"Today, we've been informed that Apple has removed Airfoil Speakers Touch from the iOS App Store. We first heard from Apple about this decision two days ago, and we've been discussing the pending removal with them since then. However, we still do not yet have a clear answer on why Apple has chosen to remove Airfoil Speakers Touch. Needless to say, we're quite disappointed with their decision, and we're working hard to once again make the application available for you, our users. As far as we can tell, Airfoil Speakers Touch is in full compliance with Apple's posted rules and developer agreements. We've already filed an appeal with Apple's App Review Board, and we're awaiting further information. Unfortunately, Apple has full control of application distribution on iOS, leaving us with no other recourse here." Alternative headline: 'iOS 6 to greatly expand AirPlay functionality'.
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Member since:
2005-07-12
Member since:
2006-07-12
Another iOS story, really? When did operating systems become boring?
I do not care the slightest about the crippled OS'es anymore (iOS, windows embedded, windows phone, and all the others) i know why you report on them, but this is the definite last post i will ever do on a smartphone/tablet os news until as old beos users said "Where life is still good, and gold is still the standards" (commercial in japan, for the reference)
Member since:2009-04-02
I do not care the slightest about the crippled OS'es anymore (iOS, windows embedded, windows phone, and all the others) i know why you report on them, but this is the definite last post i will ever do on a smartphone/tablet os news until as old beos users said "Where life is still good, and gold is still the standards" (commercial in japan, for the reference)
I agree, there are quite a few active hobby-OS's floating around, but they don't get mentioned here anymore :-(
Member since:2005-11-10
Member since:
2008-07-15
with walled gardens and particularly Apple's inconsistent policies. Even if Apple expands Airplay functionality, so what? I'm not interested if the only things that can stream to it are other Apple programs or devices. As for me, I have Airfoil Speakers touch and use it, because with Airfoil I can send any audio I wish to my device, not just Airplay-compatible stuff. Ah, but of course, that is not what our Apple gods wish of us (sarcasm).
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2006-06-09
Member since:
2009-06-20
Well, there is a good news, though: Gruber finally admitted that the App Store is not a "walled garden" but a "jail".
http://daringfireball.net/2012/05/more_on_airfoil_speakers_touch
Member since:2006-05-18
From the App Store Review Guidelines:
So, in other words ... waste a year developing an app and if we're feeling generous, maybe, we'll be ok with it.
iOS developers must be either stupid or too greedy to care. Why would you develop for these people's platform?
Member since:2009-04-02
iOS developers must be either stupid or too greedy to care. Why would you develop for these people's platform?
Because market share matters.... If you want to earn an income with mobile development, you develop for the ones with the biggest market share, this is not stupid nor greedy, it's just common sense( by the developer I mean, not Apple ofc).
Problem is, that the app distribution channels of the other big players, are just as crippled...
Member since:2006-05-18
Sure, but I mean, is it worth the risk? Maybe you quit your job and go full time and then Apple decides to kill your app just because. What do you do then? Start over with another app? What do you do in the mean time for a living?
I don't have a problem with the fact that they impose some rules - after all, it's their app store, but if you want to make a living out of it, as a developer, you need to have some certainties. You can't be certain that your app will sell, that's for sure, but at least you should be able to trust the authority behind it all.
Member since:2005-11-14
Is it? Developing an app that has to compete with a huge number of other apps (for a greater number of customers), or developing a stand-out app on a platform in a dire need of quality apps (WP7, Android)? I'm not sure going for market share alone is such a great idea. At any rate, the average income for iOS app developers indicate it's not worth your time.
Member since:2009-04-02
Member since:2011-12-08
Member since:2009-04-02
Member since:
2006-09-02
Well, there's a simple answer to this: just switch to Android. There is no point in counting on the whims of a monopolist company with shady business practices for your living, period. I find it amazing that even though these kind of news keep popping up, there are STILL developers who develop solely for iOS. However heartless it may sound, they had it coming.
Member since:
2009-08-22
... it turns out that Rogue Amoeba used an API in a way not authorised by Apple. Misusing an iOS API is a big no-no.
The final piece of advice to developers in Apple's "App Store Review Guidelines" is this:
This is a living document, and new apps presenting new questions may result in new rules at any time. Perhaps your app will trigger this.
In response to the paranoid conspiracy theories Gruber at Daring Fireball succinctly says:
"Lastly, I’ve seen a few people speculate that perhaps Apple removed Airfoil Speakers Touch from the App Store because it’s about to be obviated by a built-in “use your device as an AirPlay receiver” feature in iOS 6. That, so I have heard from several well-perched little birdies, is not the case. It certainly doesn’t sound like how Apple works. Apple does add features to iOS (and Mac OS X) that obviate/compete with third-party software. But when they do so, they let the chips fall where they will. E.g., if Apple adds offline support to Safari’s Reading List feature in iOS 6, they’re not going to remove Instapaper from the App Store."
Member since:2009-06-20
Oh. So you call "real world" a world were a mere blogger can get the answer that Rogue Amoeba has not been able to get from Apple for two days?
Also, RA misuse of the API was so wrong that Gruber himself explain that it wasn't, except with a very large interpretation of the letter of the rules.
All that to be able to use your own friggin iThing as an AirPlay receiver, which you can't only because of a vendor lock-in… Welcome to Apple's real shitty world.
