Apple responds to App Store critics

Author: Alex Watson
Published: 12th August 2009
Comments (33) Stumble
Apple responds to App Store critics

The iPhone's App Store success hasn't been without its headaches.

The iPhone is certainly bringing Apple commercial success, and its sales are being propelled by the success of the App Store. We're big fans of the games available for the iPhone and iPod Touch, but the App Store itself find itself at the centre of several controversies, which have resulted in a personal response from Apple's head of marketing, Phil Schiller.

Users of the iPhone and iPod touch can install Apps, but unless they "jailbreak" their devices, software can only be downloaded through the App Store - and to get into the App Store, apps need to be vetted. Many of the recent complaints focus on the fact that the criteria for being accepted isn't always clear. For instance, Apple rejected Google's Voice app on the grounds that it duplicated the features that come with the iPhone.

You can however, download many apps - calculators and note apps for instance - that also seem to duplicate the iPhone's features, and you can download a Skype app, which clearly duplicates the phone function. Commentators were quick to point the finger at Apple's US phone network partner, AT&T, but AT&T denied it.

The upshot was that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - the regulatory body in the US which governs telecoms - promptly decided to investigate, writing to Apple, AT&T and Google to ask them to explain themselves.

"The Federal Communications Commission has a mission to foster a competitive wireless marketplace, protect and empower consumers, and promote innovation and investment,” FCC Chair Jules Genachowski said in a statement. “The Wireless Bureau’s inquiry letters to these companies about their practices reflect the Commission’s proactive approach to getting the facts and data necessary to make the best policy decisions on behalf of the American people.”

Apple then invited the ire of the Internet by seemingly censoring a dictionary from the App Store because you could look up rude words with it, which violates the iPhone SDK Agreement which states that “Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind”

In a scathing critique, Daring Fireball's John Gruber took the company to task for its conduct: "Apple requires you to be 17 years or older to purchase a censored dictionary that omits half the words Steve Jobs uses every day he wrote. His criticisms drew a long email response from Phil Schiller:

"Let me start with the most important points - Apple did not censor the content in this developer’s application and Apple did not reject this developer’s application for including references to common swear words. You accused Apple of both in your story and the fact is that we did neither... Ninjawords is an application which uses content from the Wiktionary.org online wiki-based dictionary... Contrary to what you reported, the Ninjawords application was not rejected in the App Store review process for including common 'swear' words. In fact anyone can easily see that Apple has previously approved other dictionary applications in the App Store that include all of the 'swear' words that you gave as examples in your story.

"The issue that the App Store reviewers did find with the Ninjawords application is that it provided access to other more vulgar terms than those found in traditional and common dictionaries, words that many reasonable people might find upsetting or objectionable."

Schiller goes on to say the Apple wanted the dictionary app to have a 17+ rating, but at the time it was submitted, the App Store didn't support it, and as a result, the developer received the impression that it needed to censor its program.

While this may put Apple in the clear in terms of censoring a dictionary (which clearly puts them on the wrong side of the 1984 metaphor they're found of), Daring Fireball goes on to discuss how the episode highlights ongoing issues with the App Store and its review process. It does seem Apple is keen to listen to developers - Schiller apparently emailed another leading Apple developer and critic recently - but the recent troubles with the App Store highlight the growing pains of the iPhone and the problems of Apple's highly controlled approach to the App Store.

