Should Apple Skip the App Approval Process?

Sebastien, Nov 20, 2009

Since the birth of the App Store, there has been some very confusing app approvals. Apple approved applications that shouldn’t be approved (ie. Baby Shaker) but didn’t let other “non-threatening” apps make it through its walled garden.

This random app approval process can be very frustrating, especially for developers who might spend considerable amounts of time developing an application and risk to see it denied.

But what can a developer do against the almighty Apple dictator? Unfortunately, there is not much you can do. Apple clearly doesn’t care about independent developers who have actually made the App Store the success it is today.

The good news is that some well-known developers have started to raise their voices and say out loud what they think. That’s the case of Joe Hewitt, the lead developer of the Facebook application for iPhone. In a tweet sent out last week, Hewitt announced he quit developing for the iPhone. TechCrunch got him to tell more about his decision:

My decision to stop iPhone development has had everything to do with Apple’s policies. I respect their right to manage their platform however they want, however I am philosophically opposed to the existence of their review process. I am very concerned that they are setting a horrible precedent for other software platforms, and soon gatekeepers will start infesting the lives of every software developer.

Take that Apple! When the developer of the most popular application basically tells you how much you suck, it kinda hurts.

In an article on JAiB (which inspired this article of mine), my fellow iPhone blogger PatrickJ gives his opinion:

Apple could restrict their review process to solely looking at the “soundness of the code” [...] does the code risk crashing other apps / hanging up the OS? Does it compromise security? Not venturing into any of the grey areas beyond that.

I think Patrick is spot on. Yes Apple should check the apps and make sure they are properly working without compromising any of the iPhone features or security. Beyond that, Apple shouldn’t tell me what’s best or not for me.

Enough about what I think. What do you think? Do you think Apple should continue the same way? Should it scrap the app review process? I really look forward to read your thoughts.

 
  • K H

    I’m a developer and have had one app rejected from the app store. I currently have 22 apps in there right now and more on the way. The one that was rejected is the only app that I had intended to put on there as a free app. They claimed it was rejected because it was in direct competition with the native Safari web browser. There are now dozens of other apps that do the EXACT same thing as mine did and I can’t get an answer why mine was rejected and the others were accepted. My app had the same and more features as the approved apps. So in that aspect I don’t see how the review process can be anything but spotty and selective.

  • http://blog.alltechrelated.com/ Matti

    As Kevin Rose suggested, I think Apple should simply basically every app into the AppStore and developers can pay a little extra to have the app ‘Certified by Apple’ much like software for computers.

  • tester13

    Agreed.. I HATE closed platforms. They already made enough damn money with the hardware and the ridiculous fees from ATT, the least they could do is quit leaving devlopers (and customers) out in the cold. As long as it doesn’t violate the integrity of the phone, they shouldn’t care.

    Of course though, this is apple people. If there is one company who wants to maintain an image of control and of being the technology of the ‘elite’ (aka rich retard who doesn’t know any better), this is it.

  • iPhone 3GS

    It’s a tight line…

    Control too much and people get upset about the lack of content available.

    Control too little and people get upset about the kind of content available.

    I do feel like the whole thing has gotten out-of-hand and Apple needs to take a few steps back and rethink their strategy. The App Approval Process, in it’s current form, will be the downfall of the iPhone (unless AT&Ts exclusivity beats them to it lol).

    Unfortunately for us, it is their ecosystem and they have the final say in how they decide to run it. Your best voice is to not buy and support their products or services until you are happy with what they have to offer.

  • ahmed

    totally agree they should only check for my security and crashes and leave judjment to us users

  • http://www.theappshow.com Steve Bostedor

    If you’re a fan of our show, it’s pretty clear where I stand on this subject. For the rest of the 99.9999% of the population, I’ll say it here … I think that the approval process will be broken as long as Apple is in charge of it. I understand their need to keep the device safe but that’s the extent that they are entitled to control a device that I purchased (not leased) from them.

    If I decide to take risks with my own iPhone, they can void my warranty but they should have absolutely no say beyond that. I’ve purchased no services from Apple.

    I have, however, purchased a service from AT&T and that is where the lines are a bit blurry. AT&T has openly said that they have no problem with many of the applications that Apple has been rejecting. Apple is clearly the one overstepping their bounds, not AT&T (for the most part).

    For instance, there are plenty of phones on AT&T using Qik, yet it’s constantly rejected by Apple. Fan boys are quick to say that it’s AT&T’s fault … but how can that be if other phones are not so restricted … and AT&T has openly said that they don’t mind Qik?

    I think that it’s time for both the Apple fan boys (and fan girls) to join the rest of us in this cause. If Apple keeps committing brand suicide with these tactics as cool competitors like the Droid appear onto the scene, all of these cool developers are going to keep jumping ship and you’ll soon be left with nothing but a bunch of fart apps and tip calculators again.

    Steve Bostedor
    The App Show

  • Eddie

    I don’t mind if apple has control over the AppStore, that way it can keep it’s “clean” image. That said, I strongly believe that it should allow third party apps through another method that does not require jailbreaking. This way the content published through the third party apps can be anything, an even if it’s the dirtiest porn and people start complaining, apple canday that they didn’t provide that content.

    In summary, I don’t care if apple continues it’s dictatorship over the AppStore. Just allow us officially to download and purchase apps through third party. If apple recognizes Cydia officially, it would be a start.

  • http://www.joelcomm.com Joel Comm

    I made a video for Steve Jobs after our app got rejected…

    http://www.joelcomm.com/an_open_appeal_to_steve_jobs_1.html

  • Dylan

    I do think that apple should make sure there devices are safe, via selling apps and programs, but they should also let people do wat they want with there own stuff. if apple were to find oout i jailbroke my ipod touch, than they kan void the warranty. tho a already replaced the LCD screen and there is isnt a warranty now, still. and apple should rethink the App Approval Process if they want to keep selling iPod Touches and iPhones. after all they did invest most if not all of their company into the whole iphone and appstore ordeal