Steve Jobs: 'We Are Not Allowing Apps That Create Their Own Desktops'

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Posted June 1, 2010 at 12:00pm by iClarified

Apple called to inform the developer of My Frame for iPad, a photo frame application, that their app would be removed. The company representative refused to provide a concrete reason for the app's removal which caused the developer to send off an email to Steve Jobs for an explanation.

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Hi Steve,

Just got a phone call from Apple letting us know that our iPad app ‘My Frame’ is being removed from the store. Apparently Apple is cracking down on ‘widgety’ type apps. Our app is a beautiful photo frame with a few nice things you can put over your photos. It’s not ugly, or even widgety.

What gives? I’ve always defended you guys in the past, but it seems like you’ve crossed an invisible line here, even the guy on the phone was saying how much he likes our application but that there’s nothing he can do?
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We are not allowing apps that create their own desktops. Sorry.

Sent from my iPad

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Understand, but don’t agree…besides all of which our application (My Frame) is a photo frame, not a desktop environment. Your people won’t even tell us what we need to remove to get approved, they are just kicking us out. Put yourself in our shoes.
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Stories like this continue to plague developers who invest massive amounts of time and money into their applications. Apple's continually changing App Store policies are likely to drive more and more developers to Google and Microsoft once their platforms mature.

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Steve Jobs: 'We Are Not Allowing Apps That Create Their Own Desktops'

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SP - June 1, 2010 at 3:00pm

To be fair, just glancing at the app makes me think it wouldn't get approved in the first place. Bummer that it did get approved and then is getting pulled, but as a developer, I never would have spent time on that app (or advised anyone else to do so) as I would assume it would run afoul of the guidelines to start with. Don't get me wrong - Apple does some bone headed things with the approval process sometimes but there are also a lot of developers who spend time working on projects that clearly are in the grey areas and then act like it came out of left field when the approval system goes against them.

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JC - June 1, 2010 at 4:43pm

Yes, but why not just give an explanation or suggest things to add/remove so that the app could be approved? It is stuff like this that makes me hate Apple passionately more and more...

tims0891 - June 1, 2010 at 2:27pm

What is very interesting is that Apple is a company that prides its creations on the "creative design" look and feel. (Ooo, That's Pretty!!) Then when something comes out that enhances the look and feel of their products, they are against it...why? Well, probably because it was not an idea or creation from Apple, after all, none of us out here can ever be as creative as the big paid designers working at Apple!

theoneandonlyt - June 1, 2010 at 2:00pm

And Apple still wonders why people would ever want to jailbreak?!? I think they answer their own question EVERY TIME!!

cgyrunner - June 1, 2010 at 1:30pm

Sucks!! Apple doesn't want to be upstaged by Apps that look great! I just bought it on principle!

Cody - June 1, 2010 at 12:10pm

Cydia. Problem solved.

mirim - June 1, 2010 at 12:41pm

that's a bummer.. How can I customize my iPhone to look like that? it's awsome!

fabs - June 2, 2010 at 10:44am

I dig that !