Does this lack of openness bother you? Would it affect whether you buy an Apple device? Let us know in the forums, and of course, you can always check out our reviews of iPhone games that have been allowed into the App Store.
Quote wuyanxu 12th August 2009, 14:28
just go and jailbreak the thing. there is no reason not to!

so many fantastic free tools that would never get pass Apple:
-SBsettings for instant wifi/plane/bluetooth/autolock toggle within any app
-backgrounder for multitasking
-dTunes to play videos that doesn't have to go through itunes
-Cycoder to record video on old devices
-SpringJump to jump to springboard pages, instead of swiping 8 times
-CallClear for deleting that single call from call history
-Flashlight for real flashlight that automatically makes the LCD to maximum brightness and disable ambient sensor
-Notifier for taskbar notifications
-also featured disabled by Apple such as native MMS on 2G, numeric battery reading

and best of all, all above are free from Cydia!

so, stop caring what Apple does with its AppStore, Cydia is the solution :)
Quote oasked 12th August 2009, 14:50
"The case against Apple in five parts:"

http://calacanis.com/2009/08/08/the-case-against-apple-in-five-parts/

VERY interesting reading.
Quote DarkLord7854 12th August 2009, 15:06
In Short: Apple are hypocritical idiots. Nothing we didn't already know. :p
Quote sub routine 12th August 2009, 15:25
it bugs me that you can`t use any of the apps through Itunes and my ipod has to re-download any aps instead of transferring them from my iphone
Quote harveypooka 12th August 2009, 15:33
Slightly off point, is the 1984 superbowl advert even relevant anymore? It was an advert, something provocative, that may or may not have represented something real about the company's attitude back in the Dark Ages.

Just that! :)
Quote AshT 12th August 2009, 15:59
Quote:
Originally Posted by oasked
"The case against Apple in five parts:"

http://calacanis.com/2009/08/08/the-case-against-apple-in-five-parts/

VERY interesting reading.

Not really, no.
Quote jezmck 12th August 2009, 16:28
Quote:
backgrounder for multitasking

This really ought to be a standard feature of the iPhone, or do they think it would be confusing for most users?

The lack of it makes Google Latitude completely useless for example.
Quote Combatus 12th August 2009, 16:43
It is an issue with things like Latitude but most other apps like Sat Nav apps auto resume after a call with a minimum of fuss. Most apps I've used aren't as cut and dried as latitude. The App store has a few quirks but iTunes is a joke. Not being able to sync with two PCs drives me nuts as I often want to grab a new app or video at work and end up totally wiping the thing. I feel a jailbreak coming on.
Quote lewchenko 12th August 2009, 16:46
Everyone should know the score with Apple by now...

If you want their stylized products and services, be prepared to pay over the odds for it and also you have to accept its their way of doing things.. or none at all.

They apply the above rule to everything they do... which is fine, if you are prepared to sign up to such arrangements. I have signed up in the past.. in the form of many mac laptops bought over the years, and a few desktops / ipods ! For some, the restrictions are too much to bear however, and the lack of freedom to choose is not acceptable. Doesnt bother me that much to be honest.
Quote Lepermessiah 12th August 2009, 17:03
Apple, most overrated, over hyped tech company ever.
Quote DarkLord7854 12th August 2009, 17:13
Quote:
Originally Posted by lewchenko
Doesnt bother me that much to be honest.

That's quite sad that you don't really care that a company tries to dictate certain things to you just because you bought a piece of hardware/software from them.


So that car you bought, you'd be fine with it if the manufacturer told you that you may only drive it on weekdays from 6am till 10pm, and you're limited to 200miles a week, you may also only use the A/C if the outside temperature is above 95F?
Quote yakyb 12th August 2009, 17:15
hang on they wont allow a rude dictionary but they allow a gay version of facebook on so they can tell where people are for a hook up( with very pornographic pictures on)

seems like double standards
Quote yakyb 12th August 2009, 17:22
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkLord7854
Quote:
Originally Posted by lewchenko
Doesnt bother me that much to be honest.

That's quite sad that you don't really care that a company tries to dictate certain things to you just because you bought a piece of hardware/software from them.


