Apple Censors App Store Rejection Notices 477
isBandGeek() writes "After a few reasonable App Store bans, such as the ones on I Am Rich and NetShare, developers started complaining about excessive restrictions on applications like Podcaster and MailWrangler, supposedly because they provided 'duplicate functionality.' In response, Apple rubbed salt in their wounds by slapping non-disclosure agreements on application rejection notices. Now developers are not even allowed to tell their fanbase that Apple decided to withhold approval for an application. Is Apple confident that Google's open platform Android won't be much of a threat?"
well (Score:4, Informative)
apparently they are not worried [arstechnica.com]
Re:well (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
>>>slapping non-disclosure agreements on application rejection notices.
Apple can not arbitrarily take-away my right to free speech. This means nothing if I don't sign the NDA.
Re:well (Score:5, Informative)
Re:well (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:well (Score:5, Informative)
Re:well (Score:5, Interesting)
Precisely.
A few years ago when Paypal was taken to court, most of the "user agreement" was thrown-out since it violated state or federal laws. The judge decided that consumers can not sign-away their legal protections. Apple's unsigned or shrinkwrapped NDA would also be thrown-out for similar reasons.
And to be honest, even if I was legally-bound to the NDA, I'd still disclose the whys and wherefores of my application rejection. From time-to-time, liberty must be protected with a little civil disobedience in order to protect one's rights, privileges, and freedoms.
Re:well (Score:5, Informative)
And to be honest, even if I was legally-bound to the NDA, I'd still disclose the whys and wherefores of my application rejection. From time-to-time, liberty must be protected with a little civil disobedience in order to protect one's rights, privileges, and freedoms.
Its not even civil disobedience to "violate" a contract. Its just breaking a contract that might expose you to being sued for damages or other remedies specified in the contract.
There's nothing ILLEGAL about breaking a contract.
Citizens really need to learn this.
So if someone decides to break the NDA and publish their rejection letters, Apple will probably terminate their membership and that's about it. Apple's going to have a hell of a time showing that they were materially damaged by someone saying that their app got rejected.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
>>>Apple's going to have a hell of a time showing that they were materially damaged by someone saying that their app got rejected.
Precisely why I would not hesitate to say publicly why my application was rejected. (And also because I don't think an unsigned or shrinkwrapped NDA is valid. A customer should not bound to an NDA simply because he/she buys a product.)
As for the term "civil disobedience", I used that term because I tend to think of corporations as being quasi-governments in nature. Ap
Re:well (Score:4, Insightful)
And that is how our country was formed. By a little civil disobedience in order to protect the grander goals of individual freedom. Had John Hancock and Ben Franklin been caught signing the Declaration of independence, they and all the other signers would be hung for high treason. Same goes for Washington leading armies against the Brits.
Re:well (Score:4, Interesting)
yea, but that's not how the legal system works--it's how it should work, but not how it does in reality.
for instance, i used to work at an indie record label here in SoCal that i later left for personal reasons. a few days ago my boss dropped by my apartment to say hi and ask me to help him with a problem that recently arose. now, amongst the label's back catalog is a now defunct band called Acid Bath, and they have a popular song called Dr. Seuss is Dead. when the album containing this track (When the Kite String Pops) was originally published, the band spelled the title incorrectly as Dr. _Suess_ is Dead and that's what was printed on all the track listings. seeing as "Dr. Seuss" is a trademarked name, my boss decided to play it safe and keep the misspelling all these years (the album was released in 1994).
oddly enough, after i left the company, my boss decided to have the spelling mistake corrected. so what happened was that the estate of Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss), or their lawyers rather, found some Acid Bath merchandise being auctioned off on e-bay--we actually printed a Dr. Seuss is Dead t-shirt with original artwork by a friend of the band. the e-bay seller apparently rolled on the record label, and the lawyers came after my boss and demanded that he take all of the Dr. Seuss is Dead/When the Kite String Pops merchandise off the site, and also hand over all the leftover stocks of the albums/DVDs/hoodies/t-shirts/posters/etc.
