7 ms·

I see no reason why the government should get involved. It's an free market, if people don't like Apple's practices regarding the App store, they are free to g

I see no reason why the government should get involved. It's an free market, if people don't like Apple's practices regarding the App store, they are free to go elsewhere or buy a phone from a different manufacturer.

jacquesm 17y ago
I think you are missing the point regarding the acceptance of applications, it's not an end-user issue. It's mostly the app store developers that are setting themselves up for trouble because of this. So that should read 'if developers don't like Apples practices regarding the App store they are free to go elsewhere', only there is no 'elsewhere', the only way to the Iphone leads through the app store.
- moe 17y ago
  This might come as a shock to you: There actually is an 'elsewhere' beyond the iPhone. Last time I checked apple didn't go around forcing people to become app developers. Don't like their rules? Don't play on their lawn.
- diazamet 17y ago
  Ok, point taken but equally, nobody is forced to develop for the iPhone. Develop for Android or Symbian. Ultimately, so many developers have succumbed to Apples practices and they are responsible for giving Apple the power they have. This is still no reason for government involvement.
  - TomOfTTB 17y ago
    I'm not necessarily agreeing or disagreeing with you but I'm curious about one thing: Are you against anti-discrimination laws like those that forbid people from not hiring a person based on skin color? I ask because those laws set a precedent of using Government intervention to make sure private industries treat people fairly. So if you are in favor of those laws you have to ask yourself if it's fair for some developers to be forced to develop on platforms with 30 million fewer customers.
    - moe 17y ago
      laws like those that forbid people from not hiring a person based on skin color? ask yourself if it's fair for some developers to be forced to develop on platforms with 30 million fewer customers You didn't just seriously draw a line between those two statements, did you? Moreover please show me a developer who is forced to develop anything for any platform.
      - TomOfTTB 17y ago
        Yes, I did. I assume your objection is that racism isn't in the same league as what Apple is doing. I agree with you on that. But the government doesn't take a stance on racism. If Government was taking a stance on racism then they wouldn't allow racist literature to be distributed (as just one example). But they do allow that meaning racism isn't the issue. So the question at hand is fairness not racism. Which brings me back to my original point of "Should the government legislate whether private industries treat people fairly?"
        moe 17y ago
        First off, please stop mixing labor law and human rights into this. That's so idiotic, it's not funny. Especially since there isn't even an employment relationship involved here. The app-store is a digital retail store. You are free to develop an iPhone app and offer it to them. They are free to reject it. Just like you are free to develop a better mousetrap and offer it to WalMart - and they are free to reject it. If you don't like their rules then don't develop an iPhone app. It's really as simple as that. And in case you are wondering what their rules are: They are explained in this big blob of text presented to you when you sign up. The one with the checkbox labeled "I understand and I agree" at the end.
        jacquesm 17y ago
        You can not understand and agree to that which is not published, such as the official rulebook on which apps will make it through approval and those that do not. A transparent approval process would solve this instantly. And even Apple would benefit.

jacquesm 17y ago

I think you are missing the point regarding the acceptance of applications, it's not an end-user issue. It's mostly the app store developers that are setting themselves up for trouble because of this. So that should read 'if developers don't like Apples practices regarding the App store they are free to go elsewhere', only there is no 'elsewhere', the only way to the Iphone leads through the app store.

moe 17y ago
This might come as a shock to you: There actually is an 'elsewhere' beyond the iPhone. Last time I checked apple didn't go around forcing people to become app developers. Don't like their rules? Don't play on their lawn.
diazamet 17y ago
Ok, point taken but equally, nobody is forced to develop for the iPhone. Develop for Android or Symbian. Ultimately, so many developers have succumbed to Apples practices and they are responsible for giving Apple the power they have. This is still no reason for government involvement.
- TomOfTTB 17y ago
  I'm not necessarily agreeing or disagreeing with you but I'm curious about one thing: Are you against anti-discrimination laws like those that forbid people from not hiring a person based on skin color? I ask because those laws set a precedent of using Government intervention to make sure private industries treat people fairly. So if you are in favor of those laws you have to ask yourself if it's fair for some developers to be forced to develop on platforms with 30 million fewer customers.
  - moe 17y ago
    laws like those that forbid people from not hiring a person based on skin color? ask yourself if it's fair for some developers to be forced to develop on platforms with 30 million fewer customers You didn't just seriously draw a line between those two statements, did you? Moreover please show me a developer who is forced to develop anything for any platform.
    - TomOfTTB 17y ago
      Yes, I did. I assume your objection is that racism isn't in the same league as what Apple is doing. I agree with you on that. But the government doesn't take a stance on racism. If Government was taking a stance on racism then they wouldn't allow racist literature to be distributed (as just one example). But they do allow that meaning racism isn't the issue. So the question at hand is fairness not racism. Which brings me back to my original point of "Should the government legislate whether private industries treat people fairly?"
      - moe 17y ago
        First off, please stop mixing labor law and human rights into this. That's so idiotic, it's not funny. Especially since there isn't even an employment relationship involved here. The app-store is a digital retail store. You are free to develop an iPhone app and offer it to them. They are free to reject it. Just like you are free to develop a better mousetrap and offer it to WalMart - and they are free to reject it. If you don't like their rules then don't develop an iPhone app. It's really as simple as that. And in case you are wondering what their rules are: They are explained in this big blob of text presented to you when you sign up. The one with the checkbox labeled "I understand and I agree" at the end.
        jacquesm 17y ago
        You can not understand and agree to that which is not published, such as the official rulebook on which apps will make it through approval and those that do not. A transparent approval process would solve this instantly. And even Apple would benefit.