A dangerous precedent: Apple's App Store

By Philip DiStefano

If you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch, it's pretty much guaranteed that you've paid a visit to Apple's App Store. Whether or not you bought anything, you've seen the structure of the store - all of the apps are in one location that's easy for users to search through. Sounds good, right?

Well, that's what Apple would have you think. Though the company is famous for pushing the industry forward, this is one example of a step taken backward. The fact of the matter is that the App Store sets a dangerous precedent for software companies. Apple has created an approval system full of hoops that developers must hope their application jump through to make it to the App Store, where it can finally be purchased and downloaded by end users.

On Apple's App Store, an application can be turned down for whatever reason Apple wants. How would you like to spend months of your time developing an application, only to be turned down at the last step because your application "duplicates functionality already available on the platform?" Apple has already turned down applications that are alternatives to their own software, such as the Safari browser.

The good side of this system is that malicious software that is meant to corrupt your device or steal your personal information or anything else of the like simply won't make it through the approval process. Under this guise, Apple has been able to get away with their shady App Store practices - cheating developers and users alike out of the best iTouch experience possible.

For those not familiar with other smartphones, yes, there are other app stores, but the app store is only one option for obtaining software. You can also visit a developer's website and download the app from there. This is the most ideal method, as it has worked for computers for years now.

It's been rumored for years that Apple is developing a tablet-like computer - most rumors from the mill paint an Apple tablet as a larger version of the iPhone or iPod Touch. What if this device of legend came out, and instead of running full-fledged OS X, it ran the crippled, mobile OS X that's on the iTouches?

If this happened and Apple succeeded, it would be another nail in the coffin for open development. Right now, other smartphone platforms such as Google's Android are using their openness as a selling point, but what will happen when more and more closed platforms start succeeding?

As a consumer, you might be wondering why this matters to you. Some talented developers are starting to boycott the App Store, including the person responsible for the popular Facebook application. Do you really want to lose talented developers from your platform of choice and have less amazing applications? Most importantly, do you really want a company telling you what software you can and can't install on a device that you paid for?

Originally Published: Issue 824 - November 18, 2009

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Oh, gawd. Where to begin? I’ll keep it short. The iPhone and iPod touch is a walled garden so that the malware common to every single other platform is eliminated. This means that yes, Apple indeed approves the application. According to Apple, they receive 8,500 new applications and updates to applications each week. The company employs a team of 40 full-time trained reviewers, and each application is independently evaluated by two separate reviewers before getting a green light. 95% of iPhone applications are approved within 14 days of being submitted. Consumers must like the iPhone as there are now more than 100,000 applications to choose from, not to mention the iPhone’s leadership position in the industry. Your ’article’ is a poor attempt at spreading FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt).

Gilbert | 2009-11-18 - 04:40:29 PM (CDT)
First?
Anyways... being a Macbook owner, I am heavily anti-iPod/iTunes. That being said, my Macbook is ten-thousand times more safe than my stupid XP laptop. I’m posting this from my HTC Hero and its great having a choice as to which browser I use. The openess of Android can be a gift and a curse. I could "download" the wrong app and end up being Rick Rolled because of shady developers. I can see where both sides are coming from. I’m torn...

SLOYAROLE | 2009-11-18 - 04:50:29 PM (CDT)
Mac OS X doesn’t have all that malware and it didn’t need a walled garden that keeps away apps that Apple doesn’t agree with (including Firefox, the browser that opened the web from IE domination).

ari-free | 2009-11-18 - 04:53:41 PM (CDT)
this is like the fox news of technology.

OMG LOOK OUT FOR APPLE! THEY ARE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE A LIVING!!

Jesus | 2009-11-18 - 04:54:08 PM (CDT)
Taking in consideration the above commentaries and your article I would feel much safer trusting my iPod touch or iphone to my online transactions that any other device available today. thanks for helping me make up my mind.