despite the fact that this is a legal parody, and that the band really only makes a single reference to Dr. Seuss in in the actual lyrics, the Geisel estate has threatened to take legal action against my boss and his company if their demands aren't met. frankly, i don't see any legal basis for their claims. this is clearly a protected form of trademark fair use. but the reality of the matter is, the Geisel estate is a multi-billion-dollar corporation, and my boss, though a rich man, simply doesn't have the money to take them on in court. the legal feels alone would force him to settle out of court.
so it doesn't matter if a claim is legally grounded or not. it only matters that the party making the claim/demands is a multi-billion-dollar corporation and the defense is not. like most people facing a legal threat from a large corporation, your only real option is just to meet their demands unless you want to be bankrupted by court/lawyer fees.
Worse than suing him to death... (Score:5, Funny)
...they'll let that fucking cat and his two little friends into your house and wreck everything...
Re:well (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
I wonder if there are ways around that, like if you download the sdk and write an app, and then someone else submits it to the store? I wonder if the sdk agreement is worded to transfer like that?
Also I wonder if Apple would be foolish enough to consider actually taking action, surely that would initiate the Streisand Effect?
Canary? (Score:5, Interesting)
What about the Canary approach?
1. "I promise under penalty of Perjury not to actively state a false status of my app. with Apple."
2.
"Today I was not declined by Apple."
"Today I was not declined by Apple."
"Today I was not declined by Apple."
"Today I was not declined by Apple."
3. ( ... Crickets ... )
Re:well (Score:4, Informative)
The suggestion was the reverse of that transaction.
1. Download SDK
2. Develop application
3. Transfer app to 3rd party who *IS* under the NDA.
My guess is that they would be the one rejected and they would be NDA'ed from telling you why your app was rejected. If you were told, then the 3rd party would be up the brown river with Apple.
Layne
The term "Unconscionable" comes to mind (Score:3, Interesting)
Ok, I'm not sure if that's entirely the right expression, but courts will often refuse to enforce clauses in contracts which are a dramatic expansion of the intended purposes of contract law.
I think in California, non-compete agreements which prevent people from working for any other employer in the same industry were struck down under this principal, and I would imagine that a clause which restricts you from even sharing with other parties that your app was rejected, and under what terms, would be in the s
Re:well (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:well (Score:4, Insightful)
true, but you did sign a NDA when you became a registered apple iPone dev.
it sucks but it's not quite as crazy as "by reading this message you agree to the terms of our NDA"
they aren't just slapping this on now. they slapped it on you up front.
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
But if you don't agree to the NDA, then you are obviously going to loose your developer membership, which is required to get your apps in the store. You may not agree that the whole situation is fair, but they sure as hell have the legal right to do what they're doing here -- they have a whole team of good lawyers to make sure of that.
Re:well (Score:5, Insightful)
<quote>
but I'm just tired of people whining about technology products not living up to their ever-so-important expectations.
</quote>
You can be tired of it, but as one of those Whingers, I'm pissed that my technology is restricted or limited at every turn, either by lack of imagination (the openness of the PC platform proved something) or by pathetic vendor lock-down in an effort to control quality or competition.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
A platform whose stability is dependent on the restriction of development to specific code is insanely fragile. It should not be possible for developers to destabilize the platform using the published APIs, as the underlying OS should properly manage its APIs and resources. Furthermore, it's not like code audits are performed
Re:well (Score:5, Insightful)
So 4 out of about 4000 apps have been rejected so far. 0.4%. I don't think it's time to panic yet.
4000 apps, which the majority are thin wrappers around web pages, or the like vs some few (interesting) apps.
The apps that got "rejected" are exactly the ones I would have wanted (bar the i am rich one). I have WANTED an app that can download podcasts straight to my iPod Touch. Currently I use my Nokia N95 (which has a podcast application built in) do do that, but its screen is not as nice as the iPod.
