Apple Updates App Store Guidelines, Calls Out 'Creepy' Apps for Exclusion

[jweinraub]

Honestly, am I the only that felt the introduction is very condescending? I am sure it was meant to be "clever" and "funny" but felt it was rather demeaning. The spirit of what they were trying to convey I am sure was well intended but felt it wasn't appropriate. Maybe I am over thinking this and need more coffee, but I digress. At any rate, I think they have no business rejecting apps based on content. They should have an adult section that is opt-in if one were to want pornographical apps. The fact Safari can shows that Safari itself should be rejected based on their own guidelines.

I understand it is their store and they can choose to have what they want on it, but to force people to only use their store (and when they didn't even want an app store from the beginning since it was the jailbreak community that got them thinking maybe it wasn't a bad idea after all), but Apple should allow unsigned apps to be installed if the user wishes (like with Gatekeeper, it is on by default and an enduser can disable if they wish).

I know I am just belly aching here, but that has always struck a nerve with me. It has nothing to do with wanting porn on my iPhone, the fact it is restricted is absurd.

 

[charlituna]

I wish Apple would enable an age based search tool so I can filter out 80% of the top paid and free apps, and be able to find useful apps. Or maybe a "permanently hide" app feature so it never shows up in any results.

I could see that. There's a lot of things in the metadata across the systems that needs improving and yes with that some filters could be very very handy. I bet parents would love to be able to filter out certain types of apps so their kiddies just can't see them. Like say being able to turn on a filter that just doesn't show any apps that offer IAP or for the kid that is only 8 years old, no apps rated 12+

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How are they going to enforce that though? If a developer wanted to, they could easily set the extension to send innocuous data during test, then start sending other data when deployed. Or encrypt, hide, or obfuscate transmitted data.

hopefully the systems to get apps approved will be improved to require more detailed testing. And they will give us ways to report if we suspect an app is up to no good so it can be yanked out of the store even if just temporarily while it is being checked.

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Some of these guidelines are hilarious!

I don't think they are hilarious at all. I think they are for the most part right on the money.

What's hilarious is that some of them have to be written at all. Like the review board comment. I'm sure that it has been well known that there is an appeal system for some time. I bet when they notify someone of a rejection they even mention it. But they still have to put in a guideline telling folks that the system exists and going and trash talking on twitter is not a suitable method and will be ignored. That is the hilarious part.

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This is how Apple will deal with apps like Sketch Factor, which dares to allow people to mark on a map and discuss bad areas in their town.

Or perhaps not. A lot of how Apple defines 'creepy' depends on the app. Facebook likely won't fall prey because there is nothing inherent creepy with the app or even the service, even if some users abuse the system.

With this app, again its in what you say. If you are marking an area and pointing out that there is no street parking or there is a night club that is open every night and it gets really loud that is one thing. marking an area and just saying "nothing but Blacks and Mexicans" that is something totally different. its all about how the app defines 'bad' and how they present it if it's creepy or not.

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isnt "plain creepy" rather subjective?

that's why there is a review board. If you don't agree with their opinion you go and argue why they are wrong. Even Steve could be convinced to change his mind if someone could make a good argument. Which is why Windows got iTunes. Someone made the very valid argument that not doing it could get them into antitrust trouble and it wasn't worth the risk

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I understand it is their store and they can choose to have what they want on it, but to force people to only use their store

is also their right. If you don't like it, don't use their gear.

As for the unsigned thing, they can't legally stop you from jailbreaking so there is the solution. Yes they can legally make it hard as hell but they can't stop it using legal means like suing folks or having them arrested. The best they can do, legally, is not warranty it. It is totally legal that they have clauses in their warranty and service contracts that they won't repair devices with modified software. You want them to swap your jailbroken phone cause it keeps losing service, you have to restore it back to the proper software and show them that the issue is there and its not an issue with the jailbreak. You want to claim your wifi isn't working, again back to factory and show the issue.

 

[Doctor Q]

- "14.2 Professional political satirists and humorists are exempt from the ban on offensive or mean-spirited commentary"

If I write a satiric app and charge for it, does that make me a professional who therefore qualifies for this exemption, whereas I wouldn't qualify with a free satiric app?

