The developers of Flash of Genius: SAT Vocab just been caught in the crossfire of Apple and Google’s war. Apple has asked the developer to remove a portion of the app’s description which states that the app was a finalist in Google’s Android Developer’s Challenge.
Below is the entire message from Apple:
Dear Flash of Genius, LLC,
Thank you for submitting Flash of Genius: SAT Vocab 2.2 to the App Store. During our review of your application, we found that your application contains inappropriate or irrelevant platform information in the Application Description and/or Release Notes sections.
Providing future platform compatibility plans or other general platform references are not relevant in the context of the iPhone App Store. While your application has not been rejected, it would be appropriate to remove “Finalist in Google’s Android Developer’s Challenge!” from the Application Description [Emphasis added].
Please log into iTunes Connect to make appropriate changes to the Application Description now to avoid an interruption in the availability of Flash of Genius: SAT Vocab 2.2 on the iPhone App Store.
Regards,
iPhone Developer Program
The developer has already removed the offending portion of the app’s description, but they are already looking for a way to reincorporate it without catching the stern eye of another Apple app reviewer.
It is Apple’s App Store, and developers must agree to follow their rules in order to have their apps available to the massive group of iPhone and iPod touch owners out there no matter how absurd they may seem to be, but it does almost seem like Apple is just flexing their muscles in Google’s direction. However, in this case, the developer actually believes that Apple’s decision is logical. So what’s your take on the matter?
[via Gizmodo]
I personally believe that Apple’s decision it is indeed logical. To mention Google’s Android platform in any context trying to sell your product in another company’s “site”/ marketplace it is inappropriate. Developer’s comment: “Finalist in Google’s Android Developer’s Challenge!” It is not going to make me buy his App if it’s not any good. In Google’s App store he has to compete with far less similar applications rather than in Apple’s App Store. So he better make it stand out of his competition if he wants to sell it and not mention irrelevant info. It might be brilliant for the Android platform (that he might not even have competition there) but is that the case in the iPhone OS platform?. Don’t get me wrong it might be a brilliant App indeed.
I guess it’s alright if you’re ripping on Android…?
Check out http://itunes.com/Apps/BrokeAndroid
I think it makes sense to avoid putting info that could confuse some users or is not relevant to the app itself in the App Store. While their success is a nice feather in the cap, the Android version and the iPhone version are not the same app, as the code is different. There may be a chance that the iPhone app is less well-made than the Android app. Further, unless the app has some sort of social networking features that allow it to communicate directly with users on those other devices, it would be unnecessary to inform users of a version on another platform.
We’ll have to see if Blackberry is the next word to be excised from the App Store.