The second thing is, Apple is charging money to "join" the program (even for freeware developers), yet are not 100% clear on their rejection policies (which allows them to revise their policies), and no scope for refund.
I am certain this will fall foul of some UK/European laws, due to its vague nature, and some false advertising by Apple, in terms of their rallying calls for developers (yes I heard them). Finally not being able to disclose the reasons for rejection can also fall short of some laws, as reasons for rejections can help other developers avoid mistakes, or better asses their own projects.
If Apple wants to keep secret its reasons for rejecting applications, then it could be equated that Apple are kind of performing a "lottery" of sorts. That also could fall short of some laws.
Even Symbian (which itself is stricter than J2ME/ Windows Mobile/Android) doesnt do these shenigans.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
So 4 out of about 4000 apps have been rejected so far. 0.4%. I don't think it's time to panic yet.
4 that we know of. It's possible that a large number of other developers who had their apps rejected actually did read the NDA they had agreed to, and are fuming in silence.
That's the whole idea of NDAing this stuff: To keep the extent of the problem a secret. So you can't say "it's only 4, nothing to see here."
Re:well (Score:4, Insightful)
Until such time as the private entity attempts to use the power of the government to censor you by, for example, filing a restraining order.
I'm personally pretty tired of people spouting off that we have no free speech rights when it comes to corporations and private persons, because quite frankly that is bullshit. Free Speech is a recognized human right and no other human, government representative or otherwise, has the right to take it away from you. The only ways they can try are 1) make you agree contractually to limit your rights, 2) use the force of government via the courts, in which case you are protected by relevant law, or 3) use force directly against you, in which case you are protected by relevant law.
Ceding your free speech rights to private entities is just as bad as ceding them to the government. You, me, everyone, has the right to stand up to these bullies and claim our human right to speak freely. Just because it is NOT enumerated in the bill of rights does NOT mean the right does not exist.
Re:well (Score:5, Interesting)
My company was poised to start developing for the iPhone until I brought this to their attention at the last staff meeting.
The entire iPhone dev project has been put on hold because of this.
Apple had better figure out how to pull their heads out of their arse because lots of companies thinking of this will instantly back off like we have.
I know I was going to write some apps, but I'm not going to pay $99.00 to be blessed to write freeware and then have my apps rejected.
Re:well (Score:5, Interesting)
I, too, have been working on three apps, and have put them on hold.
The seemingly arbitrary blocking/rejection of certain apps makes me wonder just what their criteria is. For some, such as the net tethering application, it is obvious (direct competition/avoidance of AT&T's minutes plans). But for other apps, what is the criteria?
It is starting to look like the iphone app market is closing, because if Apple is declaring certain apps to be "duplicate functionality", then how can competition have a role?
The developers who were first to the store have all the advantage right now. I.e., timing, not functionality or merit, is key. Apple should clarify exactly what they are doing, which policies they are employing to make this determination.
Maybe I'll just write some "flashlight" apps -- those always get accepted. /rolls eyes
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Are you assuming it was open at some point?
Re:well (Score:4, Interesting)
I would really like to develop an app for my ipod touch that will allow me to preview music with headphones while creating a playlist and playing it with an rca out from the dock connector. I can easily see apple banning it though, so fuck that.
That is an analysts opinion (Score:5, Insightful)
An analysts opinion isn't worth the paper it is printed on, and this opinion ain't even printed.
Both phones are less then perfect and missing some "we don't think you need this, so you don't get it" features.
But the analyst is an idiot because he talks about the lack of iTunes. Yeah, because people care about that. Oh, they don't. First off, most music on digital players is ripped from CD's, or obtained through other means in mp3 format. iTunes is very small potatoes in the global music industry and even Apple knows that the iPod a far bigger player in the digital music player isn't always going to be used for iTunes content, which is why Apple gives you the tools needed to convert iTunes music to MP3 format or burn it to a CD.
The idea that a new platform needs to be compatible with iTunes is silly.
