Apple’s new interpretation of a particular iOS 8 feature could severely cripple countless third-party apps like Dropbox and Evernote.
The new interpretation came to light after Panic, a very respected indie developer, was told to remove the ability to send files to iCloud Drive in its file transfer app Transmit. And because of the way iOS 8 is designed, the app can no longer send files to any other storage provider.
What’s worse is that Apple provided little to no explanation for why it was implementing the policy change, and there’s no telling which app will forced to comply next.
“In short, we’re told that while Transmit iOS can download content from iCloud Drive, we cannot upload content to iCloud Drive unless the content was created in the app itself,” said Panic. “Apple says this use would violate 2.23 — ‘Apps must follow the iOS Data Storage Guidelines or they will be rejected’ — but oddly that page says nothing about iCloud Drive or appropriate uses for iCloud Drive.”
Content “created in the app itself” wouldn’t even apply to an app like Transmit since it only acts as a file manager. Yet for some reason Apple made Panic pull the “Send” option, and by extension, everything in this window:
Because iCloud Drive is listed next to third-party storage providers like Dropbox, everyone suffers. It undermines the elasticity of iOS 8 that Apple harped on at WWDC. Apps are supposed to be able to send files back and forth in what’s more akin to a desktop experience.
It’s unclear if other apps will be affected, but any iOS 8 app with a file manager that can send to iCloud Drive is presumably subject to the same fate.
Apple has also been cracking down on iOS 8 widgets in a seemingly bizarre fashion. First PCalc’s calculator widget was banned and then re-allowed, and more recently apps like Drafts have been notified to restrict the functionality of their widgets.
We’ve reached out to Apple and will update if we receive a reply.
Update: Apple has reversed its stance and allowed Panic to keep the send to iCloud Drive functionality in Transmit. Version 1.1.2 is in the App Store with the feature restored.
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
13 responses to “Apple’s weird iCloud Drive rule could cripple apps”
You’d think these jackasses all watched Fox “news” and voted for republiKKKlans with such brain-damaged and complete illogic as that. Contemptible.
Apple has lots of good reasons to reject apps, this doesn’t seem like one. In the end, the ability for people to do what they want to do is going to make a platform a success or a failure. I love the integration behaviour of my Apple products, but I would prefer that I decide what that means when it is all said and done.
So, long story short, Apple needs to enable good features for its consumers, not cripple them in a misguided attempt to own it all. Microsoft tried that, it’s now failing them.
Thus icloud remains as one of the worst products apple has ever made, dangerously close to the level of failure of Maps & MobileMe
iCloud and Maps are anything but failures. But it’s the thing you sheep all like to make fun of without having ever actually used them.
iCloud drive is a joke anyway, just like the Maps issues it’s clear that Apple has no long term vision for iCloud, they’re making it up as they go.
You sheep keep dredging up those overblown Maps issues. Try actually using it; it works better than Google Maps most of the time.
Alas, this is one of the many reasons why I moved to Android. A shame because I loved my iPhone but found it simply too restrictive.
I don’t care. I’m more than happy with Dropbox. I’ve absolutely no intention of switching to iCloud Drive.
Easily one of Tranmit’s most useful features. Looks like we don’t Steve Jobs to run Apple after all – Cook is holding up the tradition of fucking over power users just fine on his own.
This is one of the reasons why I still can’t use my iPad for serious use. The apps have to be able to communicate with each other and move files around and into the cloud. If I am paying for storage then I will be dammed if I can’t use the storage the way I want and the way I need to. Apple has to make the iPad work so people can get real work done not just play games.
It appears that Apple has long forgotten the iconic video advert that offered freedom from the shackles of corporate uniformity. It would be really good if these nameless judges were called to account for their actions. Instead of fostering innovation, such actions are causing user and developer frustration alike. We all see the potential but some little anonymous bureaucrat seems intent on stifling it and the benefits it could bring. Perhaps it’s time Tim Cook took a little closer look at what is going on in his own house.
It’s quite simple really- the more Apple makes third party app iCloud integrations such as this out of bounds, the more people will drop iCloud in favor of alternative cloud storage, such as Box/Dropbox etc… most of which are cheaper than iCloud anyway.
I had big hopes for the latest iCloud, only to find out that it couldn’t handle large quantities of data and nested folders. After many calls with Apple support, I’ve subsequently dropped iCloud in favor of a third party alternative.
iOS 8.1.2 fix this?