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'Airfoil Speakers Touch' Update Restores Disputed Icons

Monday November 23, 2009 10:54 am PST by Eric Slivka
Earlier this month, we mentioned Rogue Amoeba's run-in with Apple over the use of "Apple-owned" images in Rogue Amoeba's Airfoil Speakers Touch [App Store, Free] iPhone application. The incident involved an over-three-month App Store review process for an update to the application that was held up due to the inclusion of the Apple-owned images, despite Rogue Amoeba's assertion that the images were not included in the iPhone application and were instead being served from the companion desktop application in a manner exactly as Apple had intended.

Rogue Amoeba ultimately removed the images from the application in order to allow it to be approved, replacing the images in question with an Electronic Frontier Foundation logo and a link to an explanation regarding their removal. The company also announced that it was ending its iPhone application development due to frustrations over the App Store approval process.

Today, Rogue Amoeba announced the release of an update to Airfoil Speakers Touch that restores the disputed images, acknowledging that it was contacted last Friday by Apple, which had decided to revise its internal policies to address the situation.

Following our post detailing the ordeal we had getting Airfoil Speakers Touch 1.0.1 through the store, we were contacted by Apple. They indicated that, due in part to our post, they were changing their internal policies and would allow the desired behavior and artwork to be displayed.

In short, they changed their minds.

While Rogue Amoeba is pleased by Apple's change of heart and the blazingly fast turnaround for approval on the new update, the exact reason for the company's policy revision is not entirely clear, and Rogue Amoeba's decision to refrain from further iPhone application development stands.

The problems of the App Store go well beyond our own relatively minor case. We pushed this update to Airfoil Speakers Touch out because we wanted to restore functionality we had to take away from our users. We're happy to be able to do that.

That said, the App Store and iPhone platform still have myriad problems, detailed in many places. Among other issues, the potential remains for months of effort to be wasted as an app sits in limbo, or is never even released. As well, the long lead times needed before updates reach users are still in place.

At this time, we don't believe it makes good business sense for us to commit much in the way of resources to the iPhone.

The company does not close the door on returning to the iPhone platform at some point in the future, but it is clear that it will not consider to do so until it feels that Apple enacts more developer-friendly policies for the App Store.
[ 27 comments ]

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AustinJamMan
Posted: 29 months ago
easy solution...just go develop on the Android platform.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
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SteveLV702
Posted: 29 months ago
I have a iPhone and a Android phone and I for phone sort of like the Apple Approval process while they could use alot more screeners to get the apps out alot faster.... When apps come out they work unlike Android where 65% of the apps I have downloaded on my Android phone don't work at all and then 20% don't work as they should and only about 15% actually work...
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Krizoitz
Posted: 29 months ago

easy solution...just go develop on the Android platform.


With its tens of users? Which phone are you going to develop for? The one with the touch screen, or just the keyboard for input? The one with 400x800 resolution, or the one with 300x500? The one that uses stylus input or touch input? The one with rotation or without?

Companies are allready pulling out of Android development due to the small market size and fragmentation issues. Sure you don't have as many approval headaches, but it takes you more effort to make the app, and there are even fewer people to buy it. Trade off worth it?
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
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sigamy
Posted: 29 months ago
No offense to Rogue Amoeba because they do make nice apps but...this is really much ado about nothing. They can't be leaving much money on the table with walking away from the iPhone platform. (Can someone explain to me why I need to stream audio to my iPhone? Don't most users sync their music down to the device?)

I get the impression that their iPhone apps weren't selling much, then they hit a lengthy and frustrating app approval process and then they decided developing for the iPhone isn't worth their time.

Is the iPhone not worth their time *strictly* due to the confusing and frustrating approval process? Or because there apps weren't selling?

I understand there are issues with the App Store but we need to be very careful and really understand the full reason(s) developers walk away from the iPhone: business ethics in regards to app approval, low sales, or a combination of both.
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trainguy77
Posted: 29 months ago


I get the impression that their iPhone apps weren't selling much, then they hit a lengthy and frustrating app approval process and then they decided developing for the iPhone isn't worth their time.


The app they speak of is free. It is designed to support the desktop app which is pay for. As the iPhone app is useless without the desktop app.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
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cmcbridejr
Posted: 29 months ago

No offense to Rogue Amoeba because they do make nice apps but...this is really much ado about nothing. They can't be leaving much money on the table with walking away from the iPhone platform. (Can someone explain to me why I need to stream audio to my iPhone? Don't most users sync their music down to the device?)