The bigger problem is lack of office compatibiltiy. While MS does offer you ways to export your documents in more general formats, that could be the real killer. The iPhone is bought by people who buy Apple and so accept that it is NOT going to be all that compatible with MS software. But android doesn't have the Apple logo, what is its excuse for not being MS compatible?
In a way, I don't think the iPhone and Android are even competitors. iPhone is a single product offered by a company that has no other phones. Android is a platform that any phone maker can use. It would be like saying the Smart Car competes with Honda Engines. Does the iPhone compete with Windows Mobile or Symbian? No, it competes with other phones, specific models, not OS/Platforms. if this google phone fails, there are plenty of others coming out soon, while Apple can hardly afford to start making dozens of phones and a new one every season to suit the tastes of the customer. Neither can google, but the phonemakers can.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
It is Microsofts fault for not making itself combatible with 3rd party things.
Re:That is an analysts opinion (Score:4, Informative)
This is not informative to the context of the discussion. Fault MS all you like, but one thing, its Windows Mobile OS does not have half the draconian measures Apple has on its iPhone OS. It is possible to make and run any application, even where they duplicate existing functionality.
As for compatiblity, even if Active Sync does NOT support third party plug-ins easily, you are free to develop your own sync platform, such as ones utilizing SynchML.
the iPhone doesnt even allow you to replace iTunes as the music Sync application. Most Windows Mobile phones on the other hand can either support USB mass storage (or a wrapper that simulates it) on the device, or at the very least allow you to put your Memory card into a reader, to copy your songs. The in-built Media Player, will automatically search for and add songs to the library on first run, and can be requested to search there after.
The Windows Media Player sync is optional (only required if you have some DRM songs).
Otherwise, nothing stopping you from adding some MP3s,MIDIs etc onto the device. And if you want to support other formats, there are many free and commercial media players (TCPMP is one such free one, Nero Mobile is a commercial one, which also provides support for DNLA).
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Can I run Android on an iPhone ....?
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
But android doesn't have the Apple logo, what is its excuse for not being MS compatible?
That it don't have the MS logo.
Re:well (Score:5, Insightful)
You see most of the critisms that article put at the Android phone were of particular features not included or limited, if the Android does what it claims to then people can simply write an app that performs that feature and there is nothing stopping them releasing it. However, if that feature is lacking on the iPhone or deliberately lacking(many of the critisms were also true of the iPhone) then Apple can prevent it being released.
Therefore the Android has the unrestricted potential of fulfilling all of the lacking features whereas Apple will prevent the iPhone from fulfilling that same potential.
I like many Apple products but this is my classic annoyance - they could be so much better if Apple didn't hold them back so much.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Because to support the Android OS, you must support all types of hardware that it runs on.
Here are the options...
- Support the lowest common denominator (P1) - no multitouch, even on multitouch android-based phones. Apple doesn't worry.
- Ignore the P1 - So your app will work on _some_ android phones, but not others. Consumers get confused. Apple doesn't worry.
- Create a single touch, and a multi touch version of your app. The UI development suddenly doubles. Developing an app for Android now has a high
What happens if you don't agree? (Score:5, Interesting)
What happens if you don't agree to a non-disclosure agreement on the rejection notice you receive?
Usually NDAs have to be signed before you get access to see cool secret stuff. But what if the only thing you're agreeing to is to be rejected?
Re:What happens if you don't agree? (Score:5, Informative)
You agreed to take it up the ass from apple the moment you accepted the SDK.
AC for obvious reasons.
Re:What happens if you don't agree? (Score:5, Interesting)
Click through EULAs have been deemed to be unenforcable.
I'd be willing to bet that their NDA would be if push came to shove as well.
And you can't retroactively add things under NDA.
Re:What happens if you don't agree? (Score:4, Insightful)
But if you pay $99 to join the developer program, that's a contract, not a click-thru EULA. Contracts involve something of value from both parties, and that $99 is your agreeing to the contract.
