Why was 'Free Memory' an App Store no-no?

The iStat app's killer feature has been killed.

(Credit: Bjango)

The version 1.1 release of developer Bjango's iStat application for the iPhone last week was marked with disappointment.

To maintain the application's availability on the App Store, Bjango had been told by Apple that it had to remove what was arguably the most compelling feature of version 1.0: Free Memory, which enabled people to clear wired and inactive memory to increase the iPhone's battery life. It also improved the device's performance.

Bjango, which focuses on developing apps for the iPhone, felt that it had no other choice but to create a new version sans the Free Memory feature. iStat 1.1, $1.99, offers only iPhone monitoring. Among other things, users can see battery life calculations and how much memory and disk space remains.

"Apple would not say why we needed to remove the 'Free Memory' feature," Tori Gale, support manager at Bjango, wrote in an e-mail. "(Apple) simply demanded that it was removed, or (it) would delete (version 1.0 of) the app from the store...Nothing iStat did violated the terms of the developer contract, as far as we know, and Apple didn't say that it did."

When pressed for more insight over Apple's ultimatum, Gale had, much to her chagrin, little to say. "Apple really hasn't given us any information," she said. "We simply don't have much we can say."

Apple did not respond to requests for clarification as to why it demanded that Free Memory be removed from the app. At this point, I'm just as much in the dark about how iStat's Free Memory feature might have violated App Store policy as Bjango says it is.

This is far from the first time Apple has kept developers and the media at arm's length over an App Store rejection that has caused some head-scratching. More recently, Monday's publicized approval of an iPhone game from a controversial franchise--Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, which follows the rejection of an official "South Park" app over "objectionable" content from the show--has people wondering whether the company even has a standard playbook for app approvals.

For its part, Bjango said it has "enjoyed creating iPhone applications, but we are disturbed at some of the recent decisions by Apple, both in this case and in cases with other developers," Gale wrote. "The dictatorship of the App Store is limiting the creativity of developers and is resulting in users missing out on software that has been allowed on other, more open platforms."

Gale's comments echo gripes other developers and application backers have had over Apple's App Store policies. Among many others, Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor expressed disgust when his band's app was originally rejected for objectionable content. "Apple rejects the NIN iPhone update because it contains objectionable content," he tweeted to his followers. "Not even sure where to start with that one."

That sentiment of frustration and bewilderment is growing in the iPhone developer community. A recent demand from the Federal Communications Commission has forced Apple to shed a bit of light on its app approval policies, but much more light could stand to be shed on it. In its current state, the apparent inconsistencies and outstanding questions appear to be hurting all parties involved--including Apple.

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[cvaldes1831]

Apple is rapidly depleting its goodwill with its iPhone developers. They must realize that when the ship starts sinking, the best and brightest are the FIRST to leave, the ones who have the foresight, clarity, and opportunity.

[Perry_Clease]

Yes, because like 93% of the apps are being rejected.

[rapier1]

It doesn't matter how many apps are being approved or rejected. An inconsistent policy makes it development more of a gamble than it needs to be and this will, and has had, the effect of making it a less attractive platform to develop for than it might otherwise be. Even a somewhat draconian yet consistent policy would be more welcome than the black box the approval process has become.

[cvaldes1831]

No, it's because the developers who are complaining are actually very competent and writing some very innovative programs. They're the ones getting shafted, not the fart app script kiddies.

[Stormspace]

I agree completely. I had thought to look into app development as a hobby just to see where I could take it, but Apples policies seem a little too nebulous. There's no guarantee that if I did create something cool that it would be approved and instead be denied for an unstated reason. This whole process seems to have created a chilling effect on iPhone development, at least from where I sit.

[sismoc]

Apple has become the "Evil Empire". All that the Apple logo once stood for (freedom, choice, innovation) has vanished into the black vortex of Steve Jobs' thirst for absolute control.<br /><br />I now despise Apple and all it has become.

[SIGHUP]

?Apple logo once stood for (freedom, choice, innovation)? <br /> <br />Ok, I can see how people might mistake Apple for being innovative. But when has Apple ever been mistaken for Freedom and choice?

