Facebook iPhone Application Developer Quits Over Apple's Review Process

[HyperZboy]

Ironic that FACEBOOK is one of websites that most OFTEN CRASHED Safari 4.0.3!​

I'm not sure who's to blame for that, Apple or Facebook, but since many other websites don't crash Safari 4.0.3, doesn't this seem like the little stubborn child refusing to do his homework properly?

Btw, I've yet to extensively test Safari 4.0.4 on Facebook, but my past experience was that Facebook has always been buggy on Macs, and every new update to the site always seems to cause a Mac-specific problem.

And recently with Safari 4.0.3, it was crashing Safari 3 times a week.
Other websites were crashing Safari 4.0.3 too, mostly those that were Javascript or FLASH intensive, but Facebook was one of the worst offenders.

I'm anxious to see how Safari 4.0.4 does, so far so good as far as crashes on any website (knocks on wood).

 

[Blacklabel34]

...

apple's review policy is a joke...
APPLE you made your cake and now you want a piece of it too....

 

[Compile 'em all]

Ironic that FACEBOOK is one of websites that most often CRASHED Safari 4.0.3 OFTEN!​

I'm not sure who's to blame for that, Apple or Facebook, but since many other websites don't crash Safari 4.0.3, doesn't this seem like the little stubborn child refusing to do his homework properly?

Btw, I've yet to extensively test Safari 4.0.4 on Facebook, but my past experience was that Facebook has always been buggy on Macs, and every new update to the site always seems to cause a Mac-specific problem.

I have never EVER had Facebook crash Safari. And I use Facebook heavily.

Sounds something is wrong with your setup or you just enjoy spreading FUD.

 

[HyperZboy]

I have never EVER had Facebook crash Safari. And I use Facebook heavily.

Sounds something is wrong with your setup or you just enjoy spreading FUD.

I have multiple Macs, more than 10, so I'm not spreading FUD.

You must just go on the site and read what people say and don't do anything javascript intensive.

There are many threads of SAFARI complaints on here and on Apple Discussions if you don't believe me.

So far, Safari 4.0.4 seems more stable, but they still need to fix the spinning beachball problem, which also many people have complained about.

I suspect that on Macs FLASH and Javascript would be mostly the causes of these problems, but on the iPhone, there would still be Javascript problems in Mobile Safari since they are based largely on each other.

 

[JonB3Z]

Horrors! Apple is making money!

Apple is a company that is looking to make money. That's it.

That's what companies do, you know. That's their function. Apple shareholders would riot if Apple made decisions on any basis other than maximizing the value of the company. And when you check your investment portfolio, what do you look for in the companies in which you are invested?

On the basis of making money, I'd have to say Apple's recent decision making has a pretty good track record -- the App Store included. Their decisions aren't always in my best interest, but that's not what they are trying to accomplish, and I'm not selfish enough to think that's what they should be doing.

 

[arkmannj]

I hope Facebook will get someone else (or several people) to replace him.
I appreciate his work, and would like to see it continued despite a frustrating process.

 

[pmjoe]

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.

Yep, this hits it square on the head. I was initially excited about the prospect of developing iPhone apps, but I really can't put my schedule and reputation into Apple's hands. I would certainly not want to be a consultant trying to promise an iPhone solution to a company. Basically, you throw the ball over the 10' wall to Apple and hope it comes back.

 

[Daremo]

I can totally understand his frustration. His job is to make his application better. When there is a big bug that sneaks into the application but isn't caught before the release of the app. You discover it after several people complain (and several in FB terms is probably thousands) but you can fix the problem in an hour. But then you need to wait 2-3 weeks for the application to be approved by apple. In the mean time you can't do jack **** because the app store is completely controlled by Apple. Oh and the user has to deal with the bug until Apple approves the update which at the current rate can be anywhere from a week to three weeks (or more as noted below).

His job is made harder because of Apple's BS. Why would you want your job to be harder than it needs to be? Of course you don't want your job to be harder. So why say that his job should be any different than your own.