But if this rejection letter NDA is part of the rejection letter, not part of what you agreed to on that $99 contract, I doubt it is enforceable. But on the third hand, if you publish the rejection letter, no doubt they will cancel the contract and you would have to sue to get it reinstated. I wonder if it is like making a disturbance in a movie theater, if they refund your $99 when they kick you out.
Re:What happens if you don't agree? (Score:5, Interesting)
Click through EULAs have been deemed to be unenforcable.
Common fallacy here on Slashdot - EULAs in general have not been found to be unenforcable. Certain terms of certain EULAs have been, and some jurisdictions place some restrictions on them, but there has been no general, catch all legal ruling on the concept of EULAs in general.
Re:What happens if you don't agree? (Score:4, Insightful)
It's my understanding that to even have developped an app for ipod, you have to have already signed an NDA. Must be under those terms.
I personally just like writing C# apps to run on my PocketPC smartphone and use all the goofy Windows APIs. It may not be lickable, but darn it, the thing works and is fun to write for.
Re: (Score:2)
It's my understanding that to even have developed an app for ipod, you have to have already signed an NDA.
In ink? IANAL so I have to ask what if someone discloses a rejection that had the caveat of non-disclosure? And outside of the US?
What can Apple actually do, if someone violates their 'request' for non-disclosure?
I'm guessing this is very much an empty threat, hopefully to prevent developers being scared away but I'm guessing they haven't taken the Streisand Effect into account. The threat of "you can't develop for the iPhone anymore" is less of a threat than they think it is.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Since money changes hands, I think a simple wording along the lines of "by paying $99 to register as an official iPhone developer, you agree to the NDA". It's more involved than a simple "click here to agree" because there is an actual paper trail that can be followed through your credit card. So, I would think that this is "more substatial" than a traditional EULA.
Layne
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Did you pay them $99 for the SDK? Doesn't that make it a contract, not a mere EULA?
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
who is that "rest of us" you mention?
Re:What happens if you don't agree? (Score:5, Insightful)
PocketPC ... the thing works
Do you have a different version of Windows Mobile to the rest of us?
What, are you one of those poor bastards still running WM5? WM6.1 is a perfectly serviceable operating system. My HTC TYTN II doesn't get "rebooted" unless I decide to reflash the ROM. I reflashed it a couple weeks ago, but before that it ran for months without a restart. Now the phone I had before this one, the Mio A701, that piece of crap needed to be rebooted 5 times a day. Really, the problem with WM isn't the OS, but craptastic hardware compatibility due to mediocre "value engineered" phone hardware. If the iPhone OS was available to any and all Taiwanese phone mills, you'd see the same shit. Really, most problems with WM can be solved fairly easily: quit being such a cheap fuck and buy a decent piece of hardware to run it. Windows Mobile runs like a swiss watch on well-designed hardware--- just like the iPhone.
My only wish is that HTC would make a phone using the same size display as the iPhone. This tiny QVGA shit sux0rz.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Reasonable? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
I would like to know that too.
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
How was banning a tethering application reasonable?
If providers (like O2 in the UK) were provided with an assurance from Apple that tethering would not be allowed.
And if providers (like O2 in the UK) set up their pricing policy on that assurance.
Under those circumstances, it would be reasonable for Apple to ban a tethering application.
I can't say if that is definitely what has happened.
In the UK, O2 provide unlimited data with no fair usage policy for the iPhone. Every other 3G device they support has data limits and strict fair usage policies.
B
Re: (Score:2)
In the UK, O2 provide unlimited data with no fair usage policy for the iPhone. Every other 3G device they support has data limits and strict fair usage policies.
Wrong - look at the bottom of O2's iPhone page http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/paymonthly [o2.co.uk] - "Excessive usage policy and full terms apply"
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
I don't have the AT&T user agreement in front of me, but I believe when you sign the contract with them, you agree not to use their data plan with a tethered computer. It's possible that Apple is using that as a way of helping AT&T enforce compliance.