[cgallaway]

to sighup....ever since the 1984 "Big Brother" ad add all the fanfare it received years later did Apple stand for freedom, choice and innovation.

[moil4gold49]

Only in the context of "another choice instead of Wintel" has Apple ever represented freedom of choice. They provide easy-to-use products with good UX largely because they control them end-to-end. That has its ups and downs. <br /> <br />But the mass market cares more about good UX than whether 2% of apps get rejected in the developer program. Ask your aunt with an iPhone if she even knows what a developer program is. She won't care. She likes her iPhone, she may even use the App Store, and she is probably amazed at the breadth of content there. She does not miss the apps that she is unaware ever existed. The market has spoken- they don't care about this issue and never will. If anyone wants change, developers need to leave en masse or in an organized protest. It's possible, but I doubt it will be sudden. Eventually, in the long term, more open solutions tend to win.

[joetesta70]

Another example of $teve Job$ deciding what you get to read, do and see. <br /> <br />Do you think he'll be any better as a Chinese government shill? Doubtful. <br /> <br />Watch him wither, watch him shrink... <br />nothing for the world, all for himself... <br />Makes you think. Different.

[ckh1272]

Seriously dude, you really a re-boot in life. Your last dozen posts makes it seem like your stuck in a loop (mental BSOD perhaps). Old and tiring are you.

[Dalkorian]

Be nice ckh1272, do you know how long it took him to knock that song into his little troll brain?

[mweingar]

Another ridiculous decision by Apple.<br /><br />Apple needs to be careful, fanaticism goes both ways. At what point do the leagues of Apple fans reach the breaking point on these hard line tactics and boycott? <br /><br />As for me, it's just about time to make a statement.<br /><br />Ease up Apple. You gather a significant percentage of your faithful's income. It would be a shame to lose that over something as meaningless as this.

[Stormspace]

Here's the deal. In the past all Apple had were fanboys since they made certain that the products and services they created were priced high to maximize profits. So called premium products. Apple didn't care if they only had 5% market share, that's all they wanted since it made them good money and kept their loyal following. <br /><br />So they blunder along with failures like the Newton, Apple Pippin, Apple Lisa, and AppleTV, and while all but the last are dead and buried Apple hit upon the idea of a music player. They get some momentum behind it as they drag along on the coattails of the Diamond Rio, but use the Reality Distortion field of Jobs and get themselves a hit. Not just a fanboy hit, but an honest to God screaming hit heard all the way to the moon. They liked the money coming in and the notoriety patted Jobs ego as well. So Jobs and co decided to do a phone. <br /><br />The music player while it wasn't a total fanboy item didn't really find itself in the hands of average americans. It was a gadget that kids played with. The phone on the other hand introduced an element that anyone could relate too, plus it had free WiFi and a web browser. That hit that was the iPod was forgotten as people from all over clamored for this new device while Apple struggled to maintain control of this runaway hit. In the process however Apple has exposed their business practices to the light of day. <br /><br />Sure that small loyal group from before might have buckled under muttering comments like "it's for our own good it's done that way" or "That's the way it should be done to make it work." The rank and file however is used to doing business with consumer friendly companies however, ones that believe the customer is always right (Sony excepted) and are now complaining about Apple and it's monopolistic practices. So while Apple hasn't changed the general person's opinion of Apple has and I think the app store is the rallying point people are focusing upon.

[kojacked]

+1 Stormspace. I couldn't agree with you more.

[Soul of Wit]

Stormspace sez: '...The music player while it wasn't a total fanboy item didn't really find itself in the hands of average americans. It was a gadget that kids played with. The phone on the other hand introduced an element that anyone could relate too, plus it had free WiFi and a web browser. That hit that was the iPod was forgotten as people from all over clamored for this new device while Apple struggled to maintain control of this runaway hit. In the process however Apple has exposed their business practices to the light of day..."<br /><br />The iPod is a huge commercial success. It is not in any way a fanboi item. It IS in the hands of average Americans (and quite a few other nationalities, too.) Kids gadget? That's absurd.<br /><br />Anyone can relate to a phone with an expensive unlimited data plan &#38; locked into a single carrier? Um, no, not at all. The iPod has been forgotten? Again, not even close.<br /><br />Here's a clue: The average American couldn't care less about the app store. The average iPhone/iTouch user couldn't care less about Apples's policies regarding the app store. That's reality.

