The developer of one of the most popular applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch has quit from the AppStore and handed the application to another developer over their review process. He claims that it is ’setting a horrible precedent for other software platforms, and soon gatekeepers will start infesting the lives of every software developer.’
This news was announced over the developers Twitter where he shares that it is time for something new (possibly the Android?) and is handing the Facebook app over to another developer.
Here is what Joe said to TechCrunch about why he has quit saying that it is entirely Apple’s review process that caused him to quit:
My decision to stop iPhone development has had everything to do with Apple’s policies. I respect their right to manage their platform however they want, however I am philosophically opposed to the existence of their review process. I am very concerned that they are setting a horrible precedent for other software platforms, and soon gatekeepers will start infesting the lives of every software developer.
The web is still unrestricted and free, and so I am returning to my roots as a web developer. In the long term, I would like to be able to say that I helped to make the web the best mobile platform available, rather than being part of the transition to a world where every developer must go through a middleman to get their software in the hands of users.
This is the first off what I believe will be a revolution against Apple extremely strict policies when it comes to accepting apps into the AppStore. Take for example the story of Roque Amoeba who took 3 and a half months and 3 regections to finally get his app on the AppStore. However he says the process is much to harduous and is also leaving the iPhone.
In the future, we hope that developers will be allowed to ship software without needing Apple’s approval at all, the same way we do on Mac OS X. We hope the App Store will get better, review times will be shorter, reviews will be more intelligent, and that we can all focus on making great software. Right now, however, the platform is a mess.
The chorus of disenchanted developers is growing and we’re adding our voices as well. Rogue Amoeba no longer has any plans for additional iPhone applications, and updates to our existing iPhone applications will likely be rare. The iPhone platform had great promise, but that promise is not enough, so we’re focusing on the Mac.
I think Apple need to change. Kevin Rose, founder of Digg.com, had a great idea for Apple in my opinion.
He thought that Apple should approve every app and host it on the AppStore making all developers able to sell their apps BUT developers can buy a small extra fee to get their app ‘Certified by Apple’. Much like on computers, users can then decided to trust the app or not.
What do you think? Are you a developers who’s in distress? Share you stories.
