Apple Showing Leniency Toward iPhone Apps?
12:02 pm, December 11th, 2009, Ed Sutherland
Is Apple taking a more lenient approach to approving App Store developers? After being beaten about the head and shoulders for it penchant to toss violators, the Cupertino, Calif. has approved a number of applications that used private software references. In the latest case, Apple approved iSimulate with only a warning.
“While your application has not been rejected, it would be appropriate to resolve this issue in your next update,” Apple e-mailed developer Vimov. The problem: iSumulate uses a private API to gain access to the iPhone’s multi-touch and accelerometer features.
In two other instances, Apple approved video-streaming apps Knocking Live Video and Ustream Live Broadcaster. They too violate Apple’s rule against using private APIs but were approved. (Although we later learned Apple CEO Steve Jobs may have personally okayed Knocking Live Video, despite its earlier rejection.)
The apparent shift is only the latest move Apple has made in an effort to keep developers from jumping ship to another platform. In September, the company provided some tutorials and explained to developers how the process worked. In November, Apple introduced a way for developers with applications in the pipeline to check on the status online, rather than via email. This month, Apple added a RSS feed for developers to learn more.
[Via AppleInsider and iPhoneCentral]
Posted by Ed Sutherland in News | Comment on this article
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Any chance of Flash being available for the iPhone like the HTC Hero?
poppa, on December 11th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
with increasing pressure coming from android and all the bad publicity about apps rejection and devs leaving, it only stands to reason that apple would “lighten up” a bit.
poppa – we don’t want flash on the iphone, trust me. it would be slow and awful like it is on every other platform.
firesign3000, on December 11th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Well played, @firesign3000. Well played.
I’d probably put less emphasis on “bad publicity” and more emphasis on “maturing platform” though. I don’t think Apple gave a damn about the bad publicity: they sold millions of units even with it.
As the platform matures Apple gains a better understanding of the…edges…around approved apps and may be a bit more willing to flex them.
Either way, well played.
Darcy McGee, on December 11th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
As an iPhone developer, I think this is terrible news. We already have to guess what Apple likes from day to day in order to get accepted. Now we have the possibility to submit an app, which might be approved, despite violating the SDK agreement, but what happens when we submit an update? How many warnings do you get before they drop the ban hammer? Our competitors may decide to just roll the dice and keep using private APIs, getting away with it, while we play by the rules and are penalized.
Stating the rules clearly and enforcing them consistently is the only way to fix the app store problems.
jsd, on December 11th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I say feed the goofballs to the lions. You want to fix the app store problems then get rid of the useless buggy apps that are complete garbage. Who needs more then one fart, lighter, or flashlight app? NOT ME!!!! Burn all the chaff and provide apps of quality. Let the Zune get all the other crap.
porkchop1234, on December 11th, 2009 at 11:00 pm