Michael | 2009-11-18 - 05:04:04 PM (CDT)
Philip (the article’s author) wrote:

> malicious software that is meant to corrupt your
> device or steal your personal information [...]
> simply won’t make it through the approval process

And Gilbert (the iPhone fanboy) wrote:

> [...] malware common to every single other platform
> is eliminated.

Obviously, neither of them has read this:

"iPhone dev: How to Steal User Info"
(http://preview.tinyurl.com/c7ovsr)

...or this:

"iPhone Game Stole User Phone Numbers"
(http://preview.tinyurl.com/yexudvr)

Whatever else is true, its clear that Apple’s ’review’
system has serious gaps in its coverage. As shown
in the ’Ars Technica’ piece, a big part of their plan
is - no kidding - to rely upon a certain amount of
good intentions on the part of developers.

’Oh, gawd’ indeed.

Meanwhile, let’s note that Android OS tells the user
which authorities are required/requested by the app,
so the user can decide if it seems reasonable. Don’t
like what the app says it wants to access? Just click
’cancel’, then go ask some questions in the Android
community.

Which is better - allowing Apple to choose for you,
in all cases and under all circumstances, or deciding
for yourself on a case-by-case basis?

Anyway, let’s all try to keep up on recent events, Ok?
Ignorant & gullible is no way to go through life, kids. ;)

Justa Notherguy | 2009-11-18 - 05:19:59 PM (CDT)
Philip DiStefano writes, "Apple has already turned down applications that are alternatives to their own software, such as the Safari browser."

I’ve been following the app-store closely, and I can’t think of a single browser that’s even been submitted to the App store. Can you name one, or are you just making stuff up?

Ploni Almoni | 2009-11-18 - 06:46:28 PM (CDT)
Oh about apple turning down other browsers go to the app store and search for oceanus it is a full screen browser with various other functions it is far better than safari. i dont like that apple has such an iron fist but i like the fact that it is screened if it wasn’t there would be a lot junk in the app store

Zephaniah | 2009-11-18 - 08:03:21 PM (CDT)
Ploni Almoni wrote:

> [...] I can’t think of a single browser that’s even been
> submitted to the App store.

You’ll find several browsers, there...something that wasn’t
true for a long, long time due to Apple dragging their feet
about it.

Fact is, Apple released something like four of the 3rd-party
browsers en masse - they had been in the queue for up to a
year. Seems the folks in Cupertino had a sudden change of
heart, following loud complaints from devs and users, alike.

That said, there’s no way you’ll ever see Firefox Mobile (AKA:
Fennec) on the iPhone, without a major downscaling-rewrite.
And its a fair bet this applies to Opera Mobile, too.

Why? because Apple’s rules disallow several functionalities
that are key to Firefox’s usefulness. The big problem is that
Apple won’t allow 3rd-party run times/code interpreters...
so, you can wave ’goodbye’ to Firefox’s native support for
Flash. And iPhone apps must be installed through their App
Store, only...a serious complication for Firefox, since much
of its appeal is based upon 3rd-party extensions & themes.

Seriously, people - try some due diligence before posting. :)

Justa Notherguy | 2009-11-18 - 09:05:13 PM (CDT)
Well. It’s not only Apple Store, but Apple’s store, and they can sell whatever they want. Even though it could be a draconian method, it protects users from crappy or malicious apps. And, for those who don’t like Apple policies, there are many other brands like BB, Motorola, Nokia, Palm, etc...

Fernando | 2009-11-18 - 10:06:16 PM (CDT)
Syed ibrahim | 2009-11-18 - 10:55:13 PM (CDT)
Over 100,000 Apps in such a short period of time. I will give Apple some slack, but I do get the point. Apple can be a bit much.

Paul | 2009-11-18 - 11:16:03 PM (CDT)
Could we just drop the phrase "draconian App Store policies?" Somebody said it once in a blog and everybody copies it without having any idea what it means. Apple’s acceptance process may be slow, It may be inconsistent. It may be obtuse. It may be rigid. It may be unfair.

