There's no denying the App Store's success. With over 100,000 apps (some of which are actually rather good), there's plenty of choice, and the store's easy to use.
However, Apple's gatekeeper approach, requiring all apps - and even updates to approved apps - to be reviewed manually, can cause headaches.
At best, the process means critical bug-fix updates may take a week or more to reach the store. At worst, an app ends up in limbo, unavailable to the public while a developer tries to convince Apple their app's not doing anything wrong.
Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice-president for worldwide product marketing, recently defended the review and approval process during a rare interview for BusinessWeek, and he claims the vast majority of App Store rejections are down to technical problems, rights infringements, and improper API usage.
However, since the App Store's launch in July 2008, Apple's also made outrageous, strange and flat-out bizarre decisions. Here are some of our favourites.
1. 0870
Simon Maddox's app automatically converts 0870 numbers into landline equivalents, leading to cheaper mobile calls. Although currently on the App Store, it was initially rejected, Apple claiming it "circumvent[ed] carrier features and policies".
2. Bobble Rep - 111th Congress Edition
Apple found to its cost that making a MAD artist mad is a mad thing to do. On rejecting the Tom Richmond-illustrated congressional representative bobble-head app, for the usual 'blah blah blah, objectionable, blah, offensive' reasons, a storm of protest rained on Apple's parade. Apple swiftly changed its tune.
3. Chess Wars
After sitting in the review queue for six weeks, an update to this chess app was rejected. Actually, what really happened was nothing at all, and after six weeks the dev ranted online, got some press, and caused Apple to wake up and contact him. And, no, Chess Wars didn't include naked chess piece orgies with machine-gun bloodbaths - its crime was chat bubbles too much like those in Apple's SMS app. Apple's advice: make them "less shiny". We're not kidding.
4. Convertbot
You'd think a unit conversion utility wouldn't fall foul of an App Store review, especially if several previous versions had made it to the store unscathed - but you'd be wrong. An eagle-eyed reviewer deemed the Convertbot Time icon too similar to the Recents icon in Apple's Phone app, and claimed users would get confused. We agree: after all, we often use unit-conversion apps to try and access our recent calls list. The app eventually returned and there was much rejoicing.
5. C64
Manomio's C64 emulates a Commodore 64 home computer from the 1980s. After several slightly dubious rejections due to Apple considering emulators against App Store policy, citing a clause in the SDK agreement that states apps may not "launch other executable code by any means," compromises eventually led to C64's acceptance. It was swiftly booted when Apple discovered you could access C64 BASIC via a workaround and, presumably, use it to hack into the Pentagon. An update is now online and BASICless.
6. Drivetrain
As everyone knows, BitTorrent is the most evil thing, ever. Or so Apple must have decided when it rejected Drivetrain, even though the app's merely a remote for BitTorrent client Transmission. Apple specifically reasoned: "This category of applications is often used for the purpose of infringing third party rights," and so it's a good job all Macs don't come with built-in DVDRs that can be used to, say, infringe third party rights.
7. Eucalyptus
A harmless eReader that can only access the text from out-of-print titles on Project Gutenberg. Surely that would be safe from the reviews process? Nope. Someone found Eucalyptus could access the text from Kama Sutra, presumably went round screaming "THINK OF THE CHILDREN!", ignored the fact the text was accessible in dozens of other apps, including Safari, and smacked Eucalyptus with the reject-o-hammer. The app was eventually approved, but only with a ridiculous 17+ rating.
8. I Am Poor
A parody of $999.99 app I Am Rich, Catamount Software's I Am Poor took a staggering 11 months to be approved. Apple's argument centred around the app not providing user-accessible functionality, and in no way had anything to do with Apple not wanting further press regarding its iffy decision to remove I Am Rich from the App Store.
9. Macworld's iPhone and iPod Touch Superguide
When IDG created a digital app for their iPhone and iPod touch guide, little did they know Apple would say no to the app - for having 'iPhone' in its title, despite it, you know, being about the iPhone.
10. Murderdrome
Reportedly the first digital book to be banned by Apple, Murderdrome was in fact a future-sports comic that wouldn't have looked out of place in 2000 AD. Although all Apple apps can now have ratings, Murderdrome remains absent from the App Store.
Your comments (19) Click to add a new comment
lost_scotsman
February 24th 2010
19. Why can't we all get along?
The computing world needs Apple - they make good quality, good looking products, which helps drives competition as other manufacturers strive for that must have look so many Apple gadgets have. I however don't own a single Apple device. I have Windows at work, I have Windows 7 at home and find that it does all the things I need it to do - pure and simple. While I respect Apple and the things they make, I get angry at the perception that they are some kind of wonder company, where everything is friendly and cool and happy-clappy. They are a business, just like Microsoft and any other computer manufacturer, where profits are the driving force, not the customer.
Oh and as for a.n.other, how can you berate someone because of their pay? Do you go round mocking homeless people and updating your funny rants on your iphone - you are an absolute cretin!
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lovlid
December 2nd 2009
18. And he's back. No imagination what so ever.
A question for the Apple community. Is jimsmith/benbrown/*****mith representative of ANY of you at all?
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nicolasmerritt
December 2nd 2009
17. Benbrown/jimsmith,
Despite earlier warnings, your persistent insults and tediously juvenile postings have continued. So you're banned. Goodbye.
