Legal C64 emulator rejected from App Store

I won't cry over it, people who really want a C64 emulator on their iPhones will still get it.

Apple really does need to loosen their regulations for App approval, why not have an unsupported 'release anything here, and download at own risk' section of the App Store. It would save me having to jailbreak just to record video.. (pre 3.0)

Dura lex, sed lex...

Sounds like a quite clear cut and reasonable rejection to me.

is it perhaps because people could use the emulator to load code?

"I got Windows 7 running on the iPhone thanks to the C64 emulator!"

i can see it now, it would finish Steve off

Did someone say Golden Axe? *buys*

Originally Posted by Jamie
Sounds like a quite clear cut and reasonable rejection to me.

Perhaps, but if that's the case it's a bit off of them to lead him to think otherwise originally - if that is what they did.

Hmmm, I wonder if apple will have a 'Games hosting' app in a few months time that will run games, by apple, that are remarkably similar to old C64 games. But their app will only run their games.

Wouldn't surprise me.

I miss my C64. The transformer blew up, whilst playing The Great Escape or Platoon or somthing as a kid. Emulators just can't revive the old magic.

I hate the drm of apple with a passion, but I would so get a touch just for this app.

As to the rejection, I could see several options, apple always has that kill switch available for one. Put the games into the app, instead allowing them to be D/L'ed to it; and thus no installing further code. This second option could even be more profitable by allowing multiple packs of c64 games/apps for separate purchase.

Its probably a legal minefield or great advertising ...

Yet another reason for customers and developers to stay away and onto platforms that allow for more freedom.

Originally Posted by ZERO <ibis>
Yet another reason for customers and developers to stay away and onto platforms that allow for more freedom.

or simply jailbreak and download all kind of code-injection based software.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but surely C64 ROMs are just C64 machine code, and the emulator interprets them, rather than running them directly - or is C64 machine code directly compatible with ARM?

If it is just an interpreter, what about Javascript in mobile Safari? Surely that allows you to execute arbitrary code?

Is it just me or does every bit of news about Apple recently seem to be them finding new ways to screw people out of more cash or generally just being a draconian bunch of tyrants??
ipod shuffle 3rd-party headphones, restrictive DRM, severely restricting iphone apps, trying to make jailbreaking illegal under the DMCA the list goes on...

Screw Apple, Android or Moblin FTW

Originally Posted by airchie
Is it just me or does every bit of news about Apple recently seem to be them finding new ways to screw people out of more cash or generally just being a draconian bunch of tyrants??
ipod shuffle 3rd-party headphones, restrictive DRM, severely restricting iphone apps, trying to make jailbreaking illegal under the DMCA the list goes on...

Screw Apple, Android or Moblin FTW

lol recently??? its second Nature for Apple to screw ver their customers, and yet there are still hardcore mac fans, that shows how well the Poison Apple brainwashes its user base and boy do they do it well.

Personally I dont see an issue with this emulator, but ehh I dont plan to or ever buy an iphone anyways so in the end I could care less.

Originally Posted by CardJoe
Perhaps, but if that's the case it's a bit off of them to lead him to think otherwise originally - if that is what they did.

From what I gather they showed interest before or in early development, which would be before they knew it was going to break the rules. I think he'd have to pre compile the game ROMs into native code to be allowed to have the app.

Originally Posted by ch424
Correct me if I'm wrong, but surely C64 ROMs are just C64 machine code, and the emulator interprets them, rather than running them directly - or is C64 machine code directly compatible with ARM?

If it is just an interpreter, what about Javascript in mobile Safari? Surely that allows you to execute arbitrary code?

If you read the article it says

"No interpreted code may be downloaded and used in an Application except for code that is interpreted and run by Apple's Published APIs and built-in interpreter(s)."

Safari is built in, and hence Javascript is run by one of it's inbuilt interpreters.