Nevermind the other developers out there like Cerulean Studio's who haven't heard a single peep from Apple about their Trillian app for the iPhone for over 3 months. THREE MONTHS.

It's pretty clear that while one developer has the capability to be reassigned to better things, not all developers are. As a result he chose to make his life easier. Others can't, but my guess is that if they had the choice they too would switch away from the App Store.

Look at Steven Frank (from Panic) who tried to ditch the iPhone for philosophical reasons as well. He wasn't able to leave. But my guess is his success rate would be higher now with the newer Android devices (Droid and Droid Eris/Hero).

This isn't just one developer having problems. It's a LOT of big developers who are seeing issues. meanwhile more fart apps, flashlight apps and trash are loaded up on the store for no good reason. But those who actually want to make your life easier are getting nothing but grief (or in the case of Cerulean Studios' NOTHING).

Look at the bigger picture is what I'm saying.

I seem to remember though, the initial wait was 2 weeks, but when the app had errors, and resubmitted, Apple jumped on the fixes, and knocked them out pretty quickly, within a day of each submission. I may be wrong here, but I don't think I am.

 

[Darkroom]

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).

1. iPhone OS applications are strictly sandboxed (jailed phones only).
2. Apple's reviewers have and will continue to miss easter eggs (IE: version 1.0 of C64's ability to execute BASIC, within a sandboxed environment of course)
3. Apple demands that developers reveal easter egg functionality when submitting apps. Otherwise, it is unlikely that a reviewer will notice secret functionality during the 5 minutes they have with the app.

 

[jmpage2]

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.

Again, I think it's you who doesn't get Apple's logic here. When a 3rd party application crashes the iPhone, uses too much data, etc, it's Apple and the carrier who take the blame, not the idiot developer who developed crap-ware.

Apple would evidently rather spend less time hardening their phone and more time developing the next version of it. The app approval process lets them check things out with an app before it goes out to the greasy unwashed masses.

If that doesn't float your boat there are plenty of alternatives.

1. Get a different device that lets you install whatever you want.

2. Jailbreak your iPhone, just don't call Apple when you flock it up.

The point made about Facebook being a walled garden is a valid one. Your phone is rapidly on the way to being your passport for functioning in society. It will soon be the key fob to start your car, act as a credit card, etc. Do you really want any software out there running on a device that has this much involvement in your life?

 

[batchtaster]

Eh. He's replaceable. With any one of a massive raft of iPhone devs who would be more than eager to step in to replace him. Facebook doesn't really have much of a choice about developing for iPhone considering it's (iPhone) the rising star in the smartphone market, that people are clamoring for and waiting sometimes 8 weeks to buy one. If there is no Facebook app for iPhone, owners will go pounding on Facebook's door, not Apple's.

Still he's obviously entitled to do what he wants, career-wise. I just don't think it will be the big dramatic gesture he thinks it is. (What's his name?)

 

[corrado7]

I wouldn't know who Joe Hewitt is without the iPhone app. Enjoy this final moment of attention Joe, you are now nearly irrelevant. I wonder how many Twitter followers he's lost in the last 24 hours...

because having a ton of twitter followers is completely relevant to this discussion. That has to be one of the stupidest comments today.

 

[dejo]

Ironic that FACEBOOK is one of websites that most OFTEN CRASHED Safari 4.0.3!​

How is that ironic (Ms. Morissette)?

 

[techwarrior]

Eh. He's replaceable. With any one of a massive raft of iPhone devs who would be more than eager to step in to replace him. Facebook doesn't really have much of a choice about developing for iPhone considering it's (iPhone) the rising star in the smartphone market, that people are clamoring for and waiting sometimes 8 weeks to buy one. If there is no Facebook app for iPhone, owners will go pounding on Facebook's door, not Apple's.

Absolutely spot on taster! There are thousands of talented developers willing to put up with the process. The iPhone is too important to FB, and FB is too important to Apple.