So that car you bought, you'd be fine with it if the manufacturer told you that you may only drive it on weekdays from 6am till 10pm, and you're limited to 200miles a week, you may also only use the A/C if the outside temperature is above 95F?

not quite the correct analogy i dont feel

its more like buying a car then being told you can install this spoiler but not this other one or this radio but not that one

whilst to maintain QC some audit process is needed.( just look at all the **** you can get for other mobiles /PDAs) it should allow any product through regardless of developer. could you imagine if microsoft said to opera /google/mozilla sorry no internet browsers allowed they copy already existing functionality


in fact Msoft should write an ie app then submit it if it fails due to existing functionality it should pull safari from windows
Quote wuyanxu 12th August 2009, 17:24
Quote:
Originally Posted by oasked
"The case against Apple in five parts:"

http://calacanis.com/2009/08/08/the-case-against-apple-in-five-parts/

VERY interesting reading.
thanks, it's a fantastic read.

@Combatus, jailbreak it!
simply SSH into your phone over wi-fi and copy the video to /var/mobile/library/Downloads and then use dTunes to play it.
Quote crazyceo 12th August 2009, 17:29
If Microsoft can be accused and fined millions of euros by the EU for being anti-competitive in the OS market. Then why can't Apple who are the dominant force in the smartphone market and acting in a far more restrictive and infair way be treated the same as Microsoft?

Or does the EU just have anti Microsoft and anti intel love ins?
Quote p3n 12th August 2009, 17:56
Quote:
Originally Posted by jezmck
Quote:
backgrounder for multitasking

This really ought to be a standard feature of the iPhone, or do they think it would be confusing for most users?

The lack of it makes Google Latitude completely useless for example.

Swapping between apps isn't so bad, forgetting to close x app would leave you with 3/4 hours battery time too.
Quote cyrilthefish 12th August 2009, 18:29
Quote:
Originally Posted by oasked
"The case against Apple in five parts:"

http://calacanis.com/2009/08/08/the-case-against-apple-in-five-parts/

VERY interesting reading.
Ooh, i liked that a lot.

Sums up a lot of my feelings on the matter
Quote:
Originally Posted by crazyceo
If Microsoft can be accused and fined millions of euros by the EU for being anti-competitive in the OS market. Then why can't Apple who are the dominant force in the smartphone market and acting in a far more restrictive and infair way be treated the same as Microsoft?

Or does the EU just have anti Microsoft and anti intel love ins?
It confuses me a lot too.

If Microsoft did what Apple are doing, the resulting lawsuits would make the whole EU internet explorer monopoly thing look like pocket change, but everyone seems to turn a blind eye to it just because it's Apple :(

Interesting point the article missed:
Quote:
Yes, every application on the phone has to approved by Apple, and if you were interested in something adult in nature…well…you can’t do that.

Apple’s justification for this nonsense is that they have to protect AT&T’s network.
Microsoft actually did the exact same thing for the first windows mobiles (Orange SPV and so on) But eventually relented due to the massive consumer backlash (and because it was bypassable, in an admittedly tricky to perform way, rendering it pointless.)
Quote Whi7eRa66iT 12th August 2009, 22:12
Its funny and sad that for many a year now, the Apple Fan boys have laughed saying Microsoft "will assimilated you" and yet here we are looking back and seeing that the Fan Boys were in fact "assimilated" without even realizing it.
I have always distrusted Apple for that very reason. Basically "Our OS OUR way or the highway" & "Our HARDWARE our way or the highway".
I personally love to tinker with MY purchased toys/computers and having someone tell me that even though I paid good money for it, that I "cannot" do that is just beyond :( Its mine now and I will do WHAT I want with it. EOS.
Quote Ape 12th August 2009, 22:44
Yawn.

Everyone who buys Apple knows what they are getting.
Quote The_Beast 12th August 2009, 23:19
Quote:
Originally Posted by oasked
"The case against Apple in five parts:"

http://calacanis.com/2009/08/08/the-case-against-apple-in-five-parts/

VERY interesting reading.


very good read
Quote Ape 13th August 2009, 09:23
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Beast
Quote:
Originally Posted by oasked
"The case against Apple in five parts:"

http://calacanis.com/2009/08/08/the-case-against-apple-in-five-parts/

VERY interesting reading.

very good read

Hardly. It says more about the guys intelligence than it does about Apple.

