New Apple App Store Rules

The big mobile news of the day is no doubt Apple decision to revise and publish their formerly secret App Store guidelines. Apple kind of Serious about this! here is Some Topic and Apple Comment on these Topics!

Quality: Apple are looking to bolster the standard of apps in the store: "We have over 250,000 apps in the App Store. We do not need any more Fart apps." I wonder if their App Store head had anything to do with that decision? They also take a rather harsh tone towards amateur devs in general by saying "We have lots of serious developers who do not want their quality Apps to be surrounded by amateur hour." Nice to know what you think of the little guy Apple.

Smut: Apple admit that parental controls, while srill there for parents to use, are not always activated and thus Apple have decided it is their duty to look after kids using the App Store. What that means, in short, is that they will not be taking a rosy view of adult content.

App Rejection: Apple do not want people going to the press if their app is rejected. Why? Well because they have a 'Review Board' that will settle the matter for you: "If your app is rejected, we have a Review Board that you can appeal to. If you run to the press and trash us, it never helps."

Control Freaky: "If it sounds like we are control freaks, well, maybe its because we are so committed to our users and making sure they have a quality experience with our products." Didn't you just take a pop at your amateur devs? Not sure I would call that 'committed'.

Duplicate Apps: Apple say they reserve the right to reject apps based on duplication of existing apps. Hardly surprising, but what is interesting is when they say that this is made more likely when there are a number of similar apps. In other words they'll allow some choice in apps, but too many and you'll be stuck with the present options.

No Themes: "Apps that create alternate desktop/home screen environments or simulate multi-app widget experiences will be rejected." Well it wouldn't be an Apple product if everybody didn't look the same now would it?

Free Speech: "Professional political satirists and humorists are exempt from the ban on offensive or mean-spirited commentary." Good news, just a shame that this even has to be put into writing in the first place. Also, what constitutes a 'professional' humorist or satirist?