A reviewer at the iTunes app store recently rejected a simple application Joel Comm had submitted due to “limited functionality.”
In this video, Comm appeals directly to Steve Jobs to make the review process more transparent and consistent:
Direct link via YouTube here.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Yeah, that’s right, we said “idiot.” Where’s the consistency, Apple?
Once again: We don’t know if Apple’s problem is: (a) the quality of the staff they’ve hired to flip the coins they use to determine app approvals; (b) if said staff is totally overwhelmed; (c) if said “staff” is really just that lone not-so-smart MobileMe launch guy whom the new, more mellow Steve didn’t have the heart to fire; or (e) all of the above, but they really ought to have worked it out by now.
Apple’s only considerations should be to make sure apps do not harm the device and/or encourage physically harming others, directly or indirectly. That’s why we immediately condemned that despicable “Baby Shaker” app and applauded Apple for nixing it. Of course, it never should have been approved in the first place, but we already knew that Apple’s app approval process had major issues long before that particular SNAFU. (And, by the way,” for those that want to bring up FPS or similarly violent games: A defenseless infant is actually different than an armed soldier. If you’re ever in an actual war, you’re supposed to fight the enemy; if you’re ever holding a real baby, you’re never, ever to shake him or her.)
This is getting extremely embarrassing for Apple, and is just completely ridiculous. Apple, get your act together!
Comm is absolutely in the right here. There is no consistency. I have a similar app on my phone that’s called Service Bell. It’s just an image of a service bell that rings (much like Comm’s app) when tapped. It has very minimal function. But it’s fun. Apple is simply wrong on this.
Apple can’t seem to win. They get critiqued for stupid apps, offensive apps, apps no one would want,and then they get critiqued for not approving crap. However, some really good or harmless stuff also gets banned, only to return the next day. yes, there are some idiots involved here- on Apple’s part, the developers, and, of course, journalists.
Signal to noise ratio, morons. Get it? Shit apps are noise, and people do not have the resources to shift through the noise. It’s that simple. Go develop shit on the “open” android. Find me an efficient mechanism in the “free market” that allows the good stuff to rise to the top when entrance costs are effectively zero. It’s computationally, from a consumer standpoint, impossible, at least very arbitrary!
make a better app.
it’s not that big of a deal.
Steve
Sent from my iPhone
He has a point… I mean… why is a “woo” button approved but not “ca-ching” button? It is a dumb app… sure… but so is woo, and the likes. What is good for the goose should be good for the gander too.
The Dude abides.
@ Zul Zorander
You are absolutely right. “It is NONE of your business if I want to put a stupid app on MY iPhone. And it is NONE of Apples business if I want to put a stupid app on MY iPhone.”
And you can if you really want to.
However, it is NONE of your business if Apple doesn’t want to put a stupid app in their store.
The real problem is that with over 100,00 apps available, it can be quite difficult to find what you want on the App Store.
If the App Store had a powerful, comprehensive Advanced Search function, this entire debate would be moot.
Why not show the ratings of every app in the search results?
Why not show total downloads/purchases of every app in the search results?
The App Store is much more difficult to navigate than it needs to be. Really!
Joel Comm is right.
They should take all those stupid apps off too.
People keep talking about crap apps.. that’s not the point of the video, it’s about consistency in the approval process for apps in general.
Comm could probably care less if the Kaching app got approved. he’s got iFart, iVote, and a new multiplayer gaming platform Gamedock coming out..
Yes, the guy’s made better apps (and a ton of money for Apple).. give him a break.
I don’t mind Apple’s approval process. It’s a privilege to have access to a high quality product such as the iPhone and a high quality service as the App Store. I expect to find such apps in the App Store. Apps that are rejected need to be brought up to the standards of Apple rather than having Apple lower theirs.
The same can be said about other things of high quality. When I eat at a fancy restaurant, I expect high quality ingredients, cooking, and service. When I buy a top performance car, I expect high quality parts, construction, and maintenance service. If I feel my “rights” or “freedoms” to lower quality products and services are being infringed, I won’t demand that I be served hamburger instead of steak or be given a Pinto instead of a Porsche.
If anyone wants a “ka-ching” app, baby shaker app, or any other rejected app, they should get a lower quality device.
Well said topshot. I agree wholeheartedly. Maybe Apple will get a clue and do as you suggest.
Dave, you are right! That is exactly what people here are missing. It is not that it is a crap app, and to me it is, but to approve one crap app and not another that is very similar sounds like the guidelines within the App Store approval process are not being followed the same by each approver.
