Filed under: Software, Internet Tools, iPhone, App Store, Jailbreak/pwnage
Apple rejects µTorrent controller iPhone app
We've talked before about ways to control a BitTorrent client from the iPhone, and some unofficial developers have gotten it working in a jailbroken way. But apparently that's as far as we'll get -- µMonitor, a little iPhone app to control µTorrent (a popular BitTorrent app that I use pretty often) was recently submitted to the App Store, and Torrentfreak reports that it's been rejected out of hand. This isn't the first time something like this has come up: Drivetrain, another torrent remote control tool, was also rejected back in May.Apparently Apple tells the developer that they are disallowing all types of BitTorrent-related apps "because this category of applications is often used for the purpose of infringing third party rights." Often does not equal always, but technically that's another point: it's Apple's App Store, and they can take their ball and go home if they want. Torrentfreak claims that the myNZB app technically does the same thing (it basically controls a newsreader that can be used to download large numbers of files, possibly in violation of copyright), but it's the word "torrent" that Apple (and, likely, their content partners) have an issue with. Sure enough, a search of "torrent" on the App Store doesn't bring up anything related to the BitTorrent technology.
You can still run µTorrent on your iPhone, although you'll have to jailbreak it and dive into the Cydia repository, where it's listed under "Utilities." As for Apple's stance, I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for things to change on this one -- µTorrent isn't even an app that enables BitTorrent downloading; it just makes it easier (by accessing a client that's doing the work elsewhere), and if they aren't willing to pay heed to these distinctions now, it's not likely they'll bother in the future, either.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Heimbachae said 1:07PM on 9-02-2009
what apple rejects, cydia embraces!!!
Reply
smak said 7:13PM on 9-02-2009
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
mark said 1:18PM on 9-02-2009
I wonder if they are rejecting it because they see themselves as an extension of the Internet police, or if they are worried about being sued some day as enabling people to break copyright law, should people choose to use this program for illegal means.
Reply
Fred said 1:26PM on 9-02-2009
I think it's pretty clear that they are protecting themselves from future litigation. It's a no-brainer, lawsuits always go after the guy with the most cash.
CHRiS said 1:35PM on 9-02-2009
oh it's pretty clear alright, but what isn't clear is why they don't ban it on OSX? - Since they don't ban it on OSX, but do ban it on a mobile phone, which by the way, this is only a "remote control" for the actual program... makes it a bit muddy and not so clear. Ban them on both platforms, or don't ban them at all if they are so scared.
Swimatm said 2:44PM on 9-02-2009
@CHRiS
Apple doesn't ban uTorrent on OSX because they can't. That's the way it works with a desktop OS. There's no approval process for OSX programs, developers can make whatever they want and distribute it. Mobile devices are different from full-fledged computers.
BeyondtheTech said 1:23PM on 9-02-2009
They should have known it would be banned. In fact, they should have had the balls to use a screenshot that included torrents such as "Inglourious Basterds (2009) TS Mic - XviD-DEVISE" and "Angels & Demons 2009 R5 LINE-SecretMyth (Kingdom-Release)."
Reply
jwfnla said 1:35PM on 9-02-2009
I love (meaning loathe) how you folks so casually skip over the part where torrents are primarily used to steal movies. Illegally. As an indie filmmaker who's film was on a torrent the DAY AFTER IT WAS RELEASED, I can assure you -- you ARE hurting some of the 'little guys'.
Reply
punkassjim said 1:39PM on 9-02-2009
Hear hear.
CHRiS said 1:41PM on 9-02-2009
The internet is primarily used to steal movies too, shall we ban it too? Your argument is old, and never has and never will hold water. Shall we ban steak knives too? Since you can use them to kill people? Oh wait, let's also ban guns, plastic forks, anything sharp or any medicines that can be used as a weapon. I don't condone piracy, but I don't condone police states funded by commercial entities either. There is no balance whatsoever. Why don't you publish your movie online with some ads in it to help offset the cost of the piracy? It will be pirated - but guess what, I bet your distribution agreements won't allow it huh? That would eat into the distribution model profits. So guess what, time to make new partners, here is one you can ring up: hulu.com, apple @ itunes.com, yahoo.com, and lots of others. Put an ad in there, and tell your current distribution model to take it or leave it (with the ability to distribute it online as well). yes, you'll still have piracy, but you can't blame that - I mean FOR GODS SAKE look at the movie industries profit for the past 10 years, even during the US low economic times.
Todd Sieling said 1:43PM on 9-02-2009
Hurting with increased exposure? Hurting with people who likely were never going to be your customers anyway? I know it seems like a linear argument that 'download = stealing' but how much effort did you make to bring your film to digital distribution?
But that's beside the point. You can't hate the technology because it's often used for something you disagree with. The CBC used bittorrent to distribute a tv event as an experiment, and it went just fine. It was bittorrent, but nobody got hurt. Nobody ever told distributors they couldn't charge for access to downloads and make them available by bittorrent, which would have offloaded the bandwidth costs by several orders of magnitude. Instead, they to hug the idea of old copyright, not innovate, and then sit and cry as the world changed around them and use the law as a bludgeon against their fans.
I feel the struggle that any indie producer faces, but your anger is wrongly placed. Bittorrent is an incredible innovation that happens to work well for those who want to run while dinosaurs demand that they all walk slowly.
MacSlut said 3:18PM on 9-02-2009
@jwfnla
And I love (meaning loathe) how you so causally skip over all of the legitimate uses of bittorrent. As someone who produces and distributes free content, I can assure you -- those who ban torrenting ARE hurting some of the 'littler guys' who've already made the transition to alternative business models.
Apple is being ridiculously hypocritical in banning the uTorrent Controller, when the iPod itself is such a significant destination for content from it.
Actionable Mango said 3:54PM on 9-02-2009
iPods are largely used to store and play pirated media, so I guess Apple should ban iPods too.
jwfnla said 9:31AM on 9-08-2009
Seriously, macslut -- what are the legitimate uses for torrents in today's marketplace? Who is using it legally and for what? Give me specifics. What exists that can't simply be posted to a blog or other forum as a download for anyone who wants a free bit of code? I do not believe that you're defending anything but your right to steal copyrighted material. Of the computer users I know (read: everyone I know), only one person uses torrents, and he uses them to steal copyrighted material. I understand that it's fun to be a petty thief, but you're still petty. And still a thief.
TW said 1:39PM on 9-02-2009
A better alternative - get Azureus (Vuze) and enable the web interface. There's already an iPhone-friendly version that a search for iZureus should turn up. It supports control of current torrents and uploading of new ones, and you can obviously create a bookmark that jumps straight to it like an app.
Reply
cmsb55 said 7:41PM on 9-02-2009
uTorrent has a mobile web interface too. It is not iPhone specific but I'm sure it would work.
cdogg said 1:42PM on 9-02-2009
How much longer are we going to read about each "juicy" app that Apple rejects? We get it, Apple's playing it safe. Move on. Nothing to see here.
Reply
Hobbes said 1:53PM on 9-02-2009
Until there is actually something real to write about.
News about Apple are always rumours, guesses, opinions, etc. Never factual news until the day a new product is announced/launched. It's sad, but true. We all starve for Apple news and we can't get them from Apple as often as we'd like.
markrw said 1:50PM on 9-02-2009
So is it going to be news every time Apple rejects a torrent program? Most people will never know it is rejected an won't care.
Reply
Andrew said 1:54PM on 9-02-2009
At first when I saw that screenshot I thought to myself, "Who is Lee Ching?" And then it hit me.
Reply