[rsrupert1972]

Here's a clue: The average American couldn't care less about the app store. The average iPhone/iTouch user couldn't care less about Apples's policies regarding the app store. That's reality. &lt;--- So not true. Everyone I know who has a iPhone or iPod Touch says the same thing: Not a bad product, but where's the apps I would like to have? Several of my friends and I wanted to develop a few apps for the iPhone. We've dedcided the chances of us getting screwed is too hi.

[WiiTodd]

One of the many reasons I am ditching this phone for an Android phone soon.

[georgeh2k]

There's an app that's been rejected for that.

[aharigast]

i wish some other company could come out with something better than or at least as good as the iphone/ipod touch. its so unapple to censor like this. alien mind control?

[baggyguy1218]

I think the Kidney Steve got came out of a young Republican.

[svk1069]

Apple probably rejected it because these apps that claim to "free memory" are almost always rip-offs. I have yet to see a "free memory" app that actually is worth the money.

[mgook]

So you wouldn't think twice if MS decided a software was a ripoff and blocked on Windows? The deluded always find ways justify anything.

[S!egfried]

I agree. I love to lay into Apple, but in this case I agree with them. Memory freeing programs are a con; just leave the memory management to the system.....

[perfectblue97]

Maybe there is something lurking in memory that Apple isn't telling us about? Something unlisted and unviewable that does something important for Apple but which gets swept up along with the garbage. If there is such a hidden item my money is it on being some form of log or cache recording what the user has been doing with their iPhone that Apple. We already know that iPhones record some user actions including screen shots in a cache file. Maybe there's more here.

[1812dave]

I've known forever (anyone with half a brain also knows) that Jobs is a freakin' control freak. This sort of story will be repeated as long as Jobs is around. Despite Apple's products, I have nothing but contempt for the company itself. (and where the hell is the update to 3.0 which has ruined many a users Touch?)

[PeteyBrian]

Just another reason to Jailbreak your iPhone.

[techman21]

Apple has become the big brother figure from its 1984 commerical - but instead of drab grey everything is dressed in bright white.

[Chao_Sama]

@ WiiTodd <br /> <br />I couldn't agree more it feel's that apple has me on an leash lollll

[couldnotunregister-22215846927]

I had always thought that reporting was about answering questions.<br />"Nobody knows" is not a story.

[rapier1]

No, reporting is about imparting information. They've done that here even though they haven't been able to explain the reasoning behind Apple's actions.

[JoelBrown]

"Nobody can understand why and the monopolist won't explain themselves" is a story. Or at least it was the first dozen time we heard this same thing about Apple.

[AJBopp]

No, reporting is about disseminating the truth. What's reported here is certainly a story.

[KeithFail]

I agree. The title is the problem. It felt like a bate and switch to get me to read that article. Should have been titled Apple Store Rejects another good app. Which would have given me everything I needed to know without leading me on a disappointing goose chase. There is a reason why good journalism used the inverted pyramid format. But who ever said this was good journalism.

[webbiscuit]

I think it is time for the developers to revolt against Apple. Here's what I suggest: <br /><br />Every small/independent developer band together and insert the same objectionable content in every one of their applications (memory manager, dictionary with slang words, GV plug-in and any other content that Apple has ambiguously rejected recently). Add a new menu item on the main menu for each application called "David Versus Goliath" that links to this standard library. If enough developers participate, Apple either shuts down the app store OR commits to a new policy of standardization and fairness when reviewing applications.

[rbienstock]

There's a simpler solution, if the developers were willing to take the business risk: simply boycott the App Store by pulling your app(s) in protest until the store policies change.

[cgallaway]

or Apple will reject them like they currently do, no changing policy, no consistency.

