iPad Pulse Reader Application Featured In Keynote, Then Pulled By Apple

After featuring the highly praised iPad Pulse News Reader application in his Keynote speech at the WWDC on Monday morning, Steve Jobs has been forced to withdraw the RSS reader app from Apple's App Store after receiving a written notice from the New York Times, stating:

The New York Times Company believes your application named ‘Pulse News Reader’ infringes The New York Times Company’s rights.

The application was then completely down by 6:30 PT last night, leaving the application's developers - a pair of Standford University graduates - wondering just what had happened. Thankfully, the two aren't bitter, and they're not blaming Apple for Pulse Reader's demise. One, Akshay Kothari, 23, even stated that it had been "a roller coaster of a day". Nor do the developers plan to abandon the application. Its makers have said they'll be getting in touch with Apple and stripping out the offending content, but it's certainly a head scratcher of a decision by the news company. We wonder if this signals the start of a crusade against all paid RSS readers or if Pulse has something peculiarly intolerable about it. Visit the source link to read the complaint in full. We'll be updating this article if any further news becomes available. Do you think the New York Times are being a bit petty with their victimization of Pulse News Reader? Let us know in the comments box below! UPDATE: Pulse News Reader is now back in the App Store. We're not sure yet whether the NY Times eased up, or whether Jobs directly intervened. We'll be updating if any more news surfaces.

[via Engadget, All Things Digital]

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