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Apple rejects another app for duplicating functionality

Apple has rejected another app from the app store because it considers it too similar to one of Apple's own apps, and thus would cause "user confusion."

The app is a front-end for Gmail, called MailWrangler, and allows users to check many Gmail accounts at once (unlike MobileSafari). It offers a similar interface as Gmail's iPhone-optimized web interface, which shows conversation threads in context, and allows for starring conversations (unlike Mail). The app developer says it works much like MailPlane on the desktop.

Nevertheless, Apple rejected the app because of the similarity, in Apple's view, and also due to other issues related to editing account information.

This app's rejection follows that of Podcaster for allegedly similar reasons. As we mentioned in the Talkcast two weeks ago, this could be related to the user backlash from I Am Rich. Whether it's too permissive or too strict, Apple will always have unhappy people when it issues rejections like this.

[Via WebMonkey.]



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Apple has rejected another app from the app store because it considers it too similar to one of Apple's own apps, and thus would cause...
 

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Darren

Duplicating functionality of an existing app is prohibiting, is it? How about the app "Contact Find", which lets you search for contacts?
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=290153951&mt=8

September 24 2008 at 1:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Corey J Feldman

I would guess we would just need to look at the rejected apps to get an idea of future iPhone features.

http://www.coreyjf.com/blog

September 23 2008 at 1:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jbelkin

2,000 - 3,000 apps approved, 6 get rejected? Aren't we focused on the wrong thing here? How many book, movies get rejected? A lot of things sound good in principle but in actual day to day? You really want to turn over all your passwords to a third party for your emails? What happens when you decide to run for VP? If Apple does it, you have a class action lawsuit - if some dude does it?

It's one thing if Apple puts it on the site and yanks, it's NOT news if it gets rejected during the vetting process and the writer whines about not being able to clear $25k a month so he can buy a rainbrow trout in a tank of formaldehyde.

It's called um, life?

September 23 2008 at 12:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ed

Interesting post on Wil Shipley's blog about this issue.

September 23 2008 at 8:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Slobi

Guys, just a heads up, Apple removed yet another app, AFTER allowing it in AND allowing it to go up to ver. 2. The app is iFlix, which was a graphically nice NetFlix queue manager. I am getting irked by Apple's attitude and I'm about one wrong step by them away from jailbreaking my 3G phone. I don't even know whether I need it, I just feel very pissed off. ESPECIALLY when I remind myself that we STILL don't have a "feature" kill switch for frekkin annoying auto-correct.

September 23 2008 at 8:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bones3D

There is a darker half to this picture than Apple simply killing off competition, this could eventually end up being used retroactively on successful iPhone apps that don't currently compete with anything Apple makes for the device.

Apple has a very shaky history when it comes to third party technologies and their own. Just ask the guys who developed Konfabulator what they think of Dashboard in Mac OS X, or the developers of Watson regarding current versions of Sherlock, etc...

There's really nothing to prevent these issues from occurring on the iPhone as well. In fact, the iPhone practically ensures this will happen... perhaps many times over.

September 23 2008 at 7:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dave

it's anti-competitive by nature. Isn't this just microsoft not allowing other web browsers all over again?

September 23 2008 at 6:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Allister

I begin to wonder whether the "duplication" is referring to what Apple and its partners may have in the pipeline. Think about it. Podcast catching directly on the device? Think Apple might (finally) be considering this? I sure hope so. Tighter GMail integration? Possibly Apple & Google are working on more collaboration already? Highly possible.

September 23 2008 at 5:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
flokru

Okay, that's it. Enough is enough. I really considered buying an iPhone. Indeed, I was looking forward to it.

But now I'd rather keep my crappy Nokia than support this policy. I hope Apple realizes what they are doing here before it's too late.

September 23 2008 at 12:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to flokru's comment
gopi

flokru:

The iPhone is still the best platform out there. It's still got a great UI and has thousands of apps. And, because it's so easy to charge for apps, developers are much less likely to get distracted and forget about their apps - especially now that apps are listed in chronological order by default. That encourages updates.

Apple is doing something stupid here, but don't lose sight of the good apps that are out there. Hopefully this stupidity will be just a short glitch.

September 23 2008 at 3:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Almadi

Don't mess with the Zohan, but you can mess with everyone else I guess.

September 22 2008 at 11:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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