3 ms·

Apple App Store allows Twitter’s “X” to break rule against one-letter apps

10 points by runnerup 3y ago

sschueller 3y ago
Could this be considered discrimination? It is very unfair for all of us that have to deal with the crap that is the appstore review process but then Twitter or Facebook always get a pass when they don't want to play the game.
- runnerup 3y ago
  You’d have to define “discrimination”. Instead of using a singular word which is prone to misinterpretation, you should use more words to ask the deeper question that you’re vaguely referencing. As it stands, your question doesn’t carry enough meaning itself to be meaningfully answered.
- cowsup 3y ago
  There are exceptions to every "rule," if you can even consider this a rule. When publishing to the App Store, the form says your app name must be between 2-255 characters, and it cannot match a name that already exists. So if you want to make an app listing called "Cloud," but that is taken, you may have to give it the name "Cloud — The Coolest Storage Solution" or something else. However, if you have the trademark to an app name, you can contact Apple and they'll amend or delist the other app, and let you have it. This isn't even limited to Apple; I got a Twitter handle that was taken, but inactive, because I had the trademark. Every single company will do this to cater to businesses, especially large businesses, because businesses often end up buying ads or onboarding lots of their employees or users onto the platform. That's just the nature of the game. Apple's App Store is certainly full of flaws, but making exceptions for large players is not unique to Apple or any platform.
  - qwytw 3y ago
    > However, if you have the trademark to an app name Twitter has a trademark to the letter X? I'm 100% certain that there would already be an app called "X" on the app store had Apple allowed that in the past. > Every single company will do this to cater to businesses, especially large businesses Right but Apple is a monopoly (assuming you consider iOS apps to be its own market) if they are allowed to stay one the least one could expect is that they would provide an equal playing field for everyone. Hopefully EU will finally manage to do something useful (well at least compared to pointless stuff like banning plastic straws, forcing every website to show annoying and pointless popups and charger plugs..)
- porkbeer 3y ago
  Being discriminating about who you let use powerful things is a feature, not a bug. Using the word to imply predujice/unfairness is tiring and incorrect.
- LegitShady 3y ago
  Legally? Ethically? You’re always free to sue apple, assuming they haven’t forced you to sign a contract which allows them to deal with issues through binding arbitration in the jurisdiction of their choice.
- thefurdrake 3y ago
  They're discriminating against products that are least-likely to shovel them piles of cash, either to make the exception, or by operating on their platform and providing ad revenue... I don't think it's /illegal/ discrimination. It's certainly obnoxious and I don't like it.
- 3cats-in-a-coat 3y ago
  Apple isn't a democracy. They set rules that work for most people and are in their full right to choose differently for select vendors, including themselves. In the case of Twitter, I'm sure they're themselves annoyed by Elon Musk's behavior, but they'd rather make small concessions, and make him shut up. For now.
  - qwytw 3y ago
    > Apple isn't a democracy Which would be fine if there were other ways to install software on general purpose handheld computers that they sell.

10 points by runnerup 3y ago

Could this be considered discrimination? It is very unfair for all of us that have to deal with the crap that is the appstore review process but then Twitter or Facebook always get a pass when they don't want to play the game.

runnerup 3y ago
You’d have to define “discrimination”. Instead of using a singular word which is prone to misinterpretation, you should use more words to ask the deeper question that you’re vaguely referencing. As it stands, your question doesn’t carry enough meaning itself to be meaningfully answered.
cowsup 3y ago
There are exceptions to every "rule," if you can even consider this a rule. When publishing to the App Store, the form says your app name must be between 2-255 characters, and it cannot match a name that already exists. So if you want to make an app listing called "Cloud," but that is taken, you may have to give it the name "Cloud — The Coolest Storage Solution" or something else. However, if you have the trademark to an app name, you can contact Apple and they'll amend or delist the other app, and let you have it. This isn't even limited to Apple; I got a Twitter handle that was taken, but inactive, because I had the trademark. Every single company will do this to cater to businesses, especially large businesses, because businesses often end up buying ads or onboarding lots of their employees or users onto the platform. That's just the nature of the game. Apple's App Store is certainly full of flaws, but making exceptions for large players is not unique to Apple or any platform.
- qwytw 3y ago
  > However, if you have the trademark to an app name Twitter has a trademark to the letter X? I'm 100% certain that there would already be an app called "X" on the app store had Apple allowed that in the past. > Every single company will do this to cater to businesses, especially large businesses Right but Apple is a monopoly (assuming you consider iOS apps to be its own market) if they are allowed to stay one the least one could expect is that they would provide an equal playing field for everyone. Hopefully EU will finally manage to do something useful (well at least compared to pointless stuff like banning plastic straws, forcing every website to show annoying and pointless popups and charger plugs..)
porkbeer 3y ago
Being discriminating about who you let use powerful things is a feature, not a bug. Using the word to imply predujice/unfairness is tiring and incorrect.
LegitShady 3y ago
Legally? Ethically? You’re always free to sue apple, assuming they haven’t forced you to sign a contract which allows them to deal with issues through binding arbitration in the jurisdiction of their choice.
thefurdrake 3y ago
They're discriminating against products that are least-likely to shovel them piles of cash, either to make the exception, or by operating on their platform and providing ad revenue... I don't think it's /illegal/ discrimination. It's certainly obnoxious and I don't like it.
3cats-in-a-coat 3y ago
Apple isn't a democracy. They set rules that work for most people and are in their full right to choose differently for select vendors, including themselves. In the case of Twitter, I'm sure they're themselves annoyed by Elon Musk's behavior, but they'd rather make small concessions, and make him shut up. For now.
- qwytw 3y ago
  > Apple isn't a democracy Which would be fine if there were other ways to install software on general purpose handheld computers that they sell.