Edward Kirk
November 22nd, 2008, 02:44 PM
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Apple's policies regarding App Store admission are becoming more and more difficult to figure out. Just recently they gave the O.K. to developers of the mail app <i><a href="http://web.me.com/alanc/BdEmailer/Information.html" target="_blank">BdEmailer</a></i> [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=294585859&mt=8" target="_blank">App Store</a>, $0.99], and email app for the iPhone. What's weird about that? Well, it's claim to fame is that it's "the first wide email iPhone app that supports client SMTP." In other words, it completely duplicates the exact function of Apple's own Mail.app. <!--break-->
Up until now one of Apple's biggest reasons for blocking an app's entry into the App Store is duplicating the functionality of their apps. When MailWrangler and Podcaster tried to get into the store, they were blocked for that very reason. The fact that they are letting this app in is breaking their own policy. Of course, we're glad to see apps like these get in to the app store, as they give us more options to chose from, but Apple is either suddenly turning over a new leaf, or they are giving MdEmailer special treatment. We're hoping it's the former.
[via <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/22/apple-approves-third-party-email-client-for-the-app-store-viola/" target="_blank">Engadget</a>]
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Apple's policies regarding App Store admission are becoming more and more difficult to figure out. Just recently they gave the O.K. to developers of the mail app <i><a href="http://web.me.com/alanc/BdEmailer/Information.html" target="_blank">BdEmailer</a></i> [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=294585859&mt=8" target="_blank">App Store</a>, $0.99], and email app for the iPhone. What's weird about that? Well, it's claim to fame is that it's "the first wide email iPhone app that supports client SMTP." In other words, it completely duplicates the exact function of Apple's own Mail.app. <!--break-->
Up until now one of Apple's biggest reasons for blocking an app's entry into the App Store is duplicating the functionality of their apps. When MailWrangler and Podcaster tried to get into the store, they were blocked for that very reason. The fact that they are letting this app in is breaking their own policy. Of course, we're glad to see apps like these get in to the app store, as they give us more options to chose from, but Apple is either suddenly turning over a new leaf, or they are giving MdEmailer special treatment. We're hoping it's the former.
[via <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/22/apple-approves-third-party-email-client-for-the-app-store-viola/" target="_blank">Engadget</a>]
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