Apple’s App Store Staff Causes Confusion

All applications in the App Store must go through a review process by Apple staff. Apple has all kinds of requirements for the type of software they allow to pass through the approval gates. The process of approving applications would be a daunting process for any vendor let alone Apple. Any approval process is likely to have idiosyncrasies and Apple has found their fair share. The application approvers are basically the gatekeepers and censors of Apple’s standards. Play by the rules and you are welcome in, but if you break the rules then you are left on the outside. Fair enough if the rules are communicated and interpreted well, but when the rules are not applied consistently the only thing you have left is frustration. Apple has made mistakes on both ends of the spectrum. In April 2009, the App Store staff allowed the infamous Baby Shaker application which was subsequently pulled. Most recently Apple refused to allow a completely legitimate application for reading books from Project Gutenberg to make it into the App Store. The application is called Eucalyptus and the developer provided a well documented history of what he went through to get the application approved. The ongoing reversals give the impression that Apple’s censors are not clear on App Store guidelines. There is a perception they don’t know what they’re doing and their judgment is suspect. Perhaps it’s a matter of a few bad Apples (staff) involved with the process. Maybe the reversals and lack of judgment on approvals are related to undefined and misunderstood procedures. Whatever the reason, the reversals and wrong decisions are frustrating to Apple developers. Apple’s credibility is impacted when they allow applications like Baby Shaker, but deny an application that provides access to one of the greatest free libraries of all time. It is unlikely these situations will be eliminated, but let’s hope they are kept to a minimum for the benefit of all.

There's An App For That

Marketing genius is when an advertisement permeates into the public. The genius is when your idea transcends the original media format and spills into the public nomenclature. That's exactly what is happening with Apple's "There's An App For That" campaign. I've heard a number of people talking about a particular topic when someone follows with a "there's an app for that!". It's funny because it's true and if you're not in the iPhone or Touch circle in probably won't resonate, but for those of us who can appreciate the humor it's a great phrase to use outside of a thirty second ad spot. I thought this was something I would blog about. And by the way...there's an app for that!