Filed under: Developer, App Store
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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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Samuel Hautcoeur said 5:11PM on 9-22-2008
This would have been ideal for my needs.
Nice policy, Apple, thank you !
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Ashwin said 5:40PM on 9-22-2008
While I don't agree with Apple's rejection, as an app should not be rejected just for duplicating functionality, I did notice an error in your post.
Mail DOES check multiple Gmail accounts at once. I actually use it for that purpose.
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Robert Palmer said 7:44PM on 9-22-2008
You are so correct -- I clumsily lumped MobileSafari and Mail together in the same clause when I didn't really intend to. My apologies. Hooray for editing!
Thanks for the catch. I appreciate it!
Jason said 5:41PM on 9-22-2008
Wow, this would have been a handy app. I suppose it's difficult to know whether or not it would have been good at what it was claiming to do, but if it was executed well, it could have surpassed Mail.app. Does Apple have penis envy? Or perhaps it's that making Gmail even better on the iPhone makes me.com even less appealing than it already is. This is bad bad bad on Apple's part.
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tanguy said 5:46PM on 9-22-2008
can we say MONOPOLY?
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eric f. said 9:16AM on 9-23-2008
You can say it, but it's not accurate.
There are far more independent apps in the app store than Apple apps... so no monopoly here.
Jason Cartwright said 5:47PM on 9-22-2008
If they're worried about duplicate functionality, then perhaps they should focus their attention on the ridiculous number of weather, rss and twitter apps, that offer a majority of the same functionality.
Another approach would be to let the consumer decide if they want multiple apps on their iPhone that effectively do the same thing.
One step further would be for Apple to allow their default apps to be removed, levelling the playing field for 3rd party developers.
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Ryan Schmidt said 5:52PM on 9-22-2008
what a load of crap. Mail.app sucks for your avid Gmail user. This is why Android has every chance in the world at destroying this phone.
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Andreas said 6:48PM on 9-22-2008
Eventually Apple will get sued for trying actively to stop healthy competition on a great platform. I don't see them stopping one guitar app because there already is another guitar app on there. That's confusion... which guitar app should I choose?? They only stop apps competing with their own apps. Very bad attitude.
What next? Stopping Microsoft from selling Word because they already have Notes?
Apple will open up just before they get seriously sued for this.
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Pimpstrong said 12:02AM on 9-23-2008
I Think everyone is reacting completly wrong about this issue.
Read CIP as "Case In Ponit"
1. Selection is Up to Retailer - CIP: Wal-Mart and Hip Hop, Death Metal or other so called offensive music. It is just their choice.
If we farm raised Slow Rosted Organic Tree Frog Testicles as a product for Safeway of Vaughn's they would most likley tell us to PHACK off. No one would bitch or care... but make it Apple and you guys all freak over normal business practices.
2. Developer all take risk when they make a product that it will fail miserably. CIP: USFL, Pippen (apple's own) and most of all Pluto Nash. Money lost: $ 93 million.
This movie wass just horrible. Watching Pluto Nash makes you wonder how on earth they spent all that money on a movie that looks like a direct to DVD special. Over 100 million dollars were spent, presumably not on hiring a writer that could turn this mess into something remotely interesting to watch. It again is just business.
There are more points but these are the basics... It is just business. If your want to fix it get nearly $200 billion in cash and make your own company. But If you run it like the way you think now.. You will be broke.
Think! Before we speak... Both sides of the coin.
Almadi said 12:20AM on 9-23-2008
CIP: If I want to buy hip-hop or whatever, I don't have to go to Wallmart. If I want an application for an iPhone or touch, I have to get it through the App store.
Freedom of choice: can you tell me of another way to get an application that was rejected by Apple?
Unlike music, if I can't find it in iTunes, I can buy the CD and rip the tracks, same with video DVDs. But applications? not as easy. And I am not about to jail break a $300 gadget.
Vega said 10:16AM on 9-23-2008
@Almadi: The analogy to going to another store is choosing a different smartphone. As long as the iPhone doesn't have an effective monopoly in the smartphone market, they can do whatever they want with their Appstore.
Just like Sony can decide which games/programs are allowed on the PS3 marketplace. I guess you're also not gonna see an "alternative" Bluray player there...
AppStoreUpdates said 7:08PM on 9-22-2008
Visit:
http://appstoreupdates.com
to follow Lewis' progress on his "Make an iPhone app in 30 Days challenge"
-He will also be submitting the application to the App Store but hopefully will have some better luck!
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Panda said 7:46PM on 9-22-2008
I use Mail.app on my MacBook and iPhone for checking multiple (5) gmail accounts all the time. I don't agree with denying apps because they duplicate functionality, but you're wrong that Mail.app can't do it.
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Eideard said 8:44PM on 9-22-2008
Yup. Runaway, runaway. Scrap the hundreds of other useful apps because - well, because why really doesn't matter, does it?
Apple's not running the company like the Seattle commune - preferred by how many people?
Isn't it obvious the marketplace doesn't give a rat's ass about most of this whining?
I'm a firm believer in being a crank and a critic. However, I try not to delude myself into thinking that somehow I represent foretold and revealed writ.
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db cooper said 9:31PM on 9-22-2008
Yes, sooner or later the gummit will decide that iPhone apps are a right and force Apple to change policy based on the needs of a vocal minority.
Folks, let's give Android a chance. If the phones are competitive with Apple, it'll pressure Apple to open the app store a little more, and if not, it'll be a viable platform to switch to.
That's called freedom and nobody needs to sue anybody.
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belden said 9:30PM on 9-22-2008
I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet, but does anyone know how much they were planning on charging for MailWrangler? I can understand if like Podcaster they were going to charge money for it, I can see what the problem would be. If they were planning on it being free, that's completely different.
Apple might just want to protect people from paying for something they already have which I agree with. Then again, the abundence of alternate calculators, contact viewers, clocks, and weather apps seems to go against this, but maybe they are trying to stop things now before they get out of hand.
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Almadi said 11:09PM on 9-22-2008
Don't mess with the Zohan, but you can mess with everyone else I guess.
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flokru said 12:31AM on 9-23-2008
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.
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gopi said 4:06AM on 9-23-2008
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.