Apple Rejects Drone Strike App 234
eldavojohn writes "Developer Josh Begley, a student at Clay Shirky's NYU Media Lab, created an application called Drones+ that allows users to track U.S. drone strikes on a map of Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. Far from innovative, the app in question merely relays and positions strikes as available from the U.K.'s Bureau of Investigative Journalism. First Apple rejected the application claiming it was 'not useful or entertaining enough,' then it was rejected for hiding a corporate logo. And the latest reason for objection is that Begley's content is 'objectionable and crude' and 'that many audiences would find [it] objectionable." Begley's at a loss for how to change information on a map. He's not showing images of the drone strikes nor even graphically describing the strikes. From the end of the article, 'The basic idea was to see if he could get App Store denizens a bit more interested in the U.S.' secretive, robotic wars, with information on those wars popping up on their phones the same way an Instagram comment or retweet might. Instead, Begley's thinking about whether he'd have a better shot making the same point in the Android Market.'"
Re:There is no problem with this (Score:4, Informative)
Apple is, and should be, free to prohibit any content they want on their store. It's their store, we shouldn't force them to add stuff they don't want.
The problem here is the locked down devices. You have no other way of installing things on an iPhone. Which is precisely why I don't own one.
Solution: Use Safari Mobile.
Not a government website! (Score:2, Informative)
The description of the article is misleading..
"available from the U.K.'s Bureau of Investigative Journalism."
-makes it sound like it is a government-sponsored website when it is fact a privately owned and operated site.
from the site:
"About the Bureau
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism is a not-for-profit organisation based at City University, London. The Bureau bolsters original journalism by producing high-quality investigations for press and broadcast media with the aim of educating the public and the media on both the realities of today’s world and the value of honest reporting."
"Donations
The Bureau was established with a £2 million donation from the David & Elaine Potter Foundation. We have also received funding from the Andrew Wainwright Reform Trust, and the Green Park Foundation (based in the US).
Media income
We have received part payment for our stories from the BBC, Channel4, Al Jazeera, ITN, The Mail on Sunday, The Sunday Times, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph.
Non media income
We have received monies from Oxfam.
City University
The Bureau receives subsidised office space and facilities from City University. The Bureau has an ongoing relationship with City University’s Department of Journalism which includes offering work experience and internships to its journalism students. Senior members of the Bureau’s staff guest lecture at the department.
Google
The Bureau receives free email and document-sharing services from Google.
Simons Muirhead & Burton Solicitors
The Bureau has a relationship with Simons Muirhead & Burton, one of London’s leading law firms. The firm provides a comprehensive range of legal services particularly to those in the media. It advises the Bureau on a wide range of legal issues, with some of the work done on a pro bono basis.
Managing Editor
Iain Overton is employed by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. His annual salary is just under £65,000 with an additional pension provision on top. He has no political or commercial affiliations."
also misleading from the description:
" the app in question merely relays and positions strikes as available"
-the app writer may not have permission to relay this information:
also from the site:
"Steal our stories
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that carries out research in the public interest. Unless otherwise stated our articles and graphics can be republished without charge. However, there are a few things we ask you to bear in mind:
- If republishing online please link to us and include all of the links from our story.
- Our material cannot be sold separately.
- Photographs and video cannot be republished without specific permission from the licence holder.
- If quoting from our research the Bureau of Investigative Journalism must be credited.
The Bureau is licenced under Creative Commons, which provides the legal details. "
It is 'objectionable and crude' (Score:4, Informative)
to question or challenge US authority. He should be grateful his house isn't on the map.
Re:Or he could... you know... (Score:4, Informative)
Does iOS or Android even have the native ability to add website shortcuts to the home screens or application menu?
I can't speak for Android, but in Safari you tap the icon next to bookmarks then "Add to Home Screen".
Re:There is no problem with this (Score:4, Informative)
I've yet to see anything resembling a usable map interface implemented in Safari Mobile. Even Google's is clunky and painful to use vs a native app, so suggesting "Just use Safari" doesn't really scale until it can create as functional an interface as what native apps can do.
Re:Or he could... you know... (Score:4, Informative)