The Dude abides.
plugging up the appstore with useless apps like this, that will use an icon on the iphone’s limited home screens, is going to ruin the appstore for everyone
nobody wants to wade through this crap to get something useful
i agree with Apple on this one
they should not have accepted the others, but they already did and maybe now they will take them down to be fair
at a certain point, there is almost no investment in developing an app
for example the “ka-ching button” shown can be made in a few minutes, literally, by any iphone programmer. no investment, no real creativity, no functionality
rejected and rightly so
the platform is not intended to just make some crap-app developers rich
how about solving some real problems and elevating the platform?
Piss on em. Glad it was rejected.
Great comments!
As far as the haters, my track record speaks for itself for anyone who cares to check it out.
The point of the video is inconsistency, not whether or not you see value to the app. To be so short-sighted and miss the point amazes me.
Joel
and by the way, if developers want to keep useless apps on their phones they can, and they can share the code base with other developers to put useless apps on their phones too, but don’t look for the app store to elevate a crap app as if it has some real value or creativity
this kind of stuff can turn the platform into a joke and make Apple look like a bunch of immature twiddlers
@Shiva
Buying a car and getting an with a contract iPhone is different. If you buy your iPhone without a contract I would guess you can do anything you want. But most of us get our phones thru AT&T;so that is more like leasing a Ford. Do you think you can swap the engine or remove the seats. Try it and you will find you have not leased it, you are now obligated to restore it or buy it.
@ Joel
The point is the app is actually crap and I could make it in 5-10 minutes start to finish, actually completely in interface buillder with no programming whatsoever
Thats not an app that should be in the appstore
If you let a market get flooded with no strainer for quality, the entire market sucks
At least your fart app has a bunch of options which makes it creative and zany
Yeah, the other apps should not have been approved and maybe now Apple should remove them. But that does not mean that your app should automatically get reviewed. That’s the point.
As far as you wanting more transparency, at a certain point Apple needs to make decisions or else it is not a good model. The AppStore needs Apple’s involvement and oversight in approving apps. That brings piece of mind to users and consistency in delivery for developers.
ithankyou for your funny video by the way, but I caution you against acting condescending to Steve Jobs, not so cool
I wasn’t condescending to Steve. I was applauding him. At the same time, I was appealing to him to bring consistency.
The point IS not whether you can create the app in a matter of minutes or not.
How many minutes should one spend for an app to not be crap?
Look at The Moron Test. The thing has been on top for months now.
How about iBeer? Glug glug glug… seriously.
We’re not all about novelty apps.
iVote has been in the store as one of the first 500 apps. It’s doing quite well and is an excellent piece of code.
Our Mobile Syndication Solutions platform is getting ready to roll out soon.
And GameDock is one of the most sophisticated pieces of app code ever developed. Hopefully Apple will approve it soon so we can share it with the world.
Yes, if Apple is going to reject KaChing button, there are 300 other buttons they need to bounce. Just be consistent!
Joel
As I’ve said a number of times… it’s Apple’s store and they every right to their own processes. It works sometimes, but not always. There are growing pains.
I’ve collaborated on projects where we got no response at all for a rejection. So, “limited functionality” isn’t not the worst feedback. How can a new developer make improvements if there’s zero guidance? That’s actually okay too, but it will drive developers away. (This may be something Apple wants, given the number of apps out now.)
I like this response to Phil Schiller’s recent comment.
“Apple Puts iPhone Developers On Hold”
http://bit.ly/5ljmqy
(Full disclosure: I’ve collaborated with this company.)
@ Joel
1. Ok, so what you want is for all the other button crap apps to be taken down because the were hastily approved in the early days of iphone and because you are jealous that your 100% crap app was not now reviewed since Apple has become more careful? Pretty mean spirited
2. I agree that your video is condescending to Steve Jobs. Seems like you think you are smarter than everyone. Poor manners bloke
3. You told us to check you background and I did. 100% self-promotional self-aggrandizing meglomaniac
You can contribute to IT or you can turn it into a mess. Its up to you.
(I thought the ifart should have been rejected period if you want my 2 pence)
It is Apple’s App Store so they can decide what they want to sell. If you don’t like it, buy a Droid or Storm or Pre.
It is really that simple.
I think many of you completely missed the point.
He isn’t saying his application is God’s gift to apps, just that it deserves to be included in the app store as much as any of those applications he cited.
I agree with him and I hope Apple does something about this approval process soon. It’s going to hurt eventually.
I agree that the other crap ones should be trashed as well. Palm, Droid and other smartphone owners are right in ridiculing the silly iPhone apps. There should be adults deciding what is there, what is going to hurt is more ifart nonsense. Joe can write his silly programs for the PSP and other children’s systems. Leave iPhone to the adults.