I get the impression that their iPhone apps weren't selling much, then they hit a lengthy and frustrating app approval process and then they decided developing for the iPhone isn't worth their time.

Is the iPhone not worth their time *strictly* due to the confusing and frustrating approval process? Or because there apps weren't selling?

I understand there are issues with the App Store but we need to be very careful and really understand the full reason(s) developers walk away from the iPhone: business ethics in regards to app approval, low sales, or a combination of both.


I totally agree.

Rogue Amoeba makes one of my favorite Mac applications - Radioshift.

However, Radioshift has not been updated in a long time (and it can certainly take some improvements). When I saw Radioshift for the iPhone, I got very excited and it was one of the few iPhone apps that I payed $10 for. Looking back, I probably would not have payed $10 for it. They have not released any updates, it does not have all of the stations that the desktop app has, and the navigation is weak.

Perhaps, Rogue Amoeba needs to rethink their strategies to developing apps and not blame their problems on the App Store approval process. Especially if they are going to charge $10 for an iPhone app and never update it.
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miketcool
Posted: 29 months ago

With its tens of users? Which phone are you going to develop for? The one with the touch screen, or just the keyboard for input? The one with 400x800 resolution, or the one with 300x500? The one that uses stylus input or touch input? The one with rotation or without?

Companies are allready pulling out of Android development due to the small market size and fragmentation issues. Sure you don't have as many approval headaches, but it takes you more effort to make the app, and there are even fewer people to buy it. Trade off worth it?


Seriously, good call! Why bother developing games and applications for Mac OS when their are billions more M$ Windows users. Clearly it is all about whoring out your ideals and principles to make the most money possible and reach the clearly larger user base. That is what the Mac experience is all about. Right?
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Krizoitz
Posted: 29 months ago

Seriously, good call! Why bother developing games and applications for Mac OS when their are billions more M$ Windows users. Clearly it is all about whoring out your ideals and principles to make the most money possible and reach the clearly larger user base. That is what the Mac experience is all about. Right?


Nice baseless comparison completely ignoring the fact that my argument only included user base as one factor.
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JPyre
Posted: 29 months ago
Are you kidding me? I'm getting sick of developers whining like little kids.
Ok Apple changed their minds but you shouldn't use images you don't create anyway. Period.
The only devs that have a right to cry are the ones taken down by tim langdell or luxor or other IP trolls.
If the app isn't within standards apple placed then its not within standards, stop bitching and rewrite the app.
This is really annoying, there are thousands of companies making money on the appstore, if you cant get a app approved then its YOUR fault.
Make a simple game or app for christ sake, and stop trying to stream massive data over celular, run unauthorized code, use copywrited images, copying existing functions, porn and foul language.
How can a developer seriously be worried about an app "in limbo" or "long lead times" on approvals or updates if you write the app correctly the first time. STOP TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH.


"This update restores functionality we reluctantly removed at the behest of Apple"

A copywrited image is "functionality"? That made me LOL. This dev is obviously not making money, and wouldn't even if it had apple's logos in the first place. I bet theyre just pissed they cant make Audio HiJack for iphone.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
Avatar
lowbatteries
Posted: 29 months ago

Are you kidding me? I'm getting sick of developers whining like little kids.
Ok Apple changed their minds but you shouldn't use images you don't create anyway. Period.
The only devs that have a right to cry are the ones taken down by tim langdell or luxor or other IP trolls.
If the app isn't within standards apple placed then its not within standards, stop bitching and rewrite the app.
This is really annoying, there are thousands of companies making money on the appstore, if you cant get a app approved then its YOUR fault.
Make a simple game or app for christ sake, and stop trying to stream massive data over celular, run unauthorized code, use copywrited images, copying existing functions, porn and foul language.
How can a developer seriously be worried about an app "in limbo" or "long lead times" on approvals or updates if you write the app correctly the first time. STOP TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH.


"This update restores functionality we reluctantly removed at the behest of Apple"

A copywrited image is "functionality"? That made me LOL. This dev is obviously not making money, and wouldn't even if it had apple's logos in the first place. I bet theyre just pissed they cant make Audio HiJack for iphone.


Dude - this app didn't use any copyrighted images any more than the OS X Dock or Finder uses copyrighted icons. Using the icon of an app to represent that app, using functionality PROVIDED BY APPLE FOR THAT PURPOSE, and then being blocked from the app store for it, is ridiculous.
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