But it is not draconian. That’s absurd.

Obsorne01 | 2009-11-18 - 12:19:30 AM (CDT)
With all your anecdotal analysis, the Apple Store model is not only working, it’s bringing in new customers and old.

SkateNY | 2009-11-19 - 04:02:29 AM (CDT)
You guys are all retards

Jackass | 2009-11-19 - 05:58:54 AM (CDT)
:/
Please someone tell me if i talk aberrant... it seems to me or everyone has something with Apple ? i read a article a few months ago and they were saying that in laptop industry Apple is on the last place

Alex | 2009-11-19 - 09:33:09 AM (CDT)
Is the App Store a success? Yes.

Is the iPhone/iPod Touch awesome? Yes.

Does the approval process suck for developers and consumers? Yes.

You guys are seriously throwing this out of proportion.

Some dude on the Internet | 2009-11-19 - 09:54:06 PM (CDT)
Justa Notherguy:

""iPhone dev: How to Steal User Info"
(http://preview.tinyurl.com/c7ovsr)"

Nice try, but that’s about jailbroken iPhones. You know...NOT Apple approved.

hahahahaha | 2009-11-19 - 11:31:44 PM (CDT)
Wow, you guys sure are butthurt over criticism from a Tiger Weekly article.

lolitrolu | 2009-11-19 - 12:28:07 AM (CDT)
@Obsorne01. PLEASE!, I was being sarcastic... I use the word "draconian" because some people think Apple method to select apps is more than strict.

I am convinced they have the appropriate selection process for adding new apps to the Store. Some people complain, like the blogger, just because Apple care about their business.

These people don’t realize there are thousands of Apps available, and all of them are safe and very well designed because of this "draconian" selection process.

Fernando | 2009-11-19 - 01:11:57 AM (CDT)
Phillip you are the Osama Bin Laden of Tiger Weekly, the Microsoft of Apple, the Draconian Sword of the Elder Gods, the George Bush of Adventureland, the top search results of Google News fags, the captain planet of the internet.

I like poop.

bye phillip.

Kisses!

Todd Graves of Raisin’ Canes | 2009-11-20 - 03:52:00 PM (CDT)
As long as apple is still the driver in the handheld devices market they are going to do whatever they want. Everyone should realize that apple has always restricted the capablities of the iPhone/itouch, from the hardware to the apps. And that’s BULLSHIT!!!!!!

Rob | 2009-11-21 - 07:59:31 PM (CDT)
Gimme yo dick phillip!

Let me sell it | 2009-11-21 - 01:08:32 AM (CDT)
iphone’s have terrible reviews. This just adds to the list of why I don’t by from apple, I’m fine sticking with Microsoft. So what if they are a monopoly? I can pirate their shit and run it on any thing I want on the free. Oh and music, movies, games.. on anything but mac you can get it all for free. But people still defend their ipods, iphones, imacs, etc. Hell, if I payed that much for something, and then realized I had to KEEP paying to get full use of MY PROPERTY, I would be angry too.

Tom504 | 2009-11-24 - 01:53:02 AM (CDT)
Tonight there’s gonna be a jailbreak

yeah | 2009-11-25 - 04:34:19 PM (CDT)
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answer | 2009-12-01 - 09:18:05 AM (CDT)
I said it before and I’ll say it again I rather see a company that declines the bad apps than a company like google which will let anything get through just like they do with their ads. Anyone who actually pays attention can see google uses tracking cookies that don’t expire for several years as for their ads they only care about they money they make they don’t give a damn about the ad’s contents they can have anything ranging from porn to dangerous viruses. So yes its best to moderate apps or someone might just decide they want to start creating Iphone viruses and pass them off as apps.

havoc | 2010-01-10 - 01:50:07 AM (CDT)
Something else I would like to mention when google bought out youtube they had porn being advertised on the front page(went by mommy xxx) when you went to click the video to report it the flag option was grayed out meaning they don’t want anyone flagging it.

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