Japanese Developers Criticize Apple's App Store Policies and Approval Process

[BaltimoreMediaBlog]

I said this before and I say it again. Apple will win battles over Epic and possibly other smaller companies, but the war they're fighting might just not be winnable in foreign markets that are not so Apple friendly. I mean, I know everyone here hates Trump, but be honest. Strangely, Trump has gone out of his way to protect Apple from China sanctions and other things that have affected a lot of businesses, but not Apple in America.

 

[gnipgnop]

This stuff sounds like the typical grievances and complaints that occur in any type of business. For example, the entertainment business is full of complaints about "I wanted this in and they told me to take it out".

 

[123]

If an app has been approved, I don’t think Apple should reject the same app later on, unless it has been found to pose a security risk or violate app management protocol.

As unhappy as I am about the approval process and its randomness, mistakes can happen. Reviewer X's misjudgment (intentional or not) cannot act as precedent for an app's approval process for life. It would create very unfair, uncorrectable treatment of similar apps.

 

[dingclancy23]

I agree with you, there was nothing wrong with building web apps on the original iPhone. It was super easy to build and update, but you had a wee bit of fuss with costs. Native apps are cheeper to sell.

Safari strangles web development. Even if you want create an native-app-worthy web app, you are locked down by the limitation of Safari on mobile. That is actually the next frontier in these wars, where we need to get more technologies in Safari other than Apple's Webkit.

 

[itsmilo]

Porn is allegedly not allowed on the App Store as per its rules.

However, an app like Reddit displays porn content on many of its subreddits. I would love an explanation by Apple on why is Reddit allowed to include porn and not others.

there are even video apps that offer porn. All you need to do is make an account on their website, deactivate the „family filter“ and if you login with your account on the iOS app, you can see and even download all the porn you want. I wonder if Apple is aware or if they’re okay with it as long as you do not implement the family toggle in the App itself. Seems like a loophole

 

[ruka.snow]

Safari strangles web development. Even if you want create an native-app-worthy web app, you are locked down by the limitation of Safari on mobile. That is actually the next frontier in these wars, where we need to get more technologies in Safari other than Apple's Webkit.

I have yet to run into a limitation. Perhaps its WebGL and WebAssembly aren't yet up to snuff, but just about every web app I have been tasked has worked perfectly fine and been able to be 'installed' on the users home screen.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I find it funny that if developers had embraced Steve’s OG vision of web apps almost every argument would be moot. It was developers disinterest that forced Apple to create the App Store. Which was embraced, and is now being vilified.

Web Apps have their own limits. The size restrictions are too small and memory limits are too small. Safari regularly fails to comply with web standards and most of the time, the best documentation on how Safari works isn’t found on anything Apple maintains but on Mozilla’s documentation - at the bottom of most of Mozilla’s developer documents they normally mention how all the browsers differ from what Firefox does.

But yeah - I decided to abandon the iOS App Store and switch to just developing web apps.

 

[Azrael9]

I find it funny that the voices of these "developers" are now louder once Apple's revenue on Services has increased significantly. Everyone just wants a bigger piece of Apple's pie... (pun intended). It's because of the strict AppStore guidelines that I feel iOS is safer.

It's seems that billions upon billions of revenue isn't enough. Nor is relatively cheap access to 1 billion plus devices.

Human nature.

Azrael.

 

[Carles20vt]

"Apple's app review is often ambiguous, subjective and irrational," said Makoto Shoji, founder of PrimeTheory, which provides the rejection service. "While Apple will never admit it, I think there are times when they simply forget an item's in the review queue or they intentionally keep it untouched as a sanction to a developer giving them the wrong attitude," Shoji told Bloomberg.

I totally agree with them.

I suffered similar situations when they reviewed some code uploads or new apps. The service and image that agents provide was years ago from the public image that they pretend to exhibit.

I expect Apple fix it as soon as possible because is a pain operate with them. 🤞

 

[Wanted797]

Is that a fair argument though? I feel pretty safe on macOS – even though I can install software on my Mac from other places than the Mac App Store.

macOs doesn’t have the user base to be much target for malware.

iOS on the other hand... you really want to have a antivirus on your phone?

 

[cocky jeremy]

If an app has been approved, I don’t think Apple should reject the same app later on, unless it has been found to pose a security risk or violate app management protocol.

Just because an app is approved doesn't mean there wasn't an error when approving it.

 

[Wildkraut]

It’s right for Apple 🤷‍♂️

To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.

 

[Billyk711]

lol not a single day without Apple dictatorship news.
The prude Apple, also one of reasons why AppleTV+ will never succeed

Shame - Shame - Shame

Wonder why everyone has iPhones, except for people that like to tinker in settings they can use android,
Pretty sure Apple could care less about the people that constantly say they will fail at everything and complain about App Store,
Wonder why these greedy developers signed the contract??? Bunch of cry babies.

