BaldiMac
macrumors G3
"Not as successful" is not the same as "failure" to me. There were also many factors in addition to the app store that made the 3G more successful.
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Phil Schiller Addresses More App Store Concerns
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"Not as successful" is not the same as "failure" to me. There were also many factors in addition to the app store that made the 3G more successful.
"Frank" needs to base his decisions, and his outrage, on actual facts, not the rumors that fly around this place. Case in point: the whole e-book reader ban thing that he apparently managed to pick up as "fact". He got deadly upset about that, and it wasn't even real. And he's getting outraged about Google, and yet he isn't even involved in whatever it is that's going on there. He's not privy to all the facts - he doesn't know anything more about the Google thing than anybody here, like what might have gone on behind the scenes, eg: with AT&T - and yet he's acting like a tosser about it.
To quote teh great interwebz:
"Online Fandom Rule #1: If a situation is ever unclear, assume whatever it would take to drive you into a blind rage."
To quote teh great interwebz:
"Online Fandom Rule #1: If a situation is ever unclear, assume whatever it would take to drive you into a blind rage."
slu
macrumors 68000
😛opcorn:
I am always fascinated seeing the battlelines being drawn in these threads--fanboys/apologists vs. melodramatic conspiracy theorists. Both sides need to get a grip.
Are you essentially saying that there is nothing to see here?
Because their clearly is an issue with the App Store approval process. They can talk all they want, but Apple better do something. If developers keep spending thousands of dollars to develop apps that get rejected, there won't be anymore apps.
I jailbroke my iPhone specifically because of this issue. It was the best decision I made regarding the iPhone. And I am going to vote with my dollars as well. If things don't change, I'll be switching to another phone when my contract is up.
When you are forced to buy a two year contract to use the product and that product uses the public airwaves, things are not so cut and dry.
Then why didn't Schiller take over when Steve was out on medical leave? Come on people, the VP of marketing responding to these types of issues is not telling in anyway, other than the fact that at least we know Apple isn't blind to the complaints about the App Store. Now all they need to do is actually do something about it.
LagunaSol
macrumors 601
Do people seriously still believe that the App Store (and the SDK for that matter) were reactionary moves by Apple and not part of the plan from Day 1???
As a consumer, you generally wouldn't, since this issue only directly affects developers. Consumers, however, are indirectly affected, as this behaviour limits the types of applications being made available.
As a consumer, you haven't spent months developing an app, only to have it rejected due to inane and inconsistent policies.
Imagine you spent months developing an application, then several more weeks waiting for it to proceed through the approval queue, only to be told your application duplicates existing functionality, and will never be published. Getting ****ed is EXACTLY the way to describe this.
I hardly think Steven Frank is being over dramatic - we need more people like him to stand up and call Apple on this behaviour, so things will change.
Honestly, I'm disappointed we haven't heard something like this from Google. The rejection of the Google Voice app is ridiculous, and they should be outraged. If this is how Apple is going to treat a partner like Google, imagine how they're going to treat the little guys like Panic.
BaldiMac
macrumors G3
It displays the song title, lyrics, and artist bios. Any of which can contain objectionable content.
Because it's not sold through the App Store. It is, however, configurable via parental controls which is the point of the 17+ ratings.
dejo
Moderator emeritus
Let me touch upon this subject from my personal experience as an iPhone developer. From what I've seen, things are neither all "brimstone and fire" nor are they all "puppies and flower gardens". One of my company's apps, [app]CraigsHarvest[/app], took over 3 months from when we first submitted it until it was finally approved. During that time, yes, we did receive some less-than-specific rejection letters that left us scratching our heads. But other times we received rejections that were more-specific, although never as explicit as we, as developers, would've liked.
But, we also were contacted by phone by a few individuals who worked with the App Review team. Through continued communication with these individuals we were able to finally tweak CraigsHarvest enough that the review team approved it. These reps seemed to understand our frustrations but had no real power over the review team; they acted more as liasons.
