Apple Driving iPhone Developers Away
Apple is tightening their grip on iPhone developers as they once again wack the Podcaster deveoper after blocking Alex Sokirynsky, from making new ad hoc licenses, effectively killing any further distribution.
Apple already raised some concerns from deveopers after they rejected an iPhone app called Podcaster because it apparently “duplicates the functionality of the Podcast section of iTunes.” Which is either extremely suspect or just someone at Apple not understanding the difference between what the app does and what the podcast section of iTunes does. As a result, the developer decided to distribute the app via the Ad Hoc Method, but he can no longer do so because Apple already blocked the developer. Anyone who has already paid and had their iPhone or iPod registered will still be able to install and use it.
Apple’s reason for the initial rejection of the Podcaster is shalow and by blocking the developer, Apple is making a statement that the App Store is the only way to get and distribute apps. We don’t know if they have the rights to aggressively shut down unofficial distribution channels, especially when it actually makes use of their own system?
If Apple continues this practice then they will juts drive the developers away, making their competition, the Android look good in the process. If things don’t change, what’s happening right now may seriously weaken the iPhone as a platform and enable Apple’s competitors to get the upper hand when it comes to dominating the smartphone market.
