This week in Apple App Store angst
Even rejected iPhone applications may have to remain secret under Apple's apparent new App Store policy.
(Credit: CNET)Developing an application for the iPhone continues to be a popular yet very frustrating exercise.
Almost since the first day Apple formally announced plans to bring third-party applications to the iPhone, developers have chafed at what they feel are excessive restrictions on what they are allowed to do and say within the program. At the same time, however, they are flooding Apple with their applications: blogger Russell Beattie counted 450 new applications appearing on the App Store in a week.
Feeling that those applications are just the start of a huge iPhone land grab, Beattie thinks that Apple is going to have to really step up its oversight to prevent poorly written or useless applications from drowning out the good stuff. The problem is that developers still don't know exactly how Apple's App Store approval process works, and now they might not even be allowed to talk amongst themselves about the situation.
MacRumors is reporting that Apple is now declaring that the rejection letters sent to iPhone developers are covered by the non-disclosure agreement attached to the iPhone developer program. The rejection letters have been the only way for developers to interpret the gray areas concerning what Apple doesn't want on the App Store, since the company still does not appear to be responding to individual developer questions about what is permitted, and what isn't.
John Gruber of Daring Fireball wonders if the new policy is anything other than one of those standard disclaimers that all the lawyers put in their e-mail signature files, but we shall see.
Apple did clear up one area of confusion regarding the iPhone development process this week, opening up the developer program to colleges and universities. Accredited institutions will be able to run internal development shops for free, allowing up to 200 students to learn how to develop for the iPhone.
With the academic year in full swing, some had wondered whether universities would be able to teach iPhone development under the terms of the NDA. But participants will be able to distribute applications within a private network for testing and grading, and eventually pass the best ones onto the App Store--assuming they don't violate Apple's nebulous App Store rules, that is.
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom. 
Jailbreaking once again looks more and more appealing. Now you can get apps that Apple approves of... and apps that they don't.
Even if something "duplicates functionality" isn't that one of the basic 10 principals of economics? Something about Absolute and Compatative advantage, one does one thing better, then it will be chosen by comsumers more often?
Also, there's an app out there that DOES in fact let you MMS on the iPhone (not through AppStore) but guess what, AT&T doesn't let you MMS on an iPhone plan ... seems like it's a scam by both parties here. Don't even get me going on Video and Flash support
Also, there's an app out there that DOES in fact let you MMS on the iPhone (not through AppStore) but guess what, AT&T doesn't let you MMS on an iPhone plan ... seems like it's a scam by both parties here. Don't even get me going on Video and Flash support
Sorry! Your game is very similar to a game already hosted by our APP STORE.
If APPLE had full control of the internet then there would be no competition against ID SOFTWARE.
Wolfenstien uses 3D interface..... Some future 3D game wants to be sold at APPLE.
Rejection letter. Sorry we already have a 3D game that functions like yours and does many similar things like powerups and health packs and secret walls.
Put APPLE Policy against itself then OSx would not be sold as there is already a DOS 6.22 operating system/Windows 3.11
APPLE STORE IS CHOKING COMPETITION PERIOD.
Apple = CLO$ED. Developing for Apple sounds like a money losing proposition.
Where's the Mac commercial for the guy who can't sell his app?
i hardly beliv wapple was the first computers and how come m$ kick their ass so bad that the ipod was the device to save their company? well they have this habbit of keeping pple in bondage just cause you are using their product u can not do or have wateva u want on it. guess wat i sold my nano for $30 so i can get 2months subscription after i got a zune.
"MacRumors is reporting that Apple is now declaring that the rejection letters sent to iPhone developers are covered by the non-disclosure agreement attached to the iPhone developer program."
Actually, MacRumors is reporting a rumor that "apparently" Apple is considering rejection letters to be covered under NDA. In other words, this is more of an unconfirmed speculation than an actual story.
If it's true--notice the word "if"--then it's certainly cause to be concerned, and suggests that Apple is behaving poorly, with apparent indifference to the needs of their developers.
If.
However, given how many things MacRumors has got wrong in the past, it might be a good idea to hold off on the pitchforks and torches just yet. Perhaps wait 'til someone can actually verify that this is real before calling out the lynch mobs.
NDAs have real uses for keeping company secrets, but using them to stifle freedom of speech is NOT cool. Apple should be TOTALLY ashamed of themselves to apply NDAs to the rejection letters. Apple's coolness will go away if they start behaving like storm troopers with their developers. I hope I never start seeing Steve Jobs like Heinrich Himmler when my current image of him is more like that of Einstein.
1. This has nothing to do with free speech -- this is a privately held company that can sanction official applications sold through its portals
2. NDA's have always been a part of Apple. It is the way they do business and it is no secret that they love secrets. If you don't understand that, you have been under a rock for the last 25 years.
3. I don't agree with the way Apple is going about the rejections. There needs to be published rules as to what will be and what will not be admited, with a petition process for developers. Right now there is no written clear guidelines, no indications on what is and isn't permissable, and there is very little communication on the subject to developers. This is where Apple needs to improve. Also, poorly written and poorly copied programs should be rejected.
4. Apple is trying to balance innovation with business interest protection. They do have a right to protect their stake in the ground. If you don't like it, develop and sell it on Cydia or Installer for jail-broken iPhones. There are developers there that do sell their programs so it is possible...
All this comes down to is this: growing pains. It will eventually get worked out.
The development community needs to stick it to Apple, and I think Android might give them the means to do so. Its not the magic fix-all to anything, but Apple might learn a thing or two from competition. (Then again they might not- they still don't have a right click button on their desktop/laptops. And no, the Mighty Mouse doesn't count because its junk.)
Flash doesn't run well on the iPhone, that's obvious. Maybe they reject applications for using too many resources, so their perfect image isn't tarnished. Or maybe they're purposely choking the competition to accommodate developers who pay for Apple to do so.
Either way, it's sad to see that there are still some people still hopped up on the Apple flavored koolaid, and dismissing this as acceptable behavior.
Android makes Apple irrelevant. Closed , secretive , money grubbing BhutWholes. That`s Apple.
- by fdunn3 September 25, 2008 3:37 PM PDT
- Apple and Sarah Palin have one thing in common: They don't feel it necessary to explain themselves to anybody.
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(22 Comments)Steve Jobs should run away with Sarah Palin....PLEASE! Just GO!