Filed under: Utilities, Apple, Google
Apple orders Android mention scrubbed from App Store
by Jay Hathaway Feb 4th 2010 at 1:26PM
Apparently "Android" is a four-letter word in Cupertino. The flash card app Flash of Genius was a finalist in Google's Android Developer Challenge, and the developers thought that was worth mentioning in the description of the iPhone version of their app. Apple didn't agree, and sent the developers an email asking them to remove the Android line from their app description, under threat of an "interruption" in Flash of Genius' availability on the app store.I like Apple, but does anyone else think this seems a bit like a movie gangster cliché? It's just shy of showing up in a dark pinstripe suit, carrying a baseball bat and saying "It would be a shame if anything happened to your ... availability in the app store." There's no official ban on mentioning Android, as far as we know, so the email said that the description "contains inappropriate or irrelevant information." Apple mentioned the Android award specifically, though, without referring to Flash of Genius' other boasts about mentions in books and newspapers.
What's the deal, Apple? Is this a one-time fluke that deserves an apology, or are we going to see all Android mentions consistently removed in the future? For Flash of Genius' part, they're contacting Apple to find out if there's any acceptable way to mention their award without getting their app booted from the store.
[via Cult of Mac]
Chromatic is one of the best time-wasters I've recently come across. It's all about the gameplay -- no Flash graphics here. You play a "circle" (it doesn't really have a name in the game). You move around with the arrow keys, and you change colors with Z, X, and C.
You can either be red, blue, or yellow, and you can switch at any time during the game. Each color has different capabilities -- yellow can double-jump, while red has a longer dash (which is like a forward sprint, activated by double-pressing DOWN).
Each ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Money Mike said 1:40PM on 2-04-2010
That's some BS. There's no other way to put it.
The funny thing is that I continue to find plenty of apps on my Droid that reference the iPhone. I sure hope Google doesn't stoop to their level and pull the same crap.
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burnblue said 2:26PM on 2-04-2010
Mike is right, so
That's some BS
nick said 2:46PM on 2-04-2010
it wouldn't make sense for google to do that because they leverage everyone else's success for free.
mko said 1:52PM on 2-04-2010
The whole App Store feels like a mob operation to me.
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216 said 1:56PM on 2-04-2010
yea there's plenty of Android apps that mention iphone (such as that Livescores app). Its just Apple being all "WE MUST CONTROL EVERYTHING" again
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Elranzer said 1:56PM on 2-04-2010
This should be no surprise to anyone. Apple has always been anti-competitive like this.
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jotwinowski said 9:52AM on 2-06-2010
But, Oh Boy do they object to a similar attitude from Amazon!
Matthew W. said 1:58PM on 2-04-2010
More Apple arrogance, more Apple bullying. And before all you "this is how the business world is" people start in on me, you CAN do business without acting like the playground bully.
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David said 2:10PM on 2-04-2010
This is the main reason I will never own another Apple product.
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Fleur said 5:30PM on 2-04-2010
This is exactly why I have NEVER owned an Apple product.
And I like how everyone calls Microsoft the big bully, but even when they were justifiably a monopoly, their systems were more open than Apple has ever been. And somehow people still buy Apple's marketing BS that they're a "cool," "artistic" company.
Jon said 6:23PM on 2-04-2010
Here here!
ruauch800 said 1:02PM on 2-06-2010
OR- they'll never own you! LOL!!
PC-VIP said 2:14PM on 2-04-2010
You know, I'm pretty sure that's illegal.
Yeah, it's their store and they can set standards, but if they haven't specifically mentioned the issue as you've described it, then it really DOES sound almost like racketeering.
Frightening.
Here's my company's iphone app:
http://itunes.apple.com/hk/app/answer-guy-central/id349621537?mt=8
I'm gonna start cramming it with Android references. OH WAIT; THEY'RE ALREADY IN THERE!
Yikes.
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Dolores Parker said 2:16PM on 2-04-2010
Great image Jay!
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r3loaded said 2:22PM on 2-04-2010
Apple have jumped the shark with regard to the App Store and their mobile platform. This latest episode has just strengthened my belief that selling my iPod Touch and ordering a Nexus One (when it comes to Vodafone and my existing contract runs out) is the way forward for me.
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Brian! said 3:09PM on 2-04-2010
I almost want Apple to get busted as some type of monopoly and force them to split of iTunes as a separate company. Then further force iTunes to open compatibility with other devices.
They may make pretty laptops and phones, but they sure are a bunch of asses the way they behave with their 40% margins.
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Dylan said 7:08PM on 2-04-2010
That's the thing though Jay:
Apple is completely interested in controlling the mobile / app industry and they don't care who's toes they step on.
Everything they produce now is completely closed. The software, the ports on the devices, the service providers.
Quickly they're becoming the next Microsoft, but they have a legion of Mactards to back them up, which somehow credits them as "The Best Company Ever!"
Informed consumers should boycott all closed Apple devices such as the iPad, iPhone and iPod as well as content delivery systems (iTunes -- DRM sucks, Apple TV and the App Store).
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David said 9:25AM on 2-06-2010
I think they removed DRM. But I do agree with you, I hate Apple for those same reasons. I have an iPhone because my company gave it to me, and its nice and all... but I just hate how they do business and I will never personally purchase they're hardware.
Prolorn said 3:59AM on 2-05-2010
What's sad is how unsurprising it is.
Also, props to Flash of Genius for pursuing the matter with Apple. Not that the free publicity hurts, I'll warrant.
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niceguydbn said 7:13AM on 2-06-2010
Apple is EVIL!!!
I think it ironic that the company that did that 1984 commercial for the introduction of the Mac acts so 1984-like.
It is time for the government to get involved with iTunes and the App Store. Microsoft was never so blatant.
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