Nick
Editor in Chief
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mrvatican
December 1st 2009
16. Man, I can smell the butthurt from the Apple die-hards. If you know what you're doing, get Linux. If you want to run a variety of software, games, and develop on a proper business platform, go with Windows.
Either of these OS's will run on a variety of hardware.
If, however, you have a superiority complex, and have more fashion sense than common sense, by all means go with Apple. Enjoy paying over a grand for a computer just to edit pictures and type reports on. The rest of us are laughing.
lol @ all you hardcore Apple fanboys. You guys never change.
And congrats tech89. In a recession, £15 is pretty good for a student job these days. The rest are just jealous you're actually doing something worthwhile with your life while they post elitist comments on funny techradar articles.
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craiggrannell
December 1st 2009
15. I think I'm going to recommend the TR eds automate all future comments threads for iPhone/iPod touch-related stuff, possibly using C64 BASIC.
1 PRINT "APPLE RUBBISH AND COSTS TOO MUCH. MAC OWNERS ARE LAMER IDIOTS"
2 PRINT "NO, YOU'RE THE IDIOT!"
3 PRINT "NUH-UH, *YOU'RE* THE IDIOT!"
4 GOTO 2
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lovlid
November 30th 2009
14. Wow, how mature are the fanboys?
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tech89
November 30th 2009
13. I'm studying something perfectly relevant to my interests. Anyways making £15,000 a year as a trainee Quantity Surveyor whilst studying QS and Commercial Management is perfect for me. And I'm only 20 years old. Not to be wasted on apple macs and macbooks.
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benbrown
November 30th 2009
12. "A dell studio 1535 laptop,"
Hahahahaha you WIndows moron. That explains everything. You clearly prefer subjecting yourself to hideously **** products and then bleating about how much cheaper it is than good kit that actually works.
If you're spending your time looking at all my posts you need to get a life. Study something relevant.
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bigj
November 30th 2009
11. well done Benbrown, your internet has increased by ten. I missed you.
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tech89
November 30th 2009
10. @benbrown
Also, a look at your profile shows you've commented on only articles with references to apple and its products, which suggests you are an apple suck up and are deliberately ticking people off!
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tech89
November 30th 2009
9. @benbrown
Of course i'm dirt poor! I'm a student living off student loans for excessive fees and living costs, you idiot!
I just spend my money sensibly e.g. A dell studio 1535 laptop, 4gb ram, core 2 duo, 256mb graphics, 250gb hard drive - for £700. Want to know how much it would cost an apple laptop?
Well it costs in the region of £1149 - give or take 100 pounds. I may not be stinking rich but I know where to put my money.
Panasonic TZ6 camera £299. Again expensive but quality product that does the job perfectly.
samsung e720 £124, pricey at the time, but still works fine after 5 years (longer than some iphones and ipods i hear).
Printer £45, canon, no troubles.
Apple ipod nano, £146. Expensive, yes, new model, yes, happy with it yes, then apple less than 9 months later brings out another model and under cuts the previous one by £45. Happy with apple - not at all!
I'm guessing your the iphone, apple suck up type, flash goods etc?
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benbrown
November 30th 2009
8. tech89
You clearly need to stop being a total pauper then and get a decent job. You can't afford anything - you're dirt poor.
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tech89
November 30th 2009
7. I like apple and love its products, its just a shame they come with a very heavy price tag.
An ipod is the limit i go with apple.
iphone, contracts are way too pricey.
itouch, too pricey.
mac, too pricey for what you get.
macbook, ripoff.
@benbrown
To denounce everyone who isn't an apple lover is stupid. Grow up!
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lovlid
November 30th 2009
6. @ benbrown.
Hey, your back. How many times have you changed your name now, after getting kicked off site?.
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benbrown
November 29th 2009
5. No it wasn't aimed at you, you complete idiot. You evidently think a lot of yourself.
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craiggrannell
November 28th 2009
4. @forumcat: This article was a hopefully entertaining look at the most bizarre decisions Apple's made in terms of the App Store; however, over a week (and considerably longer in many cases) for approval of critical bug fixes to software isn't acceptable in this day and age. Apple needs to throw more money at the App Store review process, or it'll end up with apps being buggy by default because devs can't update them quickly enough.
@benbrown: Assuming your lovely and reasoned comment was aimed at me, I think I just heard the irony awooga alarm. After all, I first read earlier today on my iPhone your comment about my article, which I wrote on my iMac. Clearly, I am an Apple-hating, Windows-loving, self-hating moron!
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mrvatican
November 28th 2009
3. Apple's products are overpriced and its customers are fools who have no idea how much they're being fleeced.
No wonder they're "making money" in a recession.
The guy below me sounds angry. Perhaps that's the only way he can justify his love for Crapple?
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benbrown
November 27th 2009
2. Bitter idiots are always looking for tiny little reasons to hate Apple. Could it be that they're ever so slightly jealous of a company that's making great products and massive profits - in a recession - despite what Johnny WindowsLover thinks?
No, that couldn't possibly be true!
All the haters can go fornicate themselves with an iron stick. Keep using Windows mobile you braindead self-hating morons!
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forumcat
November 27th 2009
1. It seems that 95% of apps are accepted within 14 days. This seems not too bad compared to brick and mortar stores. If I wanted to get a product of mine into a Tesco store I would be lucky to get such odds.
Sure there are some curious decisions but this is bound to happen when human beings are involved in checking out over 200,000 apps and updates.
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