"My collection of Mac products now includes seven iPods ($1,500), four Mac laptops ($8,000), two Airports ($500), a Time Capsule ($500), two Mac towers ($4,000), a Mac Mini ($600), two iMacs ($4,000) and all three iPhones ($1,500)" - for someone who reckons he's spent $20,000 and 6 years with Apple products to suddenly see through the marketing and hype smacks of dumb if not utter BS. If anyone on these forums spent $20,000 on hardware without knowing what they were buying into, then you can assume they are dumb as well.

I repeat - Everyone who buys Apple knows what they are getting - except this guy ... because he's a ****.
Quote hexx 13th August 2009, 09:54
hmm, maybe you're not gonna like this comment guys, but to be honest, apple developed product with it's proprietary OS and iTunes and given developers worldwide chance to become somebody and even earn some money. I think that all this criticism, though fair enough, but still a bit unfair in this aspect. Don't know about any other company who done the same for customers and developers yet people are still bitching
Quote yakyb 13th August 2009, 14:57
actually hexx

microsoft or M$ as some people call them release windows they also provide free development tools (express versions) and free Database tools (sql server express) and also a good framework to work in (.net) the only charge is for the operating system, which is perhaps only 10% of a complete system build. they allow you any right to sell on your product at whatever price you want.

true they do not provide a store for you nor do they advertise for you (not sure what extent apple advertise for you)

but i think M$ gets a bad name from people who dont know what great free tools they supply
Quote hexx 13th August 2009, 15:09
Quote:
Originally Posted by yakyb
actually hexx

microsoft or M$ as some people call them release windows they also provide free development tools (express versions) and free Database tools (sql server express) and also a good framework to work in (.net) the only charge is for the operating system, which is perhaps only 10% of a complete system build. they allow you any right to sell on your product at whatever price you want.

true they do not provide a store for you nor do they advertise for you (not sure what extent apple advertise for you)

but i think M$ gets a bad name from people who dont know what great free tools they supply

Yes, that's right. I don't bach M$ as we've been using some of their stuff in our development. I was reacting more on this article. The funny thing is that apple comes with an idea and now the other companies want to do the same; give developers store where they can sell/give away their soft. That's why i think that although maybe some of the practices aren't to my taste, i still believe that credit goes to apple for bringing this opportunity to customers/developers.
Quote jezmck 13th August 2009, 17:49
Quote:
Originally Posted by p3n
Swapping between apps isn't so bad, forgetting to close x app would leave you with 3/4 hours battery time too.

I think you've missed my point - I want to keep the app running otherwise it's not useful.
Quote Bonzo45 13th August 2009, 21:27
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ape
Hardly. It says more about the guys intelligence than it does about Apple.

"My collection of Mac products now includes seven iPods ($1,500), four Mac laptops ($8,000), two Airports ($500), a Time Capsule ($500), two Mac towers ($4,000), a Mac Mini ($600), two iMacs ($4,000) and all three iPhones ($1,500)" - for someone who reckons he's spent $20,000 and 6 years with Apple products to suddenly see through the marketing and hype smacks of dumb if not utter BS. If anyone on these forums spent $20,000 on hardware without knowing what they were buying into, then you can assume they are dumb as well.

I repeat - Everyone who buys Apple knows what they are getting - except this guy ... because he's a ****.

He isn't bashing the products that Apple makes, NOBODY spends $20,000 on stuff that is no good. He is just questioning the framework and their dominance in the markets, like bringing up the MP3s from Japan/China/Korea and by drawing a parallel to them and the problems M$ have been having with the EU web browser. Mac OS comes with Safari pre-installed, why shouldn't Windows come with Internet Explorer?
Quote Ape 13th August 2009, 22:53
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bonzo45
He isn't bashing the products that Apple makes, NOBODY spends $20,000 on stuff that is no good. He is just questioning the framework and their dominance in the markets, like bringing up the MP3s from Japan/China/Korea and by drawing a parallel to them and the problems M$ have been having with the EU web browser. Mac OS comes with Safari pre-installed, why shouldn't Windows come with Internet Explorer?

