And I sync up files from various devices that cannot be done without using Dropbox. iCloud is nice but it doesn't allow me to sync a Mac, Windows PC and my Android phone.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iOS Apps with Dropbox Integration Running Afoul of Apple's App Store Rules
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
And I sync up files from various devices that cannot be done without using Dropbox. iCloud is nice but it doesn't allow me to sync a Mac, Windows PC and my Android phone.
So wouldn't the solution be for Dropbox to remove the sign-up and upgrade access stuff from their SDK? Users of apps that support Dropbox could still go on Safari to signup for an account. Right?
What's the problem here?
What's the problem here?
Since when its become illegal to sell ANYTHING via Mobile Safari?
Last time I checked you were NOT allowed to sell things directly inside your app (unless you are using Apple provided APIs), but it was perfectly OK to open any URL in Mobile Safari. Drop Box API does exactly this - its open specific URL in external browser. I had an app which was originally rejected by Apple because it was opening a URL in web view and you could navigate to the page with "buy" button inside this web view. Solution - suggested by Apple - was to open the same URL in external browser (Safari). There are millions of apps which do just that. Opening buy/donate/subscribe pages in Safari. Are they all going to be banned now?
Last time I checked you were NOT allowed to sell things directly inside your app (unless you are using Apple provided APIs), but it was perfectly OK to open any URL in Mobile Safari. Drop Box API does exactly this - its open specific URL in external browser. I had an app which was originally rejected by Apple because it was opening a URL in web view and you could navigate to the page with "buy" button inside this web view. Solution - suggested by Apple - was to open the same URL in external browser (Safari). There are millions of apps which do just that. Opening buy/donate/subscribe pages in Safari. Are they all going to be banned now?
The problem seems to be that if Dropbox links to their web page for ANY reason, that Apple considers that to be a violation, due to users being able to click several links to get to a page where they can sign up for a paid plan.
Dropbox has made it so that the page that is loaded to authenticate users doesn't have these links anymore, although it means that you can't even get a free Dropbox account through the App
----------
This has been banned for a LONG time now.
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/06/09/apple-reverses-course-on-in-app-subscriptions/
Unfortunately it seems last few years the old good for user philosophy of Apple past, has been forgotten. Often it seems or at least appears as if Apple are being ultra dictatorial - and it's that which creates such animosity towards them and their products from some parties.
Whilst I support a lot of Apples design decisions (preservation of user experience), sometimes a few just baffle and create a real dichotomy (as they are at the expense of user experience).
If Apple want to force app developers from utilising Dropbox support, how about they stop being anal and actually incorporate iDisk style storage back into iCloud.
Like I keep saying, we are going to have to jail break our desktops shortly. If you remember Apple's call 10 years ago was about Open Source, Open this, Open that... and now it's closed this, closed that, and if they frck dropbox then what's next? It's really getting ridiculous there, are they paranoid or something?
And exactly why should Dropbox change its API because rules in some apple closed environment, thereby hindering the options for the majority of its users that are on different platforms?
And exactly why should Dropbox change its API because IOS developers use features of that API that they violate their developer agreements?
There is two things here: 1) the API should allow IOS developers to be compliant to their agreement with Apple. If it isn't, it should be changed if they want to participate in the IOS ecosystem - without disallowing non-IOS developers the features they want to use and 2) developers are responsible for implementing features in accordance with the agreements they signed. If they aren't, they should have their apps removed.
This is another example of why the iOS is not the OS of the future. Apples attempts to barrier users from the fredom of choice is just frustrating. You buy their hardware, but they tell you what you can and cannot do with it.
Why do people put up with this.
I like OSX over windows, but the limitations to iOS make it an easy choice to move over to android.
Why do people put up with this.
I like OSX over windows, but the limitations to iOS make it an easy choice to move over to android.
iCloud integration is worthless to me, because of the crazy way Apple just backs every image and video up, my 5 GB space is always maxed out.
Dropbox integration in several apps I use is incredibly useful and flexible. I am really glad Apple wasn't able to buy them out. Either dropbox would no longer exist or it would undoubtably be much less powerful than it is.
Dropbox integration in several apps I use is incredibly useful and flexible. I am really glad Apple wasn't able to buy them out. Either dropbox would no longer exist or it would undoubtably be much less powerful than it is.
I concur, Spotify sets you up with a 48hr preview in the app, and then it's up to the user to visit the website for the 30 day trial. I don't really see any difference here.
Oh, Apple. You know I love your products, but in this instance... **** off.
It's nice being able to send something to my Dropbox because it's synched to an actual FOLDER on ALL my computers, not some semi-imaginary place in the cloud that I can't quite access normally.
It's nice being able to send something to my Dropbox because it's synched to an actual FOLDER on ALL my computers, not some semi-imaginary place in the cloud that I can't quite access normally.
It is my understanding Apple objects to "frictionless" methods to bypass to outside pay gateways, but not the mere presence or disclosure of same.
So you cannot have a button in the app that upgrades payware without paying Apple 30%, or even have a button that goes to your outside website to do the same. But you can have a banner that says the payware update site is at www.foo.com, (without a hot link) please use your browser to go there to update plans.
I think.
Rocketman
So you cannot have a button in the app that upgrades payware without paying Apple 30%, or even have a button that goes to your outside website to do the same. But you can have a banner that says the payware update site is at www.foo.com, (without a hot link) please use your browser to go there to update plans.
I think.
Rocketman
Last edited:
Yea I hear you, while I likely wont move away from iOS totally, for my phone at least. I will not buy a new iOS product until a public jailbreak is available.
Developers getting free access to millions of customers for a quick buck is getting tiresome.
This has been a growing annoyance. Widespread Dropbox implementation is the one thing that elevates iOS to a somewhat-usable ecosystem. Without it, iPads and iPhones are novelties.
iCloud is cute, but as long as it takes a third party solution to provide the basic minimum functionality to make work on iOS devices possible, Apple should be bending over backwards to kiss Dropbox's butt.
iCloud needs to do both what Dropbox does and what iCloud currently does, and iOS needs to provide an option to be able to read & write directly to/from it. The solution isn't, come down on Dropbox hard without a service to replace it, leaving us all in a lurch. Get it together, Apple, jesus...
iCloud is cute, but as long as it takes a third party solution to provide the basic minimum functionality to make work on iOS devices possible, Apple should be bending over backwards to kiss Dropbox's butt.
iCloud needs to do both what Dropbox does and what iCloud currently does, and iOS needs to provide an option to be able to read & write directly to/from it. The solution isn't, come down on Dropbox hard without a service to replace it, leaving us all in a lurch. Get it together, Apple, jesus...
Apple isn't telling you NOT to get Dropbox. They are simply asking for a cut (from the developer) if you decide to get a Dropbox subscription via the App you found on the App Store.
Last edited by a moderator: