do whatever they want.
"...clearly showing his preference for an open system unfettered by reviewers deciding what may and may not be included on the iPhone platform."
I think if you asked most of the population, the vast majority would find it 100% reasonable and appropriate that any retail company, in any business sector, decides what they will or won't sell in their store - be it WalMart, The Gap, Starbucks, or your local corner grocery store. Apples retail store is just that... a retail store --- and the norms of business retail don't go away, to be replaced by a magical la-la land where people get to do whatever they want.
very well put. it's the human condition commercialised. if only apple could step back and see itself for what it has become aside from very rich.
When I look at Apple's app reviewing, I think about how Nintendo did gatekeeping in the 80's in order to maintain the quality of its game library. A few third party developers got pissed, you had the black cartridges, but it worked out in Nintendo's favor.
To me the gatekeeping is just a business decision. It's not perfect but it does filter out a lot of crap out there. Apple just has to streamline their review process to be more consistent
To me the gatekeeping is just a business decision. It's not perfect but it does filter out a lot of crap out there. Apple just has to streamline their review process to be more consistent
Let's acknowledge that "open" means completely open
I don't understand why people complain about the closed nature of the app store. They usually point to the web as the alternate: a glorious world of completely open development where there is no Big Brother vindictively squashing would-be developers hopes and dreams.
Point taken, but let's be honest about the pros and cons of this panacea. Where do trojans, worms, and viruses live? On the web. DDoS attacks? Web. XSS? Web. Without any sort of approval, all of the good and the bad finds its way onto your devices. So yes, perhaps there are some good apps out there that were rejected by Apple. But that approval process keeps those 30+ million iPhones and iPod Touches humming along without data being corrupted or stolen (Rickrolling jailbroken iPhone worm notwithstanding. Again, once you go outside of this "overbearing" control-freak company, you're vulnerable).
I don't understand why people complain about the closed nature of the app store. They usually point to the web as the alternate: a glorious world of completely open development where there is no Big Brother vindictively squashing would-be developers hopes and dreams.
Point taken, but let's be honest about the pros and cons of this panacea. Where do trojans, worms, and viruses live? On the web. DDoS attacks? Web. XSS? Web. Without any sort of approval, all of the good and the bad finds its way onto your devices. So yes, perhaps there are some good apps out there that were rejected by Apple. But that approval process keeps those 30+ million iPhones and iPod Touches humming along without data being corrupted or stolen (Rickrolling jailbroken iPhone worm notwithstanding. Again, once you go outside of this "overbearing" control-freak company, you're vulnerable).
In your case though, companies have alternatives to get their product out. The App store is virtually a monopoly. So, a company could spend months developing an app and have it rejected for any reason. Then, they would have no alternative to make the development cost back.
We were affected by the Three20 project rejections also. It cause a delay for us which in turn caused a delay to a client. They weren't too happy about it. That said, we tell all clients that we do not control Apple's process and the risk of delays is there.
It is frustrating and hopefully they make a change soon to alleviate some of these problems.
BTW - The people saying he did a second rate job or is a crappy developer, obviously are not familiar with iPhone development or the code that he created. The Three20 project was very good. I understand his frustration and am not surprised by his decision.
That's pretty understandable then. Having not only your work but other devs work rejected because they used your library - that's your reputation at stake
He should have just come out and said it
Add the jailbroken iPhone hack and you've got a couple of good reasons for Apple to put on the Big Brother hat. I totally understand the frustrations and drawbacks to such a system, but apps for the most part don't totally bring the device down. A few may crash, but the phone still works and the apps get fixed.
If you like an open platform better, you have plenty of choices. Nobody's forcing you to stick with an iPhone (unless you signed a contract). I'm a geek, but I'm not geeked out to the point where I get all hot and bothered about OPEN SOURCE! Oooooooh! Yeah, Linux has been going with that for my whole lifetime and has its piddling little market share.
i'm in the camp that doesn't care if this developer wants to take his toys and go home. i'm not a huge facebook user... heck... i pretty much only have a facebook account so i can "fan" people or companies to keep up on stuff. i can't be bothered with all that wall posting and the games... OMG the games i just don't have the time for all that nonsense... so he can go ahead and take his toys.... i'll just read what i need to with the version i have or read it online later when i think about it (which is pretty much what i do now... i'm lucky if i check facebook once a week.)
i just don't have the time for all that nonsense... so he can go ahead and take his toys.... i'll just read what i need to with the version i have or read it online later when i think about it (which is pretty much what i do now... i'm lucky if i check facebook once a week.)Some of you people amaze me. It's time to STEP AWAY from the koolaid and look at this from a broad perspective.
Oh that's right, you're in bed with Steve. *sighs*. Some people will seriously never learn.
Please remember this folks (especially the EXTREME Apple Fanboy): Apple is a company that is looking to make money. That's it.
Ultimately, this is bad for us as iPhone users. Bad for the future of software as a whole.
w00master
Oh that's right, you're in bed with Steve. *sighs*. Some people will seriously never learn.
Please remember this folks (especially the EXTREME Apple Fanboy): Apple is a company that is looking to make money. That's it.
Ultimately, this is bad for us as iPhone users. Bad for the future of software as a whole.
w00master