Podcasters Blacklisted From App Store?

A few days ago, I shared my personal story of how the iTunes Application Store has sent me a rejection email stating that they were not going to publish my application in the App store as they do not feel that the App Store is a proper channel for distributing podcast content despite the fact that they had already approved two applications exactly the same as mine, made by the same developer, that have become quite popular.

As it turns out, this may not be just a simple misunderstanding and with this story I just read on gizmodo.com, it seems that iTunes is actually taking the stance of BLACKLISTING podcasters from developing applications intended to allow streaming of their content via wifi, 3G, or Edge Networks. The application referred to in this story is called “Podcaster and was designed to allow you to subscribe, manage, stream and download podcasts directly to your iPhone and iPod Touch. Who doesn’t want this? Right?

The developers of this application were delivered a similar rejection letter to the one that Apple, Inc. had sent to me saying…. “Since Podcaster assists in the distribution of podcasts, it duplicates the functionality of the Podcast section of iTunes.”

I must say that over the past few years, I’ve really warmed up to Apple. I purchased my first iPod just about two and a half years ago. Since then, I’ve purchased a total of five iPods for our family and three iPhones (I sold my original to get the new 3G).

In June of 2007, I purchased my first ever Mac Computer (A Macbook Laptop). I even started a Podcast (HelpIGotAMac.com) devoted to helping people who have spent a lifetime of computing on a PC warm up to their very first Mac Computer.

However, I must say that as a Podcaster, I feel slightly snubbed by the rejection of applications where money and time were poured into by podcasters when there were absolutely no clear guidelines or indications that such useful applications would be against any company policy.

Apple is turning out to be a very different company from what all my friends had been telling me about. I’m not sure I like this way of doing business.

UDPATE: Finally, this is starting to get some widespread attention. Here is a story posted on MacRumors.com.

Tagged as: Apple, AppStore, iPhone

Robert Johnson

The more that this kind of stuff happens the more I am inclined to go Open Source Software 100%. Put Ubuntu/Fedora on my laptop and get an Android based phone. This kind of stuff really is starting to sour my love affair with Apple.
Aaron

Michelea,
I don't think that the podcasts were tied to iTunes since all it is doing is grabbing the rss feed from the website. Remember, the app was also going to allow plus members to log in and they don't have the feeds in the iTunes store.

I think that the major issue will be what Apple decided to do with what they will do with the Digg and Mobility Today applications. If they decided to keep them, then they are really being hypocritical about the whole process (and we know that they don't have a problem getting rid of apps that were already in the store). However, if they take those two apps out of the store, then there is less of a case to be made about the GSPN app.

This isn't to say that I think that Apple is in the right here because I don't. A pretty big Mac developer, Rogue Amoeba, has had major problems getting into the store as well. The whole situation is quickly becoming a farce.
Michaela

Can you distribute the app via the podcast rss or is that the same as jailbreaking it? I'm not sure if programs have to sync directly from the app store part of iTunes.
Jaime

Actually these apps are NOT redundant because I currently cannot update podcasts on the fly. A streaming app is a perfect solution to this issue. It is always annoying to me to have to miss out on listening to a show simply because A. I cannot download away from my one allowed sync computer and B. I cannot download via wifi.
There would not be a need for these apps IF itunes allowed the functionality that people crave. There is however, a genuine want and need for these apps. I would download an app like this for every podcast that I listen to if it were available.
Mark

Apple does lack consistency... Which is unfair...

I think that Apple wants to release their own app for people to subscribe to podcasts...

But really what apple should have done is listed what applications they would put up on the apps store and the apps they would reject..

Cliff has wasted a lot of money if Apple doesn't take up the app...

Its enough to make your blood boil
FredFromLongIsland

This is another example of Apple acting just as any other corporation would do, to protect their own interests at the expense of what's right. It's time for the Apple fanboys and girls to admit that yes, Apple makes great products, but they can be just as insensitive to their users as any other company.
Cliff Ravenscraft

My main beef is that there are two apps in the store that are the SAME EXACT app as mine. The same guy developed those who developed mine.

As for being able to side-step, the only way to do it is to push it out on the Jail Broken Community. I'm not comfortable with suggesting people void their warranty just to be able to stream my podcasts.

Beyond podcasters, I imagine there are a TON of applications out there that we are not getting because Apple doesn't like them.

Just publish some darn guidelines so we can make sure not to throw hundreds and thousands out the window to have the stuff developed. That's my other main beef.
bukbonzai

I can see where you are coming from: The fact that apple is blacklisting is indeed a problem.

But I can also see their side. Redundancy can cause some problems in their world. (As it has shown in many many issues with PC). So they may be either trying to avert a future problem, or they have tested things like this and found problems.

But then again, I am just playing devils advocate. You should be able to publish your apps...can you do it any other way? Kinda side step them?