 

[Billyk711]

Well, Apple will face that they can't simply do anything they want here on planet earth.
They will have to obey the rules and laws setup by nations around the world.

There are uncounable small devs that got insulted and abused by Apple, we had the same effect with Harvey Weinstein, but in this case it's digital sales rapping. It's not about getting a piece of cake, but thanks to EPIC the small devs became courageous and started to raise their voices.

It's about time for a general sideloading enforcement law.

You don’t get it, they can do what they want... it isn’t a government business,
You can’t tell someone how to run a company, U just don’t understand business I guess.

 

[Wildkraut]

You don’t get it, they can do what they want... it isn’t a government business,
You can’t tell someone how to run a company, U just don’t understand business I guess.

LOL they can't, it's not the first company who will face customer protection laws, and won't be the last one, too.
They are facing antitrust investigations in many countries, did you realize that?
EU,US,FR,DE,JP,CA,RU,CN and probably more to come...

Apple is the new Microsoft...

Here a quick taste what's coming, and this was just the first stroke:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/16/apple-fined-1point2-billion-by-french-competition-authorities.html

 

[Shirasaki]

Swimsuits lol! Reminds me of one card in one game that is definitely sexy but not porn worthy.

Onto the whole situation, it looks like the gate is wide open. Whatever change they are demanding, from either a country or companies, they all want Apple to change how App Store runs. Nothing can be carved on stones and declare “never change”. It would be interesting to see how the whole drama pans out in the coming months.

 

[PickUrPoison]

To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.

Yes, and they’re correct in their current restrictions imo. If you don’t like having “Amish 2020” restrictions, don’t use an iPhone.

There’s plenty of immorality on the Internet, I can’t imagine you’re having any trouble finding it.

 

[Appleman3546]

Even if the USA and Europe don’t ultimately find anti-trust issues, it is only a matter of time before another country requires third party app stores or browser downloads

 

[derekamoss]

Well there are still significantly more apps out there than would be possible if developers had to pay to host them themselves. Bandwidth usage isn't trivial and CDN's aren't free. However, yes there is a downside and that is what content we can sell in a native app. Apple need a 16 and over gated version of the App Store so they can still protect the kids while also opening up to adult focused apps(that doesn't need to mean porn).

Is that really a terrible thing though? Having to host themselves would probably mean more polished apps and less of the rip off apps and malicious apps.

 

[I7guy]

Well, Apple will face that they can't simply do anything they want here on planet earth.
They will have to obey the rules and laws setup by nations around the world.

There are uncounable small devs that got insulted and abused by Apple, we had the same effect with Harvey Weinstein, but in this case it's digital sales rapping. It's not about getting a piece of cake, but thanks to EPIC the small devs became courageous and started to raise their voices.

It's about time for a general sideloading enforcement law.

Well maybe they can. Because one doesn't like the policies of a system one elects to voluntarily get into, doesn't mean Apple will be forced to do anything. Vote with your dollars.

Oh wait. These people want free access and no commission and usage of Apples infrastructure for little in return to Apple.

A bit hyperbolic, but Apple should tell them to pound sand and go to Android where it's a "little slice of heaven.", and let people side-load to their hearts content.

 

[true god]

Time to break up the app store monopoly!

 

[nt5672]

....
"Apple's app review is often ambiguous, subjective and irrational," ....

This ^ is the real problem.

 

[7149041]

there are even video apps that offer porn

You don’t need a special dedicated app anymore, people on good old Instagram are pretty much already there 😂

 

[michaelsviews]

This, this is the real issue many developers face, especially those who do not have a huge megaphone and that are not busy battling because of greed.

I've had multiple devs of some of my favorite apps let me know why a feature or a bug fix or a creative implementation have been shut down, and that they were advised to not put that explanation on the blog, or on the next update's "what's new field".

Apple had, they still might have it as a guideline that they can reject apps at "our sole discretion", so heaven forbid that developers send an app to a nameless,faceless reviewer who is cranky because its almost lunch time and rejects it ( think of the study with visa approvals) only so that you can see competitors have theirs approved the same day. Plus silent retribution is a real thing.

Name some or all of the multiple devs ..............

 

[I7guy]

Well, Apple will face that they can't simply do anything they want here on planet earth.
They will have to obey the rules and laws setup by nations around the world.

There are uncounable small devs that got insulted and abused by Apple, we had the same effect with Harvey Weinstein, but in this case it's digital sales rapping. It's not about getting a piece of cake, but thanks to EPIC the small devs became courageous and started to raise their voices.

It's about time for a general sideloading enforcement law.

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