As well, I was contacted personally by one of these reps for my personal app, [app]a.k.a.[/app]. Apple had an issue with the wording I wanted to use for the app name on the App Store and so I adjusted it. But, in talking with this individual, he told me that he was very happy that I had actually returned his call because many developers they had tried to contact didn't and yet still wondered why their apps were being rejected or stuck in review.
Hope that provides some balanced perspective.
whooleytoo
macrumors 604
It's odd that this has turned into a "Why can't app stores be more transparent and logical?" versus "It's Apple's store to do with/protect as they please." argument.
Those two things aren't mutually exclusive, why can't we have both?
The App Store isn't perfect, but it's the industry leader by an enormous margin. I'm sure Apple are just catching on the enormous benefit to them - if every iPhone owner buys apps, they're not going to switch to another platform for their next device.
But as long as there's one App Store and thousands of developers, Apple still hold all the cards. Some competition for the iPhone/App Store, which would force Apple to play nice with the developers to keep them on board, would be good.
Those two things aren't mutually exclusive, why can't we have both?
The App Store isn't perfect, but it's the industry leader by an enormous margin. I'm sure Apple are just catching on the enormous benefit to them - if every iPhone owner buys apps, they're not going to switch to another platform for their next device.
But as long as there's one App Store and thousands of developers, Apple still hold all the cards. Some competition for the iPhone/App Store, which would force Apple to play nice with the developers to keep them on board, would be good.
uberamd
macrumors 68030
I couldn't agree with you more. Spot on.
Oh my god. Are you kidding me? There are still MANY good developers who's applications I use each and every day. There is absolutely NO shortage of good applications to tackle nearly every imaginable task. So get away from your computer for a while and go outside if you are so distorted as to think a few devs leaving means the end for the profit cow known as the app store.
LagunaSol
macrumors 601
Perhaps Google's reclassification from "Apple partner" to "Apple frienemy" (Android, Chrome) may have a lot to do with it?
All businesses are democracies. The consumers have the vote. This guy is sick of all the App store BS and is choosing to cast his vote against Apple.
Bubba Satori
Suspended
As stated in the summary, the guy isn't an iPhone developer, just a well-known Mac developer. He's taking a stand against Apple's App Store policies for moral reasons, not business ones.
m3coolpix
macrumors 6502a
Both of these statements are not even close to being correct.
1-No one is forcing you to buy a two year contract. The iPhone is available without a contract.
2-The product does not use public airwaves. It uses a frequency spectrum in the US that is controlled by the FCC, and that spectrum was purchased by AT&T.
Apple is a publicly traded business that is an independent entity and makes it's own decisions. They created a product that created a monopoly that everyone wants a piece of the $.
If you don't want to be a part of it (which means you have to play by their rules-as ambiguous as their rules may be), then don't be. It's as simple as that.
It's a free market. Create something to compete with it.
stealthboy
macrumors member
As a developer with an app in the app store, my big problem really is with the users. Now, hear me out. It's a sad but true fact that only a small percentage of users buy apps above $0.99. As a developer this is disheartening because the more work I put into something, the more I would like to be able to charge, but unless your app is under a dollar, it just doesn't move. This race to the bottom has hurt overall app quality, IMHO. There is no incentive for a developer to spend time on a quality product if they have to price it at $0.99.
Just my opinion, but that's what I've noticed. But this may explain why there are 400 different fart-based applications. 🙂 Development seems to be trending towards meeting the needs of the lowest common denominator.
Just my opinion, but that's what I've noticed. But this may explain why there are 400 different fart-based applications. 🙂 Development seems to be trending towards meeting the needs of the lowest common denominator.
If he doesn't like the Apple policy let the lil cry baby go somewhere else. Last I heard Apple wasn't the only game in town for apps. Doesn't BB have apps? I mean, what, is he obsessed with Apple or what.
uberamd
macrumors 68030
Well how nobel of him to take a moral stand against the app store. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Of all the things to take a moral stand against, he picks the app store. Bravo.
