Apple has always been a company that stresses the details. Everything down to the tiniest pixel is highly scrutinized to perfection. That’s why it doesn’t come as a total surprise that Apple is going after developers for using the wrong type of iPhone mockup to promote third-party apps on the web.
Cupertino doesn’t like the idea of developers using white iPhones to show off their work in marketing materials. It’s a black iPhone or the highway.
TechCrunch founder Mike Arrington reports for Pando Daily:
The private written communications I’ve seen from Apple, though, are quite clear on the restriction. In verbal communications they’ve said that they’re reserving use of the white iPhone for their own marketing materials.
Apple clearly outlines the type of iOS promotional materials third-party developers can use, and the mockup examples show black iPhones only. Does that mean white iPhones are off limits?
While this type of restriction is not at all against Apple’s personality, it seems that many other developers have not run into this issue yet. Apps that have been featured in the App Store, like Path and Flipboard, still use white iPhone promotional materials on the web. It’s unclear as to whether Pando Daily’s interaction with an unnamed startup is an isolated incident. Apple reportedly approached said startup and requested that its white iPhone promotional materials be taken down from the web.
Developers, have you run into this issue with Apple?