Apple pulls Box Office from App Store

Gizmodo is reporting that Box Office, an app that gives showtimes for your area, along with movie synopses and images from RottenTomatoes.com and other online sources, has been pulled from the App Store.

Metasyntactic, the developer, claims they have received no communication from Apple on the subject, despite emailing Apple about the situation. They also say they communicate regularly with all their data providers, and none have issues with the app.

Late last week, NetShare was mysteriously yanked under the same cloud of secrecy. As we mentioned in last night's talkcast, it's clear that Apple has complete control over what you install on your iPhone or iPod touch.

Gizmodo speculates that something might be going on "under the surface -- an undiscovered security flaw, maybe."

Update: Our commenters are pointing out that this could be nothing more than a name change. The app will be called Now Playing but it doesn't appear to be available in (at least the U.S.) App Store yet. Metasyntactic also hasn't commented beyond their original confusion as to why their app was pulled.

View Tags

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5032642/apple-yanks-another-popular-app-f…

Categories

App Store

Gizmodo is reporting that Box Office, an app that gives showtimes for your area, along with movie synopses and images from...

Add a Comment

Sign in »

45 Comments

Filter by:

Athee

I've uploaded the app on rapidshare: http://rapidshare.com/files/135631677/BoxOffice.ipa.zip.html

August 07 2008 at 4:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Unregistered

This may be slightly off topic, but I uninstalled the free game Lander because touching the helipad will launch mobile safari and bring me to their webpage, which is irritating and a waste of data. Jirbo games are free too, and they make it a selection -option to go to their website. Boo to Posimotion!

August 05 2008 at 5:32 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Zews

Bullshit.

The NY times app, is so bad, it crashes constantly, but obviously Apple hasn't pulled that one.

August 04 2008 at 11:47 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

LuminousNerd.com

There's not really any room amid all the restrictions for there to be any serious security issues as I understand it.

Besides, what could be buggier or more insecure than Apple's own iPhone OS 2.0? They need to fix that ASAP. I was okay with dealing with it, but I assumed Apple would have an update within days to fix it! It has been over 2 weeks...I can't believe it's gone on this long! It's embarrassing to have my iPhone crash when I'm trying to show off how cool it is...

August 04 2008 at 10:57 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mithras

The developer is renaming the app because he was contacted by the people at BoxOffice.com. They were very cordial, he said; they worked out an agreement that he'd change the name, no harm, no foul. He contacted them after the app was pulled and confirmed that they were not responsible for getting the app removed.

Of course it's possible that one part of BoxOffice.com did things that cordial way, and some other part went to Apple and got the app yanked. Or one of his data suppliers, including Rotten Tomatoes...

August 04 2008 at 7:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to mithras's comment

LuminousNerd.com

That's absurd...you can't trademark "Box Office"...it's a phrase that's been around a hell of a lot longer than the Internet.

Here's to never visiting BoxOffice.com because they're f**king idiots.

August 04 2008 at 10:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

longterm

Check out "Movies;" it appears to be the exact same application.

August 04 2008 at 5:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

The app was renamed, yet the developer is confused about what's going on? Who renamed it?

August 04 2008 at 5:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bryan Law

Glad I got the app before it was pulled. Since it gets the rotten tomatoes ratings, it's my favorite movie app.

August 04 2008 at 4:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

steve.fishman

I do not know what all the commotion is about. I have never had a problem with this app or had it crash. I just used it and its definitely version 1.2.

August 04 2008 at 3:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to steve.fishman's comment

Squuiid

Funny, I was searching and searching for this last night.
I knew it had changed name, but it is unavailable as either Box Office or Now Playing. Neither exist on the App store.

Hope it comes back soon, whatever its name may be! Fantastic app.

August 04 2008 at 3:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jeff

It's just been renamed people! call off the dogs. christ.

by the way, where's the update to the article?

it's called "Now Playing" and nothing ominous or scary (or "news worthy") is going on.

http://code.google.com/p/metasyntactic/

August 04 2008 at 2:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply