The Internet is abuzz this weekend over a developer reporting that his iPhone application was turned down by Apple (for publishing in the iTunes App Store) because it duplicated functionality of the podcast section in iTunes. The story is complex one, but is not helped by the fact that the policies of how Apple accept or deny applications (or indeed removing them once published) is not completely clear. The Podcaster application (available for viewing and download at www.nextdayoff.com) clearly is a useful application, but questions are being raised over Apple's decision to block it. Many are speculating that the approach is anti-competitive whilst others are calling for Apple to make the publishing and development processes clearer.

One suggestion is that Apple 'OK' (in principle) the development of applications before Developers start working on them. However such an approach is complex and could lead to Apple denying apps because they are working on the same software (is the Podcast tool being denied because Apple are about to release something similar...who knows?).

• http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2008/09/12/apple-denies-iphone-podcast-app-for-duplicating-itunes
• http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/12/app-disqualified-from-app-store-because-it-duplicates-itunes-fu/
• http://speirs.org/2008/09/12/app-store-im-out/
• http://technologizer.com/2008/09/13/apple-to-iphone-developers-dont-compete-with-us/
• http://www.scripting.com/stories/2008/09/13/whyIphoneIsAnUreliablePlat.html

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/hide comments

Show/hide comment form