Apple decides that calculator widgets aren’t allowed in the iOS 8 Notification Center
In a surprising move, Apple has now decided that calculator widgets in the iOS 8 Notifcation Center are no longer allowed.
James Thomson, developer of the popular PCalc app, announced the news on Twitter:
Apple has told me that Notification Center widgets on iOS cannot perform any calculations, and the current PCalc widget must be removed.
— James Thomson (@jamesthomson) October 29, 2014
Interestingly, the iOS 8 ready version of PCalc featuring the widget was one of the first apps approved by Apple just a day before iOS 8 was officially released in mid-September.
This isn’t the first flip-flop from Apple regarding the functionality of Notification Center widgets. In late September, Apple forced the removal of Launcher, an app that allowed users to launch other apps directly from the widget.
Apple told developer Cromulent Labs that the app was a “misuse” of widgets.
It’s definitely disappointing to see Apple make yet another arbitrary decision regarding app functionality. Apple needs to make it crystal clear in writing what is allowed and not allowed in a widget – something that isn’t currently being done.
If you’re interested, PCalc is still available to download on the App Store for $9.99 with the calculator widget. The app is universal for the iPhone/iPod touch and iPad/iPad mini.
For other news today, see: Apple Pay competitor CurrentC suffers its first data breach, Apple sees important iOS market share gains in Europe and China, as others delayed purchases for iPhone 6, and WatchSpring jailbreak tweak puts Apple Watch-like home screen interface on iPhone.