Good news, iPhone developers! If your application is vaguely similar in function to Apple’s own offerings, it might not ever see the light of day — even if it provides useful functionality that Apple’s application doesn’t.
Over the weekend, developer Angelo DiNardi told the tale of his would-be App Store application, MailWrangler, via his blog. By embedding Webkit and automatically handling login credentials, MailWrangler allowed users the full GMail interface (complete with the threaded views, archiving, contacts, and favoriting features that the Mail application lacks) across however many accounts they have without requiring them to log out and back in for each.
After more than a month of waiting, Apple finally gave word:
“Your application duplicates the functionality of the built-in iPhone application Mail without providing sufficient differentiation or added functionality, which will lead to user confusion,” they said. “There is also no way to edit an account once it has been added.”
Apparently, whoever gauged this application spent enough time to recognize a flaw (an annoyance, at most) within it, yet failed to recognize that it served an actual purpose. As someone who totes a handful of GMail accounts and requires much of the functionality that Mail’s UI can’t provide, I need this application. And what’s this nonsense about the application leading to “user confusion”? Anybody confused by the differences between this application and the one that comes on the phone probably shouldn’t be touching expensive gadgetry in the first place.
Anybody else feel a bit burned by Apple’s decision?
I would really like to have this application. I’ve already replaced my Mail app shortcut with a shortcut to gmail in Safari, but it’s annoying having to deal with logging in periodically. And having it as only one Safari page among many means the shortcut doesn’t always behave the way I’d like.
I appreciate that Apple regulates the app store somewhat, but this feels like a case of stifling innovation. And the reason sounds hollow, as I’m more likely to be confused by the nuanced differentiation among a dozen calculators than I am between this app and Mail.
MailWrangler isn’t the only one, just the latest — it’s getting ridiculous. Duplicate functionality? helllloooo: http://timheuer.com/blog/archive/2008/09/22/apple-appstore-restricts-user-choice.aspx
so weak…
well, as frustrating as this is, it’s not sustainable. apple will eventually have to compete with the more open platforms.
Can’t they distribute their app on their own (enterprise)? Do they need Apple’s approval for that?
That’s one of the reasons that keeps me from getting an Apple products. Apple is getting to be too much of a control freak. With a *smart*phone that doesn’t let you attach more than one picture at a time they should at least let somebody else repair their design flaws. So a theoretically interesting products becomes less and less interesting to the more evolved community.
Let someone else repair their design flaws? Don’t be silly. They save them up, fix them themselves once they’ve sold a couple of million handsets and then release a new version to rapturous applause from the hoards of mindless fanboys (do I sound cynical?).
Once again you are correct sir!! Apple has always been slick like that.
Just do a Jailbreak and you can install your own applications. Don’t know though if this application is going to be released for cydia or installler…
I suspect they would accept once the account editing is added. It may not seem to be logical, but I’ve seen stranger things. The same reason that computers do not run companies (yet).
This sounds like one more reason for me to not get an iPhone and instead go with android, even though as a whole package, it probably won’t be better.
This is pathetic.
The more Apple does this, the more they are making the case for Windows Mobile.