Connect with us

Software

No widgets for you! Apple apologist’s app gets banned

Published

on

MyFrameIt seems that Australian iPhone and iPad app developer Shift Jelly now understands why so many in the tech world have serious reservations about Apple’s App Store.

Back in April, Shift Jelly posted an article defending the companies app store behaviour, “Sorry Media, But Apple Isn’t Evil.” Commenting on Apple’s approval process, Shift Jelly said at the time:

I don’t think there’s that much that is ‘murky’ about their approval process, every time our apps have been rejected it has been for a reason that is documented in either an interface guidelines document, or some other part of their documentation.

Today, that post came back to bite:

Just yesterday the company that I work for (Groundhog Software) got a phone call from Apple, telling us that our photo frame application for the iPad My Frame was to be removed from the Apple App Store. They refused to be pinned down to an exact reason, simply stating that they were doing a cull of any applications that presented widgets to the user.

To their credit, Shift Jelly left the original post up for us all to gawk at with a few added notes:

The above post represents how I felt over a month ago, I obviously agree with you now that, yes, the app store approval process is murky. At the time I didn’t.

The My Frame Application has now been removed from the App Store according to Shift Jelly. I wonder how long it will be before this developer gets hit with some sort of legal bill for even commenting on the matter.

Personally, I think that the App Store is an awesome concept. It has significantly lowered the barrier to entry for many small developers. By taking care of the marketing for software developers Apple has allowed them to reach a market that they never could have in the past.

But sometimes it seems like the Apple’s version of an App Store might be more of a lure than a blessing for developers since Apple also doesn’t seem to take any care about the damage that it does to those same developers when it sweeps through culling perfectly legitimate apps with today’s new rule.

Apple offer no recourse or compensation for a developer who finds that the many months they spent slaving over their app was all in vain. They don’t provide any suggestions on how to alter the app to suit their guidelines. For that matter, the guidelines appear to be made up on the spot. And of course there is no alternative market place or App Store for iPhone and iPads (at least of the non-jail broken variety).

According to today’s post from Shift Jelly, Steve Jobs replied to an email on the matter of My Frame:

We are not allowing apps that create their own desktops.  Sorry.

Sent from my iPad

It reminds me of the Soup Nazi episode of Seinfeld, “No soup for you! Next!”

Before you buy your Mom an iPad (cause that’s who they are intended for right?) think about the developers like Shift Jelly that were exploited to make it possible. Steve Job’s suggestion in response to our complaints about app store policy is of course is ‘if you don’t like it go buy a different phone!’ Thank you Steve, and now that there are several good alternatives coming to market I will certainly do that!

I will be seriously looking at replacing my iPhone with an Android 2.2 phone that will allow for apps to be delivered over the web, completely outside of the anyone’s monopoly app store.

7 Comments

7 Comments

  1. Fred

    06/03/2010 at 11:02 pm

    The world is still moving. Do not cry

    • Brett Gilbertson

      06/04/2010 at 3:01 am

      I find it’s best to let it out… Have a cry and move on. Bottling it up only makes it worse ;-).

  2. Antimatter

    06/04/2010 at 5:39 am

    “By taking care of the marketing for software developers Apple has allowed them to reach a market that they never could have in the past.”

    Correction: Apple has only taken care of the distribution. One upon a time, when the app store was small enough, it was possible to submit your app and people would find it quite easily. Now that it is so saturated with garbage, unless your app is in the top 100 in its category or featured on the home page, it’s likely no one will ever see it.

    So in practice, while it’s nice that there is a one stop shop for people to download and install your app, you still have to point them there via some marketing you either on the web, television, print, or other medium.

    • Brett Gilbertson

      06/04/2010 at 7:19 am

      Good point. I am finding it even harder to find variety in the iPad store… It’s not set out well at all IMO.

  3. mike

    06/04/2010 at 8:23 am

    Some of the banking widgets work on both Blackberry & iPhone. I use CIBCswitch.

    MTHIRTY has just shared a widget with you on behalf of CIBC.

  4. tal

    06/04/2010 at 8:39 am

    You are right period. It is one of the top reasons I will never buy an Apple product. I don’t care if they succeed or not – just stating my personal opinion as you have.
    Good article. Keep up the good work.

  5. Osiris

    06/05/2010 at 7:21 am

    Reading Steve’s comments, I just dont think hes really sorry. But in seriousness its a shame, MyFrame is the sort of apps I would want to hear about and see on the ipad as I hadnt heard about it till this news story and its looks awesome and makes me think time to get the wallet out? but then no…cos these apps wont be there now..

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.