Re:Reasonable? (Score:4, Insightful)
It's not reasonable but Apple didn't have much choice in the matter. AT&T wants to be able to charge their users extra for the privilege of tethering so they've written that into their agreement with Apple.
agreement? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
In practice, it's probably unenforceable. If Apple sued you for disclosing the reasons for the rejection they wouldn't be able to show any damages, and since Apple aren't doing anything, you might even be able to argue that the contractual arrangement ended with apple's rejection.
Why does Apple get a free pass? (Score:5, Insightful)
Because they make cool *looking* equipment? If M$ did this, people would be all over them. Jobs is not known for working and playing well with others, but people just wink at the silliness because they like the shiny gadgets.
Re:Why does Apple get a free pass? (Score:5, Insightful)
"...people would be all over them". Yes, sort of like we're doing here.
Re:Why does Apple get a free pass? (Score:5, Insightful)
Only there wouldn't be nearly as many MS apologists as there are in this thread for Apple.
Re:Why does Apple get a free pass? (Score:5, Funny)
One of the more pervasive memes I've seen here regarding Apple is (and I paraphrase):
They're shafting me in the ass right now, but I'm hoping they'll stop soon.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
I came in here to say this, but you beat me to it and got modded flamebait. Seriously, if Microsoft or Sony behaved in this manner there'd be 500 negative comments. I don't understand all the apple love around here...
Re: (Score:2)
but people just wink at the silliness because they like the shiny gadgets.
Well I'm winking at the silliness of your comment eventhough it's not shiny. This is all over the news, so Apple ain't exactly getting a "free pass" as you put it.
If M$ did this, people would be all over them
Yes they would, and rightfully so. Like a famous president once said:"Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice....uh..um...wont get fooled again"
Simple really. (Score:5, Funny)
Add to the developer sites a line like:
The following applications have not been removed from the AppStore: [item] [item] [item] .... ...and just delete when required.
Re: (Score:2)
"Did I make an application for the iPhone that does XYZ?"
"Did apple reject that application that I made?"
"Was the hypothetical rejection for the following reasons: PPP, QQQ?"
It's not disclosing the non-disclosable information - it's just raising the question as to whether or not it happ
Re:Simple really. (Score:5, Funny)
The first rule about Apps Store is, you do not talk about Apps Store.
irrational... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:irrational... (Score:5, Funny)
Sir, I am afraid you need re-education. Please step into the reality distortion field.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
It may be just me but I really don't get why apple has such a big fanbase, seeing as how they treat their customers...
Well, ask yourself this: Why do some of the top brands of anything have such a big fanbase? Why do so many people go to McDonald's? I mean, McDonald's has food that "tastes like sh** but you can eat it." Why do so many people like Subway? Why do so many people people drive Toyotas?
These are all fairly mediocre products. Don't get me wrong -- Toyota produces a quality product, but it's just not as good as some of the major European brands (let's face it, the Germans know how to engineer good cars!)
It com
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
From Consumer Reports [consumerreports.org] (this is not a slam dunk, but you get my point, I'm sure).
"European makes account for 17 models on the Least reliable list. This includes six each from Mercedes-Benz and Volks
Re:irrational... (Score:5, Insightful)
Why do so many people go to McDonald's? I mean, McDonald's has food that "tastes like sh** but you can eat it."
Because it tastes awesome. Not particularly healthy, but awesome. Especially the french fries. Let me guess -- you're a vegan?
Why do so many people like Subway?
Oh, because they use fresh baked bread? Because it's fairly healthy? And how exactly do you screw up a sandwich, anyway?
Don't get me wrong -- Toyota produces a quality product, but it's just not as good as some of the major European brands (let's face it, the Germans know how to engineer good cars!)
Asian cars destroy German cars on long-term reliability. I prefer Honda, but they're all pretty good. I liked my couple of Benzes, but they weren't as good as their reputation after 70-80K miles.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
German cars can be more reliable than Asian cars, they're just "different" as in you MUST keep up on maintenance. Asian cars are appliances. You drive them until something big breaks and you go cut a new one out of its shrink wrapping.
