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Here's the actual blog / text where the author discusses it: https://qnoid.com/2019/07/29/Windmill-on-the-iPhone.html#main https://qnoid.com/2019/07/29/Windmil
by SamuelAdams 7y ago
Here's the actual blog / text where the author discusses it:
https://qnoid.com/2019/07/29/Windmill-on-the-iPhone.html#main https://qnoid.com/2019/07/29/Windmill-on-the-iPhone.html#mai...
> YOUR APP IS TOO SIMILAR TO TESTFLIGHT, WHICH CREATES A MISLEADING ASSOCIATION WITH APPLE PRODUCTS. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REVIEW YOUR APP CONCEPT AND EVALUATE WHETHER YOU CAN INCORPORATE DIFFERENT CONTENT AND FEATURES TO BRING IT INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE APP STORE REVIEW GUIDELINES.
Testflight: https://developer.apple.com/testflight/ https://developer.apple.com/testflight/
To be honest, I kind of agree with Apple on this one. What does Windmill do that Testflight does not already do? The author states:
> Windmill on the iPhone allows an organization with an iPhone app under development to make that app available for distribution on any devices they own, as documented in the iOS Deployment Reference.
So does Testflight.
> It makes use of ad-hoc distribution to make it dead easy to get started as a small- to medium-size business, with app distribution to half a dozen or so devices, while progressing towards TestFlight.
Ok, the distribution for test flight might not be "ad hoc", but most end users don't care how it gets published. If it saves a substantial amount of time / clicks, then yeah that might be worthwhile, but based on the product description it's not very clear.
> It allows businesses to distribute their app continuously while still in development, at regular time intervals, on demand, or as a reaction.
So does Testflight.
- belltaco 7y agoEven if true, how is that a valid reason for rejection? Imagine MS banning editors in Windows because they do the same thing as Notepad or Word.
- mox1 7y ago..or not allowing other web browsers because Windows has one... :)
- pixelbath 7y agoThis is not a good analogy because it doesn't map correctly to reality. Developers are required to agree to these terms prior to enrollment in the Apple Developer Program. I imagine this is more like that time Google tried to submit the Chrome installer to the Microsoft Store and was rejected because the policy for web browsers in the store is that they must use the EdgeHTML engine [1]. [1] https://mspoweruser.com/microsofts-rejection-googles-chrome-installer-echoes-old-windows-phone-dispute/ https://mspoweruser.com/microsofts-rejection-googles-chrome-...
- throwaway2048 7y agoHiding behind "you agreed to a 50 page TOS that would take an entire legal team to assess, and you can piss up a rope if you don't agree" isn't a good look, it also changes absolutely nothing about the fairness of the arrangement.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- umvi 7y agoOh, so if Apple did it, it can never be done better? Imagine if Valve did that: "Sorry, your game 'Deus Ex' was rejected because it is too similar to 'Half Life' and creates a misleading association with Valve products. We encourage you to review your game and evaluate whether you can incorporate different features."
- seltzered_ 7y agoDo you know what was a startup at one time outside of Apple? TestFlight. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TestFlight https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TestFlight
- RandallBrown 7y agoTestFlight didn't have an app at all until after Apple bought them. I'm not sure why Windmill needs an iPhone app to be a viable business.
- radley 7y ago"TestFlight is not available for Mac apps." https://testflight.apple.com/ https://testflight.apple.com/
- pzo 7y agoWith you reasoning there shouldn't be any alternative browser, calendar, notepad, map, email, alarm clock, calculator, etc because similar functionalities are provided by apple apps.