Good to know that we're not alone with that mystical approval policy of Apple.. as sad as it is. We ported ScummVM to official iPhoneOS (it's already available for jailbroken iPhoneOS since some time, we removed all dependancies to Apple private APIs and added a FileManager to receive/send the data) which was also rejected by Apple with the very same reasoning. Any mails to try to resolv the issue and argueing about many other already approved software which does basically the same or similar things were just silently ignored by Apple.

That's why we gave up on such projects (we also have a basically working UAE port for iPhoneOS but all work on it stopped) and offer ScummVM via Ad Hoc distribution for anyone interested.

The whole story, screenshots and stuff can be found here:

http://iphone.stackswap.net/scummvm.html

IK+ rulez!

And who gifs a s.. if its not in the istore. there are other ways to release it, what about a simple website with a download link?

"An Application may not itself install or launch other executable code by any means, including without limitation through the use of a plug-in architecture, calling other frameworks, other APIs or otherwise. No interpreted code may be downloaded and used in an Application except for code that is interpreted and run by Apple's Published APIs and built-in interpreter(s)."

So the guy wrote an iPhone app that executed code that wasn't Objective C. The rules are clear. It's a shame the guy wasted his time - maybe if he had read the rules ... ?

I side with Apple.

If you don't like Apple products or Apples restrictions - why bother buying an iPhone and then complaining about not being able to have the same freedom as with PC hardware/software.

I think it says more about your own stupidity.

iPhones are what they are. Apple is what it is. Get over it and stick to PC's.

Originally Posted by Ape

So the guy wrote an iPhone app that executed code that wasn't Objective C. The rules are clear. It's a shame the guy wasted his time - maybe if he had read the rules ... ?

I side with Apple.

his efforts won't be wasted, don't worry.

as soon as his appeal fails, it'd be on Cydia for us jailbreaker :)

Android = win ;)

Apple can produce good products... however, they are the masters at doing the wrong thing when it comes to satisfying their customers. Proprietary limitations are not what the consumer wants. Apple is a bit too restrictive with some of their policies. Until Apple realizes this fundamental flaw, they will continue to be a second-rate provider of computers, digital media, phones, etc.

Originally Posted by LordPyrinc
Apple can produce good products... however, they are the masters at doing the wrong thing when it comes to satisfying their customers. Proprietary limitations are not what the consumer wants. Apple is a bit too restrictive with some of their policies. Until Apple realizes this fundamental flaw, they will continue to be a second-rate provider of computers, digital media, phones, etc.

You sure that Apple does wrong by its customers?

As far as I know, also happening to be one, Apples customers know exactly what they are going to get when they buy the iPhone or a computer. Everything works, no hardware conflictions, no software crashing ... and if we do get problems, it gets fixed for us by happy, friendly, Apple geeks in the Apple store. Not that I've had any problems whatsoever.

On the other hand, also being a PC lover, I know that I can expect hardware conflicts and software conflicts with a PC.

There are next to no conditions or standards of quality on the PC, but with an Apple there is at least some.

Is the PC or Apple easier to use?

The Apple of course because of their standards of quality, their draconian restrictions and the fact they only release their OS on hardware it works with.

Is it restrictive? ... it really depends what you want to do.

Are Apple customers unhappy? Not as unhappy as the PC owners stuck with shitloads of spam/spyware/bloatware/crapware/conflicts/crashes/younameit.

Don't forget about all the people that have bought into the PC hype and have fkall knowledge of computers. When we on here get issues with our PC's we can usually work out the problems within minutes - but the clueless wonders that bought PC's with buggerall idea how to fix ****, either spend stupid money on a 'tech expert' to come round their house, look at their PC, suck in air, and say "its gonna cost ya". Or they phone someone like us to fix it for them.

With an Apple, you get none of that bollox.

Yes its restrictive, yes Apple customers know what they are buying, do they give a fk?

No. They just get on with it and enjoy computing.

Can we get some fking peace and quiet in these Apple threads? It's really boring the people that jump in and say:

"I hate Steve Jobs"
"I hate Apple"
"I hate Apples restrictions"
"I have to jump into every Apple thread and slag off everything Apple because I'm a clueless wonder who thinks Apples restrictions harm my human rights"

lol at the filter ...