There are clearly improvements that users have been clamoring for that Joe has apparently resisted or doesn't know how to implement with Apple's blessings. These are features others have gotten by the App Store approval police, so this is probably a good thing for those of us who have been hoping for more from this app.

 

[matthewHUB]

IRONIC as facebook could clearly benefit themselves on a more strict app approval system. There's so much spam on there these days. People's accounts getting hacked, sending messages with trojan links to everyone.

And the iPhone app itself pretty much sucks anyway so a new developer would be a good thing

 

[nateo200]

@OP, this is very sad. I have been with the facebook app forever. Infact I use it more often than my PC! I hope I get push notifications though...it's a shame. The fb app was the first one I got and it's without a doubt my most used app next to safari if you can consider safari an app.

I see this as an excuse for the developer to explore new horizons. Was it not the same "middleman process" when he first submitted the FaceBook app?? I'm sure it was; however maybe the recent changes are slowing final development to fruition & consumption.

Still the web still has a LONG way to go to become so called "best mobile app" because not all data should be sourced in real time or pulled/pushed when needed by the user. Many places where wireless provider data is STILL not truely unlimited & thus restricted (Canadian providers ALL the incumbents STILL charge & cap a specific ceiling of 1-2GB monthly with few % on the offered/pulled 6gb of data; along with tethering restrictions/allowances and so called "fair use" policies).

There are many applications that serve just as well or better with a single burst of data for 1 time & initial requests. Only specific changes in data which wold affect users are required and incremental.

Some applications, like stock data for trading applications, world news events/reports - need and require a continuous stream of data. Issue is web based cloud "apps" (more like interfaces) change not only the data presented to the end user, but many times augmenting the GUI layout which most of the times is not needed; this lacks in efficient data streaming, and more data bucket usuage & costs to the end user.

There is a HUGE reason why WML/WAP1.1 failed, and why WAP2.0 is in a static state of developmental evolution and suits feature phones, and not smartphones.

Yes I'm aware of HTML5 and what GoogleWave presents - but it proves that the GUI layout consistently changes due to new data streams and provides great event notifications - but its NOT suited for a battery packing handheld smartphone/feature phone device. To put it simply developers that code specifically to the web think of Desktops/Laptops (and recently MIDS) First & Foremost; mobile is thought up of only after mass consumption of their work is taken noticed. THAT is the issue.

Smartphones are THE MOST PERSONAL and trusted computing platform and thus heavily guarded by the end user. As such there NEEDS to be some kind of regulation, to what extent can be argued and never resolved for the next 10yrs - but it cannot nor should NOT be left to the end user!

At one point in the future, a smartphones evolution as a mobile device to a lifestyle personal companion should be as easy, as free, and as care free to use as our voices, words and hands (in any language, context & intent) and evolve as such. The only limitations are common sense, experience, and specific laws & moral aptitude for their uses.

Wow, that is thinking different. I think I'm high!!

*tears* that was beautiful...

 

[Bevz]

U-turn

Bit of a u-turn considering his last blog post in august stated "No matter how annoyed I get, I will not stop developing for Apple's platforms or using Apple's products as long as they continue to produce the best stuff on the market."!
Also, as I think others have mentioned; the approval process has not changed since he started iPhone development... I understand his frustration at having to wait for approval, but iPhone development has always been this way, and it's the same for all developers it's nothing new... Odd why he's decided to throw his toys out the pram now?
Oh well, it's a shame he's quit since it serves no purpose other than to abandon support to his own users

 

[dtich]

I do think that Apple needs to work harder on App approval, and I believe the best thing for them to do is have a gold certification level for developers who are trusted. Those developers would be allowed to make as many changes to their applications as they wanted without any interference or approval from apple.

that seems like a very good idea, and i assume/hope/surprised if they're not working on something in that area.

 

[buddhahacker]

Who Cares?

His approach is not the most mature. My guess is that he has a better job lined up and simply used his departure to get some notoriety. Grow up!