[Andronicus]

Like the MS guys said, "You can have it your way with Windows, or Steve's way with Apple". My Windows Mobile phone has an app for everything I have ever seen in the iPhone commercials, and they are free. Yah, I like it my way!

[Phoenix_Knight005]

With Windows, you're still somewhat limited by the OS, but not nearly as much as OS X. Linux lets you truly have it your way: lots of different programs to choose from, tons and tons of customization, especially to the GUI, and the option to modify any code you want. Of course, this comes at the cost of sometimes having too many options, the overall difficulty of setting it up and using it, and program compatibility issues.

[biznatch11]

And people complain Microsoft has a monopoly. When's the last time they banned a program from Windows? Never. All the people who are having their apps banned should set up their own website and let people get the banned apps from there and pay with paypal or something, or is the App Store the *only* way to get something on an iPhone? On my BlackBerry I can get apps from anywhere, any website.

[James7777777]

The app store is the only way to install software.

[SydneyCanada]

The app store isn't the only way to get something on an iPhone. Just jailbreak your iPhone. In my opinion they should put the full app on cydia and sell it.

[cgallaway]

I suppose they can go to the Palm Pre or Blackberry and make commercials similar to Apples.....These apps were rejected by Apple...but work on a Blackberry.

[Dust_Puppy]

Paging Phil Schiller :D :D :D

[patel5]

More BS from crapple

[gggg sssss]

they dont want to admit there even is a battery problem to be fixed

[cowhide--2008]

Thats right 01Phyxius there are all most no other players in the smart phone field. Apple invented the smart phone and even the cell phone itself. It is a total monopoly. Apple should be shut down and divided like Ma Bell. That will teach them. Is this ironic or sardonic i can never get those two straight.

[DaveInSDCA]

If Microsoft was behaving this way, the Justice Department would have Ballmer and Gates in virtual handcuff's by 3:00 p.m.<br /><br />Amazing how companies like Apple change their priorities when the shoe is on the other foot. Now that they have a popular and profitable platform, all that control for which they use to vilify MS for is perfectly acceptable.<br /><br />They're a bunch of stark raving hypocrites.

[01Phyxius]

Bingo. Somebody give this man a cookie.

[msalsbury]

I agree with you, but the typical Apple fan response will be to remind you that when the DoJ went after Microsoft, Windows had more than 90% of the desktop OS market share (giving it monopoly-like power). The iPhone, in spite of the hype it gets, represents a relatively small share of the cell phone market. It's not (yet) a monopoly, and its actions (the fans say) are only necessary to protect its market share and provide users with a "good experience". That argument holds water so long as Apple doesn't rise to the dominant position in the market. If that happens, its behavior will have a very close resemblance to the stuff Microsoft got in trouble for. In fact, it might even arguably be much worse. <br /> <br />A perfect example is the iPhone browser. You get Safari by default. (Just like Microsoft shipped IE by default with Windows.) If you want a third-party browser on the iPhone, that browser has to be vetted by the App Store folks. (Microsoft didn't vet third-party browsers for Windows.) One of the criteria they check against is that your browser has to use the WebKit framework Safari uses. (Microsoft didn't care what your browser used.) That means no Internet Explorer, no Firefox, or any other alternative browser that doesn't use WebKit. Thus your browser at best is going to be a variant or cousin of Safari, which Apple controls through its control of the built-in version of WebKit (i.e., your third-party browser won't be allowed to download MP3s to play on the phone). <br /> <br />If Microsoft had tried (back in the day, or today) to say you couldn't use any browser that wasn't based on Internet Explorer in Windows, the DoJ would have smacked it down hard. Apple gets a pass because the iPhone isn't 90% of the cell phone market. Should it ever get to that point, one would hope the DoJ will look upon Apple's practices (assuming they continue, which is likely) much as they once did on Microsoft's. The iPhone is a far more locked-down, anti-competitive platform than Windows ever was. You have to use Apple's iPhone hardware, on the network they have an exclusive deal with, sync it with their supplied software, using only Apps purchased through their exclusive store, and only with App content they decide isn't "objectionable" for you. Steve Ballmer would be burned at the stake (probably literally) for trying to exert that kind of control on the Windows ecosystem.