Comments on: Podcaster: So good, Apple won't let you have it

Despite what Apple says, it does not duplicate iTunes functionality. It does much more.

[ikramerica--2008]

While I don't condone it, Apple often takes this stand when a piece of third party software duplicates their software and adds a couple new features, usually because Apple HAS those features in Alpha or Beta and is making sure they are "Applefied" before release. I suspect this is the case. To some, it smacks of "you can't have it until we give it to you" and to others it's "when apple releases it, it'll work better." But for Apple, it prevents third parties from profiting by bringing something to market first when those third parties don't bother with things like quality control and bug testing.

I'll hold judgment until I know more.

[ckramer--2008]

I tried this to get the app and they will only make it available for download after making a donation.

Hello

We have set you up with a provision.
The final step before you can download and install Podcaster is to give a donation. Please go to http://www.nextdayoff.com and enter your email. You will be prompted to donate. After we receive you donation, we will send you the download link.

You can find FAQs, Wiki and Issues at http://code.google.com/p/nativepodcaster so please go there.
Thanks again
Alex

[ckramer--2008]

Here is a notice from the website:

MPORTANT NOTE: We are giving it away when we receive a donation of $9.99 or more. The program should work for a minimum of one year but since Apple can turn it off remotely, the 1 year installation is not guaranteed. We will do everything in our power to keep the program working. All donations are final and cannot be refunded.

[jtb74129--2008]

Buy Apple and you live by Apple's rules! Remember iPhone users...BIG BROTHER is WATCHING YOU (and he can reach out and Godsmack whenever he wants too!)

[Galaxy5]

Buy HP and you live by HPs rules! Remember HP Windows users...BIG BROTHER is WATCHING YOU (and he can reach out and Godsmack whenever he wants too!)

(My post is about as factual as yours, troll.)

[xruel]

Good thing they do not let Microsoft do this thing, reject some program to run on their system....

[amigosito]

I think you are throwing stones from a glass house considering some of the arbitrary, subjective policies that Download.com has had in past years in regards to what software they do and do not list. And I say that as a former long-time employee of Download.com with inside knowledge of those policies.

[mandrake3k]

Besides an iPhone version of Skype (ever think we'll see that?), a podcatcher that runs *on* the iPhone is something I've been waiting for since the app store opened. What a bummer.

[Galaxy5]

For the firs time ever, I'm pretty scared about Apple's heavy hand here.

A new philosophy and new management is needed at the App store. This is really ridiculous - although in keeping with the idea that the iPhone is an appliance dependent on a computer - and it makes me respect Apple less.

I'm ready to defend Apple's good ideas when they have them - and that company has more good ideas - well implemented - than most others in the valley combined. But there are also a lot of idiotic boneheads at Apple who would like to keep their own self-interest primed ahead of what's good for the company and its customers.

In other words, Apple's ranks have swelled over recent years with marketing and product management dweebs who are more than a little starstruck with themselves and the company than is healthy.

Would it be so bad to clean house a bit and go back to the heady days of 1998-2002 or so, when "Not Invented Here" wasn't a dirty phrase, but an ideal to aspire to?

[LunaticSX]

Podcaster doesn't use "the YouTube player," both Podcaster and YouTube use the same built-in media player that the iPod app uses.

"I would not be surprised to see Apple turn this app off considering that it's being distributed outside of Apple's own marketplace. I also have heard that there may be a cap on the number of copies of an app that can be distributed with this workaround."

The developer is using the "ad hoc" method of software distribution for iPhone/iPod Touch applications, which is well known to have a limit of 100 authorized devices for a particular application. For this reason, Apple is unlikely to turn this app off, since they know the distribution is very limited.

[LunaticSX]

If a developer created an application that allowed users to download, store, and play music from Real's Rhapsody or Amazon's MP3 store, would anyone here be surprised if Apple denied its release?

No, of course not.

The obvious reason would be because those apps were competing with music downloads from the iTunes Store.

A less obvious, yet still valid reason would be because they are duplicating the functionality that iTunes has in loading and synchronizing music on the device, along with storing their music data in a location separate and different from the standard music library on an iPhone or iPod Touch.

Even if they downloaded the music for FREE, there is still a strong reason why Apple would not approve of their release in the Apps Store. They don't want apps to create duplicate stores of similar data to what is already loaded and synchronized via iTunes.

In the same way, I'd expect applications that duplicated the GENERAL iTunes synchronization functionality of the address book and calendar to be denied if they're going to be storing their data in a private location (which they would have to). On the other hand, if they were not so much general address book and calendar apps, but were instead something like specialized building contractor scheduling and contact organization apps, with unique functionality that only pertains to building contractors, I could see them being approved.

I think what Apple should do now to clarify this matter is to add an additional section to the SDK agreement, if it doesn't already exist, stating something like this:

"3.3.x An application may not have as its sole purpose the duplication of substantial functionality of the data storage and synchronization capabilities provided by iTunes. This includes, but is not limited to, audio data, Videos, Address Book contacts, iCal calendars, Mail accounts, and Safari bookmarks."

Also, I REALLY want to see podcasts added to the mobile iTunes Store.

[setgo]

Article #5

[sanjayb]

I have been wanting this functionality from Apple for a long time. And now they ban this app? That really sucks! Why is Apple afraid of doing wireless synching? Hey the Zune can do it.