Another useful tool banned from the iPhone App Store

Apple is doing a good job of driving developers to circumvent the official App Store and users to jailbreak their iPhones. The company has rejected another useful application, Angelo DiNardi's MailWrangler, because it "duplicates the functionality of the built-in iPhone application Mail."

In a post to his blog, DiNardi says his application, which allows users to add and access multiple Gmail accounts, "simply directly loading and showing Gmail inside of an application," adding "How you can confuse Gmail with Mail.app I'm not sure."

MailWrangler also lets users see threaded views and Google contacts, archive (quickly), star messages and get more functionality missing from Apple's Mail.app.

Apple previously rejected Podcaster--an iPhone application that lets people download podcasts directly to their devices without going through iTunes--from the App Store. It also removed NetShare, an application that allows the iPhone to be tethered (used as a wireless modem), encouraging some users to jailbreak (enable unofficial application installation) their phones and install the easy-to-use iPhoneModem tethering tool.

DiNardi quips: "I guess I should just write another flashlight or glowstick application to actually get published. That's the only apps Apple seems to want in the store."

Originally posted on iPhone Atlas.

[joetesta70]

This is why I'm getting Andriod - the death of the iPhone is near. Can't wait until Sept 23!

Google = OPEN
Crapple = CLO$ED and buggy 3g. tHANKS $TEVE jOB$

[hextrine]

...was thinking of going BlackBerry Storm myself...

[egodraconis]

The way Apple is over-regulating which apps can and cannot be sold/added to iPhones, it has now crossed the line into illegal behavior and most definitely a monopoly. Look for multi-million dollar lawsuits to come forward from customers and the European Union -- since the US government no longer enforces its own laws.

[blkking606]

@joetesta70 you need a reality check if you think that steming pile of poo thats dropping on the 23rd is gonna do anything to apple dont belive me ? well they have this new fangled thing called the internet that you can use to read all about it lol android maybe other versions will be somthing to speak of but not this one

[Darth Monkey]

Okay, I ignored the whole Podcaster fiasco, but to ban an email client is just absurd. That's like Microsoft banning Mozilla Thunderbird, or even Opera, because it serves the same purpose as Outlook Express or Windows Mail. Or banning weather forecast Gadgets because their own Weather Gadget already does it.

In my eyes, Mail apps are the ones that need to be the most diverse, because everyone has a different way they like to interface with their messages. To lock users down to the Apple-branded version, and to not grant them any freedom, is simply abysmal service to the customer.

App development for the iPhone should be regulated, but only for quality. Just these few issues have garnered bad press only among those who actively read blogs, but haven't really reached out to the rest of the market. Apple's market share is safe, for now, but if this continues, Google's Android may become the next "Anti-iPhone".

[ObeliskMark]

Another "CNET Tabloid" post designed to bubble to the top of Google News, and it works every time. This article and most of the comments that follow are not in perspective at all.

Refusing a few apps because they duplicate built-in functionality (which might potentially confuse and complicate the use the phone -- for example, they might have one nice features but be unable to duplicate built-in features such as the true multi-tasking of the built-in apps) are reasons we can all understand a little. And the few refusals are not "driving developers away."

What's really the problem here is sensationalist writing and all the emotional children who react to it and put their poor critical thinking skills on display.

[m4dgfxk1d]

@blkking606
Perhaps you should take your own advice. There is basically nothing but praise and high hopes for Android floating around the internet. Where is all this information about Android being a "steming" pile? As a matter of fact, I have only seen negative opinions about Android on Apple fanboy sites so I'm sure thats where you got it. While you're doing some reading, please stop by www.dailygrammar.com and take some notes.

[kevsmail]

Wow, it only took 5 posts before someone raised their hand to defend Apple and their Big Brother control scheme as protecting the consumer (protect us Daddy Jobs!).

Apple is shooting themselves in the foot if they keep stealing ideas from creative independent developers, come out with a copycat app, and then ban the original app saying it duplicates functionality. I doubt the fanboys will revolt though, the mindmelt is too strong and the Kool Aid tastes too good.