Well, sheesh, ANY pile of crap will go forever if you "keep up on maintenance" (even, say, a Fiat). Not that German cars are piles of crap, but are you seriously arguing it's a design "feature" that you have to baby them otherwise they won't last? I highly doubt there's some
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, because most of their customers are iPhone developers?
Re: (Score:2)
For me, the benefits outweigh the treatment. In my opinion I would rather have something that works with me without hindrance right out of the box, and that does what it says on said box, than to have something I need to spend billions of years on to configure just so that it has a slight semblance of usability in it.
In the Open Source world, it is often said that you can write an app yourself if you cannot get it already, but such solutions often are very limited and require huge investments of time to ge
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
It may be just me but I really don't get why apple has such a big fanbase, seeing as how they treat their customers...
In most cases, Apple treats their customers very well. Hardware is usually very elegantly designed and hardware & software usually work seamlessly together (iPod + iTunes for example). Get AppleCare for your products, and they'll repair/replace them in virtually all circumstances regardless of what's wrong. As a hobbyist programmer, I really enjoy XCode, since I've used eMacs, vi, .NET, NetBeans, etc. It's the best IDE I've ever used. I still think the NDA is ridiculous, and hope that they'll drop it so
Just scroll /. frontpage down a little (Score:4, Interesting)
Studies Say Ideology Trumps Facts
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/09/25/036232 [slashdot.org]
This comment was very nice: "cognitive dissonance"
http://science.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=975171&cid=25148179 [slashdot.org]
Applied to Apple it would mean that people that bought completely overpriced Apple products are now looking for justification and trying to convince other people that it was right to spend so much money.
Sometimes the solution to morale problems (Score:2)
is just to fire all the unhappy people, or make sure the reasons they're unhappy get a non disclosure clause attached.
I'm curious what the power of this thing is? If someone complains and discloses that their app was rejected then will they be forbidden from making any more apps or could they be sued/proseuted?
What else do you expect... (Score:5, Funny)
You Linux and M$ weenies just don't get it! (Score:4, Funny)
Not good (Score:5, Insightful)
Oh WEEE Oh... Oh WAAHHHHHH Oh... (Score:2)
Ha ha, oh man! (Score:5, Funny)
Apple? Abusing their power to keep people from talking about their product in any way that is not authorized by the Apple marketing department? Why, I can't tell you how long it's been since I've heard a similar story about them doing this sort of thing!
No, I don't mean it's been a long time. I mean I literally can't tell you. I'm not legally allowed to.
Sorry.
(Joking . . . mostly.)
Well, duh! (Score:5, Interesting)
"Fuck it, we're evil," [today.com] said Steve Jobs to an audience of soul-mortgaged thralls. "But our stuff is sooo good. You'll keep taking our abuse. You love it, you worm. Because our stuff is great. It's shiny and it's pretty and it's cool and it works. It's not like youâ(TM)ll go back to a Windows Mobile phone. Ha! Ha!"
It's foolish to have expected anything else. As Neal Stephenson put it [artlung.com] in In The Beginning Was The Command Line:
It's as applicable now as it was in the late 1990s. That bit of Apple's corporate culture is straight from Steve Jobs.
Does Steve know? (Score:2)
Why do they insist on shooting themselves in the foot like this? I somehow suspect that the App store is led by an inexperienced team, and that Steve only has sideline control over the operation of that one. I think he would not be so foolish as to create this much bad publicity. He may be an (ass/strict ruler), but he's certainly not this stupid and he should know that this behaviour will come back to bite him later on. I'm interested in hearing the full story once upon a time.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Why do they insist on shooting themselves in the foot like this?
Because the gun's not loaded, lets face it, most people will not be upset about this, and if a feature is that freaking cool that it needs to be developed or you're going to have mass panic, then Apple will do it themselves.