At the end of the day If you want an Apple to make you a Starbucks coffee, it aint gonna happen, however it will make you an Apple coffee with a hint of Apple. If that statement sounds too confusing to anyone reading it then stick to PCs. Can't stand the Apple haters, it says more about their lack of intelligence and experience in tech than it does about Apple products.

You get what you pay for with Apple. Simple.
Quote crazyceo 14th August 2009, 11:42
I can't really agree with you there Ape. You don't get what you pay for with Apple at all. The same components are a hell of alot cheaper from other brands even Sony. The only difference is the OS which some just don't like because they are so use to Windows based OS. Why should it cost more just because it's an Apple?
Quote hexx 14th August 2009, 11:50
Quote:
Originally Posted by crazyceo
I can't really agree with you there Ape. You don't get what you pay for with Apple at all. The same components are a hell of alot cheaper from other brands even Sony. The only difference is the OS which some just don't like because they are so use to Windows based OS. Why should it cost more just because it's an Apple?

everybody gets what he/she likes. i prefer macs to win/linux boxes because of mac os, simple as that.
Quote Ape 14th August 2009, 12:00
crazyceo - My point is that when someone buys an Apple, unless the buyer is a dimbwit, then they should know what it is. They should understand the terms and conditions, agreements they are entering into. Apples don't run PC software. Apple restricts certain content. We all know it, Apple buyers get it, PC owners don't.

anyone else - 2 things have really made me laugh about the Apple chat this time around. Someone complained that titties were banned on iPhone. mmmk. Wow, life threatening that one. And the second being the general concensus among Apple haters that they should be given the right to buy an Apple-whatever-product and install whatever they like on it ... erm, just buy a PC-related-freedom-product and stfu tbh. This Apple vs PC argument is older than most of the kids that are on these forums. MOVE ON and let the Apple threads exist in peace.
Quote hexx 14th August 2009, 12:25
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ape
crazyceo - My point is that when someone buys an Apple, unless the buyer is a dimbwit, then they should know what it is. They should understand the terms and conditions, agreements they are entering into. Apples don't run PC software. Apple restricts certain content. We all know it, Apple buyers get it, PC owners don't.

anyone else - 2 things have really made me laugh about the Apple chat this time around. Someone complained that titties were banned on iPhone. mmmk. Wow, life threatening that one. And the second being the general concensus among Apple haters that they should be given the right to buy an Apple-whatever-product and install whatever they like on it ... erm, just buy a PC-related-freedom-product and stfu tbh. This Apple vs PC argument is older than most of the kids that are on these forums. MOVE ON and let the Apple threads exist in peace.

fully agree :) that's why i work on mac and do 'whatever' i want on win :) and it works for me
Quote Ape 14th August 2009, 14:16
Wow hexx, I saw someone had responded and expected the usual "blahblah whine" response, but I could hug you! Some more common sense! :)

I have my win beast for PC related stuff like fast encoding and decoding and games, and an iPhone, v old iPod Nano, Mac Mini (expanded ram) for itunes, media serving, movie making, downloading over night (so quiet!). The best of both worlds.
Quote hexx 14th August 2009, 14:22
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ape
Wow hexx, I saw someone had responded and expected the usual "blahblah whine" response, but I could hug you! Some more common sense! :)

I have my win beast for PC related stuff like fast encoding and decoding and games, and an iPhone, v old iPod Nano, Mac Mini (expanded ram) for itunes, media serving, movie making, downloading over night (so quiet!). The best of both worlds.

exactly, i run hackintosh and win but will buy for xmas macbook/mbpro and win will be just for games.
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