Apple's Crackdown on App Discovery Apps Gains New Ground

Apple has been cracking down on app discovery resources in recent months, removing high profile apps like AppGratis for violating guideline 2.25, which states the following: "Apps that display Apps other than your own for purchase or promotion in a manner similar to or confusing with the App Store will be rejected."

A report from AllThingsD in early April indicated that AppGratis' rejection from the App Store was just the first phase of a much wider crackdown, which was today confirmed by PocketGamer.biz after Apple began rejecting apps that feature tools for "filtering, bookmarking, searching, or sharing recommendations."

We've been contacted by one developer whose app discovery tool has recently been blocked by Apple because it includes such features, with App Store regulation 2.25 - which restricts apps that could be confused by consumers as app stores in their own right – cited within the reasoning.

The developer, who opted to remain anonymous, said that the rejected app focused primarily on sharing app recommendations to friends.

"I have not seen this rejection notice before and believe that it is a new one. We thought that basing our recommendations on sharing was suitable for Apple, as it had previously stated that if you bake in social or local into your app discovery, you would be fine.

"However, either we are not social enough, or Apple is going back on its position. Either way, it appears the scope of 2.25 continues to grow and I think they aim to be the only provider of recommendations for apps, along with being the distributor."

As noted above, guideline 2.25 has non-specific, generalized wording that does not include specifics on the filtering, bookmarking, searching, and sharing violations, which means the company could use the rule to reject and penalize a number of apps that incorporate similar features. [Source]

You can follow me on Twitter, add me to your circles on Google+ or Subscribe to me on Facebook or YouTube. You can also check my blog to keep yourself updated with what is happening in the ever changing world of technology

Apple Name associated with a 1$ Billion Fraud Case

Although Apple itself has done nothing illegal in this matter, the company is seeing its brand take a beating in the headlines for little more than its connection to the fraudulent activities engaged in by a single Wall Street trader.

Bloomberg confirms that an ex-trader with the firm Rochdale Securities LLC has been charged with wire fraud relating to an unauthorized $1 billion purchase of Apple stock. But when all didn't go as planned in the scam, the stunt cost his company $5 million.

The trader in question is David Miller, 40. Miller surrendered to the FBI yesterday and was subsequently released on $300,000 bail.

"The Stamford, Connecticut-based brokerage has been struggling to survive and hold on to its staff after Miller’s trade, made about the time of the Cupertino, California-based Technology Company’s October earnings release."

“As is so often seen in these types of cases, the alleged criminal conduct of Miller was for personal gain at the expense and detriment of others,” FBI agent Kimberly Mertz said yesterday in a statement. “Manipulating and orchestrating stock transactions in such a manner is a very serious criminal offense and its impact can be both devastating and lasting.”

In case you're wondering, wire fraud could land you in the slammer for up to 20 years. [Bloomberg]


You can follow me on Twitter, add me to your circles on Google+ or Subscribe to me on facebook or YouTube. You can also check my website and blog to keep yourself updated with what is happening in the ever changing world of technology

Phone Unlocking and Jailbreaking Tablets illegal

The latest news from Congress it granted blessing on the iOS jailbreak and Android Rooting all devices; the hackers embraced this with pride. That specific amendment a few years ago to the DMCA was just temporary and since then the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) has tried relentlessly to get it reinstated. This has now happened. The Library of Congress has now extended it for another three years, but with some extreme limitations: After 90 days, unlocking of new phones will be verboten and all tablet mods will still be illegal. This has major differences from the 2010 stipulation which did allow unlocking, because the Librarian decided that a recent copyright ruling means fair use rules no longer apply to a handset's OS. It also states that this exception does not apply anymore as carrier rules regarding unlocking are now more relaxed.

What do you think?

You can follow me on Twitter, add me to your circles on Google+ or Subscribe to me on facebook or YouTube. You can also check my website and blog to keep yourself updated with what is happening in the ever changing world of technology