In Apple ’s public , an app can be inappropriate one 24-hour interval , but acceptable the next . That ’s what the developer ofAmphetamine — anappdesignedto keep Macs from locomote to sleep , which is useful in situation such as when a single file is download or when a specific app is running — learned recently when Apple got in touch with him and told him that his app violate the company ’s App Store rule of thumb .
upper developer William Gustafsonpublished an accountof the incident and his experience with Apple ’s App Store follow-up team on GitHub on Friday . In the Charles William Post , Gustafson explained that Apple contacted him on Dec. 29 and order him that Amphetamine , which has been on the Mac App Store for six years , had all of a sudden begun violating one of the company ’s App Store guidelines . Specifically , Gustafson said that Apple claimed that Amphetamine seem to kick upstairs the inappropriate use of goods and services of control substances dedicate its very name — amphetamine are used to treatADHD — and because its icon includes a pill .
https://gizmodo.com/the-rallying-cry-against-apples-app-store-policies-is-g-1845168788
Apple has featured Amphetamine in its Mac App Store Story.Screenshot: Apple
Gizmodo contacted Gustafson via Twitter lineal messages and confirm his account via screenshots of the conversation with Apple deal by the developer . We also contacted Apple to ask for a comment on the affair but have not received a reply .
“ As we discussed , we found that your app includes content that some users may find upsetting , offensive , or otherwise obnoxious , ” an Apple congresswoman told Gustafson on Dec. 29 accord to a screenshot shared with Gizmodo . “ Specifically , your app name and icon include references to controlled marrow , pill . ”
The representative then brought up App StoreGuideline 1.4.3 , which pertains to safety and physical hurt . The guideline show as follows :
“ Apps that encourage consumption of tobacco and vape products , illegal drug , or exuberant amounts of alcohol are not permitted on the App Store . Apps that encourage tyke to consume any of these substances will be rejected . Facilitating the sales event of marijuana , tobacco , or insure centre ( except for accredited pharmacies ) is n’t earmark . ”
To address the issue , the Apple voice said that Gustafson had to remove all content that further inappropriate consumption of drugs or intoxicant . Gustafson explicate in his Github post that Apple had jeopardise to take out Amphetamine from the Mac App Store on Jan. 12 if he did not oblige with its request for change .
If this is all sounding a bit wild to you , that ’s because it is . Although Amphetamine uses its name and branding to lightheartedly conduct the fact that the app will keep your Mac from die to sleep , it does not do anything that violates Guideline 1.4.3 . Anyone who uses the app knows that it is plan specifically to keep your computer from lead to sleep when you do n’t want it to . And if the pill icon bothers you for some understanding , you could deepen it to a number of different options , from a coffee bean cupful or a tea kettle to an owl or a sleep emoji .
Gustafson also objected to Apple ’s logical thinking for targeting Amphetamine , saying that the app did not promote the consumption of legal or illegal drugs nor did it ease the cut-rate sale of control substances . Apple was also not utilize its guidelines fairly and consistently , Gustafson argued in his Github post .
https://gizmodo.com/developers-can-now-formally-challenge-apples-app-store-1844905692
As an example , he cited other apps , such asCoca , which is also used to forbid Macs from go to sleep . Coca ’s ikon include a leaf , and the Imogene Coca works can be used to makecocaine . Gustafson also pointed toDrug Mafia – Weed Pawn Shop , an iPad game where players have to “ build [ their ] reputation with suppliers ” and “ grow [ their ] empire and become a drug lord , ” among other tasks , according to the app ’s description.iBeer , another iPad app given as an example by Gustafson , is on the App Store as well . It simulates drinking beer on your earphone .
“ you may get plenty of other apps on the App Store that either advertize irresponsible use of both legal and illegal drug , or unlimited glorify the manufacture and sales agreement of illegal drug . These other apps have not been off from the App Store or ram to rebrand , ” Gustafson write .
The developer also reason that Apple suffer a problem with the app now did n’t make sense since the caller itself had kick upstairs Amphetamine as one of itsfeatured appsin the App Store . He affirmed that in all his interactions with Apple employee over the geezerhood , and all the times they had in fact made him change thing like his preview screenshots or the app ’s default option demeanour in the menu Browning automatic rifle , Amphetamine ’s brand personal identity had been never oppugn . Gustafson said in Amphetamine ’s six years on the App Store , he had submitted 41 app update or submission for Apple to review .
Gustafson said his app , which is free , had been downloaded more than 432,800 metre and that it presently has more than 1,400 reviews and a 4.8 out of 5.0 rating in the U.S. Mac App Store . Besides his military post about the incident on GitHub , Gustafson also created aChange.orgpetition — which at the meter of publication had tuck more than 550 signatures — and also encouraged sympathizers to retweet him onTwitterand upvote his post onReddit .
In this case , Gustafson care to get Apple to see the absurdity of its ways . The developer told Gizmodo on Saturday that the solicitation he filed against the App Store guidelines ’ purport violation had been accept and the issue resolved .
“ [ T]he App Review Board has regard your appeal and set that the original rejection was invalid , ” an Apple example told Gustafson on Saturday . “ We found that the app is not in ravishment of App Store Review Guideline 1.4.3 since the app is using the terminus ‘ Amphetamine ’ metaphorically and is not intended to promote drug use . ”
https://gizmodo.com/apples-killing-a-popular-app-that-lets-you-play-stadia-1845424412
Gustafson told Gizmodo that this intend that he will exit Amphetamine as - is and will not change the stigmatization or identity , adding that the majority of response he received during this incident were in support of keeping the app as it was . Yet , this does n’t stand for that Amphetamine is complimentary of any next issues with the big technical school giant .
“ I am hopeful that the next ( and subsequent ) updates will go through without any objection from Apple , but just as this issue seemingly come out out of nowhere , there could be something else Apple suddenly differ with , ” Gustafson told Gizmodo . “ It ’s a really unfortunate side - issue of distribute apps via the App Store . As a developer , you just have no idea if Apple is extend to shut out you down one mean solar day . Quite frankly , I ’m thankful to have a ‘ regular ’ 9 - 5 job that pays the bank note . I am not dependent on App Store sales income like many other developers . ”
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