 

[strangelogic]

logic

When there is a big bug that sneaks into the application but isn't caught before the release of the app. You discover it after several people complain (and several in FB terms is probably thousands) but you can fix the problem in an hour. But then you need to wait 2-3 weeks for the application to be approved by apple. In the mean time you can't do jack **** because the app store is completely controlled by Apple.

Somehow this logic only makes me think that 'complete control' by Apple is a good thing. Something with as many users as FB warrants thorough testing prior to springing it on unsuspecting users. Just because of open source and 'free testing services' provided by the general public (ala Vista) doesn't really justify a lack of internal QA.

I guess now that Apple helped break down the practices of the carriers totally controlling and locking down crippled phones they suddenly are the bad guy.

Not saying their process is perfect, and I think some 'drama' around it will help it evolve - but - the fact that many developers don't bother to test their apps is one part of why the approval process exists.

 

[ogdogg]

because having a ton of twitter followers is completely relevant to this discussion. That has to be one of the stupidest comments today.

I think it is relevant to this discussion. My point is that Joe is using the "fame" that the iPhone app brought him to bash the company that makes it. I think he makes a point and obviously is sticking to his morals by leaving. I applaud him for that, but by throwing mud at Apple he's looking like a kid who's taking his ball and going home. I don't even use Twitter, but can imagine that to someone who is mouthing off for attention the way Joe is, it probably is somewhat important to him. Before someone accuses me of being a fanboy, let me just say that I prefer my PC to a mac. I'm just lending my honest opinion. Who knows, maybe by him leaving the project the facebook app will be improved. If that is the case, thanks Joe.

 

[snowleopard2009]

In a way it's rather ironic. When myspace was huge. Some people were defecting to facebook because of all the problems. Myspace allowed you to do and post almost anything. Custom backgrounds, flash, all kinds of HTML. Spam spam spam and more. The result? Slow, clunky pages. Pages that crashed even the toughest browsers and computer with lots of RAM. Phishing SPAM and viruses via messages and pages. Soft core porn and more.

Go to Facebook and you needed to be approved just to join (essentially). You needed a certain email address. Your page can't have graphics and flash. Your name can't be "$h@wn of da d3@d" or whatever. It's similar to an iphone in that way.

 

[lethalOne]

Few developers standalone

Almost all developers live in a world where they code to specs and standards. Their code is then reviewed by other developers, tested repeatedly and then approved for implementation.

Apple's model isn't different from what most companies do internally.

I don't mind Facebook - but the iPhone app is terrible.
It is always crashing and never shows my friends list properly.

Seems to me - he could have used some help and should have focused on defect repair and not on the process of approval.

 

[DeepIn2U]

@OP, this is very sad. I have been with the facebook app forever. Infact I use it more often than my PC! I hope I get push notifications though...it's a shame. The fb app was the first one I got and it's without a doubt my most used app next to safari if you can consider safari an app.


*tears* that was beautiful...

Thank you! I'm glad you liked my post. Actually I think it's the best, most structured thought and post on any forum I've ever made. Was studying like crazy for an interview and did very well ~ bumped up to the last final interview today.

I agree that the Facebook app is incredibly well designed between form and function - and I hope more follow through.

 

[Compile 'em all]

Almost all developers live in a world where they code to specs and standards. Their code is then reviewed by other developers, tested repeatedly and then approved for implementation.

Apple's model isn't different from what most companies do internally.

Yeah, the point just flew right above your head. Just like 99% of the posters on this thread. This is not about others "reviewing" our apps. It is about the process itself. Do you know that Trillian (yep, the messenger) has been in review for 2 months now without a word from Apple?

Spending time, money, and effort working on an App, submitting it then sitting not knowing what is going to happen or when you are going to hear back from them is ridiculous. Assuming after waiting 3 weeks, they found a bug in your app. You know what happens? Even if you can fix the bug in 1 min? You are sent to the back of the queue for another 3 weeks. That is almost 2 months to get your app to the store. I know some dude who had his app approved after 4 months. A complete joke!

This developer that you are joking about worked on Firefox (yeah, that's right!) and firebug (one of the best FF extensions EVER).


You guys are funny.