 

[Tycho24]

How are they going to enforce that though? If a developer wanted to, they could easily set the extension to send innocuous data during test, then start sending other data when deployed. Or encrypt, hide, or obfuscate transmitted data.

I am personally very wary of using any third-party keyboard extensions, it will be hard to trust them.

I certainly won't be using any free ones... as those are the companies that would be tempted to use such practices for profit. However, I think we could reasonably trust Swype, SwiftKey, etc. particularly if they are making money from selling us their keyboard extension apps.

 

[matrix07]

If I write a satiric app and charge for it, does that make me a professional who therefore qualifies for this exemption, whereas I wouldn't qualify with a free satiric app?

No. You need to be well-known. Apple already described what you intended. It's "amateur hour".

 

[Anitramane]

Why not just let the app store have complete freedom? That’s where you get the most creative ideas from. Just look at forums like flashback that has complete freedom of speech, they are very creative in good ways and bad ways. The consumer doesn’t need apple to babysit them through what apps are good and what are very creepy.

 

[Tycho24]

Why not just let the app store have complete freedom? That’s where you get the most creative ideas from. Just look at forums like flashback that has complete freedom of speech, they are very creative in good ways and bad ways. The consumer doesn’t need apple to babysit them through what apps are good and what are very creepy.

So.....
You're ok with porn apps that any "responsible" kid could download???
You're ok with apps that promote hate crimes....?
Apps that pretend to help you trace your family tree, but instead steal your keystrokes & mine your personal data??
TOTAL freedom??
There are people that want a society with zero structure as well, they are usually nutters & call themselves anarchists.
I'm cool with a curated App Store.

 

[powers74]

You should have stopped after your first sentence. In it you described creepy. Creepy is a 3rd party Android voice recording app that wants your contact info and web history. Android doesn't have those apps built in like Apple does.

Anyway, going from there to take a pot shot on people's beliefs may not be creepy but sure is low class. You're better than that.

In no way was I taking shots at what anyone thinks or believes, sorry if it came across that way. I'm a reluctant Christian myself. I was just lamenting that using vague terms like "creepy" could be pointed in just about any direction of the rulemaker's desire. I guess I could have used a better example? Either way, it seems like this is the direction the world is headed in general

If I write a satiric app and charge for it, does that make me a professional who therefore qualifies for this exemption, whereas I wouldn't qualify with a free satiric app?

If you ask me, the "niceification" of the internet is getting a little "creepy"...

 

[scrubmilk]

cute

 

[Anitramane]

So.....
1. You're ok with porn apps that any "responsible" kid could download???
2. You're ok with apps that promote hate crimes....?
3. Apps that pretend to help you trace your family tree, but instead steal your keystrokes & mine your personal data??
TOTAL freedom??
There are people that want a society with zero structure as well, they are usually nutters & call themselves anarchists.
I'm cool with a curated App Store.

I put in some numbers.

1. I’m ok with children downloading porn, there’s nothing wrong with it, it should be encouraged for younger people to learn about porn and sex.
2. I’m ok with promoting hate crime (freedom of speech). It’s committing hate crime that’s wrong.
3. User needs to be responsible as well. It’s called knowing what you are downloading.
4. Stuff like child pornography would be one of the things that would not be allowed.

What I want the App Store to be is as default you get the standard Apple being the babysitter store.

BUT, if you are over 18 you get an extra option and that’s the version off the app store that has almost no limits what so ever. It will still have all the apps the normal app store has.

To organize all these apps you categorize them in to categories and sub categories of:

Apple apps; first party apps, third party apps, other - apps that work in conjunction with other apple devices.

Drug apps; Cannabis, Benzo, Central-stimulants, Doping (technices and alternatives), drugrehabilitation, other.

Vehicle apps; Cars, Bikes, boats and life at sea, other.

Family apps; Home, children, pets, relationship help/other relation apps.

Cultural apps; Movie and movie production, photography, humor, literature, media/journalistic, celebrity, Mondo-gore-bizzare, advertising.

Lifestyle apps; fishing, hunting, poker/other card games.

Food apps; Alcohol and drinks, cooking and methods; restaurants.

Political apps; politics, other.

Travel apps; Dictionaries, guides, other.

Sex apps; BDSM, erotic, paedophilia, pornography.

Sport apps; Football, EU football, baseball. (probably more sports i don’t know them all) and other.