Being as I have never heard of this man, it makes it even more laughable. I could understand if it was someone everyone in the Apple community knew about, but honestly in all of my years I haven't heard his name. Wow. Reminds me of Ron Burgandy:
You do realize that level headed posts like these don't belong here right? 😉 On one hand we've got people who say eff Apple, developers are God's gift to man and Apple should should do anything and everything they request, no matter what (sadly I think arn is starting to lean this way 🙁) and the other side where the developers can kiss Apple's shiny aluminum @ss and they should be thankful for it. Of course reality is some where in between.
Also, I'd like to point out that without these "cry babies" the app store would be just fine as the people who are making good apps and making good money off of it aren't like to, as they say, bite the hand that feeds...
how is the hero? as a iphone user from the start im always interested in Android as i think it does have potential.
Stealthboy, I understand where you're coming from but did you really think you were going to make a half million with an app? Some made big bucks but that was few and far between.
However, if you can make something truly cool,subjective, then you have the possibility of charging a higher price. Anyway, wait until that Apple tablet drops. Boom! Money up the ass.
Good luck dude. I wish you all the best. Just keep creating man. Don't stop!
However, if you can make something truly cool,subjective, then you have the possibility of charging a higher price. Anyway, wait until that Apple tablet drops. Boom! Money up the ass.
Good luck dude. I wish you all the best. Just keep creating man. Don't stop!
m3coolpix
macrumors 6502a
The problem, in my opinion, is more related to the iPhone age demographics. Create good apps for the 2nd highest iPhone age population....and you'll find they have the money to pay for apps and they will sell. Not all iPhone users are in high school and college which is a age demographic that seems to think everything should be free....
Or, if you want to 'blow out' some numbers (big $) create that app for the 2nd tier of iPhone users and then price it at $0.99. A perfect example is the app 'Classics'. I highly doubt that the majority of the #1 iPhone demographic age group is buying that app.
FWIW.
This means that Safari, iPod, YouTube and the Phone applications should all be 17+, as they can be used to access "objectionable material".
Not Quite sure how they can reconcile that.
Foxer
macrumors 65816
Reading these threads is a fascinating exercise in amature psycology. The number of jailbreaker-developers (they seem to be the same people, or at least allied) who seem to feel that Apple is some Quasi-communal property that has to well by everyone is astounding. Do you also consider Toyota to be a violator if sone unspoken trust because they are the wonderful bring of the Prius, but continue to market and sell huge Tundra pick-ups? Apple is corporation, it exists to make money for it's shareholders - not to make you feel good about yourself. As a shareholder, the day they start trying to cater to free-riders at the expense of profit is the day I consider bringing a derivative suit.
On the subject of the App Store, Apple's biggest long-term problem is not murky approval policies, but rather TOO MANY apps. I'm an averge, early adopted, tech-savy user, and I find the App Store to be almost unusable. It is too difficult to browse, there is no concept of quality control and my knowledge that almost anythng can get in leads me to believe that it is almost all crap. The apps I have were either recommended to me, found in the very early days before the deluge or from entities I know and trust.
And, incedentally, anyone who thinks the first iPhone was a "failure" because it lacked an app store is delusional. If they never advanced past the standard apps, it would still be the best phone onthe market.
On the subject of the App Store, Apple's biggest long-term problem is not murky approval policies, but rather TOO MANY apps. I'm an averge, early adopted, tech-savy user, and I find the App Store to be almost unusable. It is too difficult to browse, there is no concept of quality control and my knowledge that almost anythng can get in leads me to believe that it is almost all crap. The apps I have were either recommended to me, found in the very early days before the deluge or from entities I know and trust.
And, incedentally, anyone who thinks the first iPhone was a "failure" because it lacked an app store is delusional. If they never advanced past the standard apps, it would still be the best phone onthe market.