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Apple decrees death to "cookie-cutter" iPhone apps
When Apple caused a stir by removing thousands of sexually suggestive iPhone apps from its App Store, astute commentators noticed something unsexy that a lot of the apps had in common: they were practically cookie-cutter copies of one another. A lot of those apps were just different collections of bikini photos wrapped in identical user interfaces, and with no feature differentiation. It seems that Apple isn't going to stand for that anymore.
TechCrunch has been following Apple's communications with software developers who sell templated iPhone apps, and the end is apparently nigh for applications that don't bring anything new to the table. On the list of potential casualties: branded RSS apps that are nothing but site feeds in shiny wrappers. These cookie-cutter apps haven't been pulled yet, but developers have been warned that they need to distinguish their software.
This sounds like nothing but good news to me. Either customers get improved apps, or the detritus of the App Store gets cleared away, making strong, innovative apps more visible. If I were running a cookie-cutter app factory right now, I'd be a little worried. On the other hand, smaller development houses should probably go out tonight and raise a glass to Apple for this new policy.
Comments
12
Subscribe to comments216Mar 8th 2010 9:36AM
well that'll cut the number of apps from 100,000 to (insert number denouncing the legitimacy of the app store here)
JordanMar 8th 2010 9:47AM
I swear if this takes away all the fart apps I'm gonna be pissed!
RobertMar 8th 2010 10:35AM
I'm wondering if the "Switched" app by AOL is one of the useless RSS consolidators???
ArnieMar 8th 2010 11:07AM
Or the engadget app. Hmm I guess Engadget could distinguish by saying it has the Tip Me feature but that is stretching it a bit.
do.ronMar 8th 2010 10:48AM
We should try this on the internet with Post's and Comments.That would be kind of nice actually.
Yes, I have a name...Mar 8th 2010 10:59AM
I believe you mean *aherm* "Cookie-Cutter App Bakery"
...*Shakes head at own joke*...
DavidMar 8th 2010 11:01AM
"or the detritus of the App Store gets cleared away, making strong, innovative apps more visible."
While I welcome the move to cull templated iPhone apps, and I accept that this will result with an immediate (but not long lasting) reduction in the number of apps on the App Store, the overwhelming number of absolute crud from non-templated iPhone apps will still dominate over the number of actual innovative apps.
mrickMar 8th 2010 11:51AM
I'm not too crazy about this idea. If someone finds functionality in a cookie cutter RSS feed app, why is it up to Apple to decide if there is value there or not? I was going to use one of these RSS Apps for a feed to a non-profit site I manage. This is really disappointing. Apple's continue Big Brother approach is worrisome.
ButtersMar 8th 2010 1:25PM
"...why is it up to Apple to decide if there is value there or not?"
Because it is their app store.
DeoWulfMar 8th 2010 6:12PM
Just wondering, why not just provide a link to your site?
chrishighMar 8th 2010 1:36PM
The problem here is that something with equal finction, but in a much better skin could be blocked from the market. After all most of Apple's users HAVE their devices because aesthetics matter - so who will man the gate of ugly vs. not ugly?
IMO, apps should just be purged if there have been no more than 25 downloads in 60 days (including .001 releases just to bump them up). At least that will tidy up the indexing.
chrishighMar 8th 2010 1:37PM
*function