The user isn't going to care how the company treats the developer, especially now that the developer is being banned from complaining. Their competition is development on other platforms, and even then, their lack of media text messages or copy-and-paste functionality, must have featur
Re:Nothing to see here, move along (Score:4, Interesting)
Actually, if you keep up on the Apple blogs and such, even a lot of long-time Apple fanboys are having trouble understanding Apple's play here. It's less a question of whether or not they're legally entitled to do what they're doing (it is their App store afterall), but more just a general wonder what Apple is trying to accomplish with the arbitrary nature of restrictions that they've created.
Long time and successful mac developers are wondering what the hell is going on. They see Apple rejecting well designed iPhone applications for reasons that haven't been previously disclosed, and it makes them hesitant to produce applications of their own for fear of having it rejected over some rule that they were never told about.
And looking at this from another angle, the NDA has meant that there aren't good forums or anything online for developers to share iPhone programming tricks or issues or whatever. Not to mention that you can't go buy a book about it to help you learn. That's just another wall that Apple has built that developers have to find their way over in order to make applications.
Again, Apple is probably fully within their legal rights to reject any application for any reason. But that still doesn't make it smart for them to do so. If they want to create a mobile platform, which it seems fairly obvious is a goal of theirs, then nobody is really sure how Apple's actions so far have helped. They're still selling the phones by the truckload, so maybe it doesn't matter that much to them, but taking the longer view, a lot of people who had been very excited about the iPhone are having a hard time seeing where Apple is going with this.
Boycott (Score:4, Insightful)
It's not about Android (Score:4, Interesting)
I'm a Mac (Score:5, Funny)
I'm a PC
And I'm a Mac
I run almost all business software and games
AND I'LL SUE YOUR ASS IF YOU TELL ANYONE!
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Microsoft's latest Life without walls [youtube.com] ads are onto something seeing that Apple are shooting themselves in the foot lately
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
other bias (Score:4, Insightful)
Other sites report the incident differently. The main point being that it appears to be a clarification of the NDA that developers already agreed upon, and not an additional restriction.
Compared to game consoles, Apple's requirements are very tame, but you don't hear much complaints about the rejections that Nintendo regularily sends out.
What it does do, however, is make it clear (again), that the iPhone is not a general-purpose computer, but a device.
Fanboy newspeak (Score:4, Insightful)
What it does do, however, is make it clear (again), that the iPhone is not a general-purpose computer, but a device.
lolwut? You people are redefining words, now?
That gagging sound you hear is a black turtleneck chocking a human neck, forever.
Interview for iPhone developers (Score:5, Funny)
Interviewer: So it says here you've been developing for the iPhone for 2 years
Developer: Yup that's right
I: So what applications have you written
D: I've written applications around complex gene folding, stock prediction and a massively multi-player online game
I: Great, can I get them from the App Store
D: I can't say
I: Why not?
D: I can't say
I: Why?
D: There is an NDA covering whether I submitted them and whether they rejected them
I: Can you show me the code?
D: Err no
I: Why?
D: Because I'm not allowed to share things with other developers
I: Why?
D: That's in the NDA too
I: So in summary you say you've written some amazing applications but can't prove it and they aren't on the app store
D: Correct
I: So why should I believe you
D: Would anyone who hadn't done iPhone development have bothered to read the NDA?
I: Good point, you're hired.
Re:Andriod is no threat (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Andriod is no threat (Score:5, Informative)
What's that?
Sounds like a Star-Tac killer to me, but my 5 year old PalmOS-based Treo trumps the iPhone in almost every single feature. The iPhone does not provide any new functionality, not revolutionary in any way, and there were plenty of full-screen, touch handsets out before the iPhone hit the market.
The one, the ONLY thing Apple has going for them is marketing. That's it.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Holy christ, why am I feeding the troll.
Re: (Score:3)
Car engines actually have these things, called batteries, that are user-replaceable...
I think it's pretty obvious who the troll is here.
Re:Andriod is no threat (Score:4, Insightful)
As for the "sex appeal"... is that what you're after in a phone? Really?
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
As for the "sex appeal"... is that what you're after in a phone? Really?
Having a gadget be good for showing off to others is definitely a selling point, as lame as it may be.