Science apps; science, other.

Game apps; 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+, 18+, non rated. (If you want to find specific games just search)

Other apps; other.

 

[scrubmilk]

I put in some numbers.



1. I’m ok with children downloading porn, there’s nothing wrong with it, it should be encouraged for younger people to learn about porn and sex.

2. I’m ok with promoting hate crime (freedom of speech). It’s committing hate crime that’s wrong.

3. User needs to be responsible as well. It’s called knowing what you are downloading.

4. Stuff like child pornography would be one of the things that would not be allowed.



What I want the App Store to be is as default you get the standard Apple being the babysitter store.



BUT, if you are over 18 you get an extra option and that’s the version off the app store that has almost no limits what so ever. It will still have all the apps the normal app store has.



To organize all these apps you categorize them in to categories and sub categories of:



Apple apps; first party apps, third party apps, other - apps that work in conjunction with other apple devices.



Drug apps; Cannabis, Benzo, Central-stimulants, Doping (technices and alternatives), drugrehabilitation, other.



Vehicle apps; Cars, Bikes, boats and life at sea, other.



Family apps; Home, children, pets, relationship help/other relation apps.



Cultural apps; Movie and movie production, photography, humor, literature, media/journalistic, celebrity, Mondo-gore-bizzare, advertising.



Lifestyle apps; fishing, hunting, poker/other card games.



Food apps; Alcohol and drinks, cooking and methods; restaurants.



Political apps; politics, other.



Travel apps; Dictionaries, guides, other.



Sex apps; BDSM, erotic, paedophilia, pornography.



Sport apps; Football, EU football, baseball. (probably more sports i don’t know them all) and other.



Science apps; science, other.



Game apps; 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+, 18+, non rated. (If you want to find specific games just search)



Other apps; other.

are you saying apple should allow child pornography in their app store?

 

[Tycho24]

I put in some numbers.

1. I’m ok with children downloading porn, there’s nothing wrong with it, it should be encouraged for younger people to learn about porn and sex.
2. I’m ok with promoting hate crime (freedom of speech). It’s committing hate crime that’s wrong.
3. User needs to be responsible as well. It’s called knowing what you are downloading.
4. Stuff like child pornography would be one of the things that would not be allowed.

What I want the App Store to be is as default you get the standard Apple being the babysitter store.

BUT, if you are over 18 you get an extra option and that’s the version off the app store that has almost no limits what so ever. It will still have all the apps the normal app store has.

To organize all these apps you categorize them in to categories and sub categories of:

Apple apps; first party apps, third party apps, other - apps that work in conjunction with other apple devices.

Drug apps; Cannabis, Benzo, Central-stimulants, Doping (technices and alternatives), drugrehabilitation, other.

Vehicle apps; Cars, Bikes, boats and life at sea, other.

Family apps; Home, children, pets, relationship help/other relation apps.

Cultural apps; Movie and movie production, photography, humor, literature, media/journalistic, celebrity, Mondo-gore-bizzare, advertising.

Lifestyle apps; fishing, hunting, poker/other card games.

Food apps; Alcohol and drinks, cooking and methods; restaurants.

Political apps; politics, other.

Travel apps; Dictionaries, guides, other.

Sex apps; BDSM, erotic, paedophilia, pornography.

Sport apps; Football, EU football, baseball. (probably more sports i don’t know them all) and other.

Science apps; science, other.

Game apps; 3+, 7+, 12+, 16+, 18+, non rated. (If you want to find specific games just search)

Other apps; other.

Gotcha.
Lol, Apple should run the App Store as if it was a torrent site. *smh*

 

[Anitramane]

are you saying apple should allow child pornography in their app store?

Read #4.

 

[asiga]

what is the definition of creepy?

That's the problem. Moreover, they say "creepy" because it sounds cool, but they really wanted to say "incompatible with Apple criteria".

If you say "apps incompatible with Apple criteria will be removed", people will say "that's creepy". But if you say "creepy apps will be removed", people says "cool, Apple rulez".

To begin with, Apple doesn't remove apps that have websites pointing to their App Store page (so that when you visit a website, App Store opens up with such app). So, if they don't remove such apps (which _are_ creepy), it really means they didn't mean "creepy", but other different thing.