Apple Reportedly Cuts Over 700 Apps from Chinese App Store (cnet.com) 27
Apple has reportedly removed 718 apps from the Chinese App Store in the last few days. From a report: The iPhone maker swept out the apps because their developers pushed updates without its permission, The Telegraph reported, citing local reports. Apple warned developers against updating iOS apps without its permission in early 2017. The banned apps included Sogou's search engine and maps, online retailer Pinduodo and car sharing service Togo Car.
Re: (Score:3)
In China yes it seems so. I expect the Government wants to validate that your code changes "Support the public well being"
Just like with Google, Apple if it wants to do business in China it will need to follow its laws.
Re: (Score:2)
Then stay in America. Unless you are brave enough to suffer imprisonment and public shaming in China.
The real question seems to come down to. Where is the line of a law and rule that you disagree with and follow anyways to something that is morally so wrong that it is worth taking the consequences and fighting.
For profit companies, are not known for their morals. If given the options follow the rules you don't like, or do not do business in the world largest population market. The for Profit Companies will
Re: (Score:2)
Then stay in America. Unless you are brave enough to suffer imprisonment
The incarceration rate in America is four times that of China.
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, but it isn't for speaking up against the government.
I never implied that America doesn't have its problems, A lot of this highest incarceration rate in the US is based on a Puritan heritage, and the English Idea of law. Where a Law that says don't do that and you do it then you are breaking a law and needs to be punished. Vs other areas of the world where the laws are mainly guidelines on what you should do to help maintain proper order. However if you don't follow the written law the context on wh
Re: (Score:3)
A lot of this highest incarceration rate in the US is based on a Puritan heritage
The Puritan heritage was strongest in New England, where incarceration rates are the lowest in the country.
and the English Idea of law.
The state with the highest incarceration rate is Louisiana, which was settled by French Catholics, and is the only state that does NOT use English common law. Louisiana's state and local laws are based on the French Napoleonic Code.
Do you know where the use of English law is most pervasive? England. Where the incarceration rate is a 1/5th the American rate.
Re: (Score:2)
Then stay in America. Unless you are brave enough to suffer imprisonment
The incarceration rate in America is four times that of China.
You mean the incarceration rate as reported by the Chinese government? Sounds very trustworthy.
Opposite is the problem... (Score:4, Informative)
You need permission to update your OWN software
The funny thing is, you are exactly backwards.
Read the summary again. The problem was that with Apple's system you DON'T need permission to update your own software.
But in China, the developers were supposed to get such permission, did not, and updated anyway...
So the problem apparently is Apple's system is too free for China. :-)
I had no idea they needed to do that in China, no such requirement anywhere else - we just drop an update, Apple reviews it, and a few hours later it can be in the store.
Re: (Score:2)
You can't update your own software on any smartphone in the same context that this story is in though.
Yes you can, but it is a security risk: https://apple.slashdot.org/sto... [slashdot.org]
An because security risks are always Apple's fault, they don't allow it: https://apple.slashdot.org/sto... [slashdot.org]
Re: (Score:2)
You need permission to update your OWN software
No, you need permission to push your updates to OTHER USER'S devices. You can update your own software without issue.
If a user wants automatic updates, they can receive your update automatically. If a user doesn't want automatic updates, you shouldn't be pushing something to their device. If you are, that's a problem, and it's what Apple is addressing here.
Mother May I? (Score:2)
Huh? I don't get it. ALL app submissions and updates have to be reviewed and approved by Apple.
Is there an additional step required in the Chinese store, to ask permission before submitting the update for review?
Re:Mother May I? (Score:4, Informative)
Huh? I don't get it. ALL app submissions and updates have to be reviewed and approved by Apple.
Wrong. This is about out of App Store updates. See also: Apple begins strictly enforcing rule that prohibits iOS app updates outside of App Store [appleinsider.com]
Stop being dense.
Re: (Score:2)
The C|Net article said nothing about that. It left us in the dark.
They did link to the article you cite above, which does explain it. Should have been in the article. Yes, I was aware of this and noted the press coverage at the time, but didn't make any connection from that poorly-written article.
As an app developer, I'm well aware of t
Re: (Score:3)
Huh? I don't get it. ALL app submissions and updates have to be reviewed and approved by Apple.
Imagine your app has a configuration file, which it can download from your company's website, and suddenly the app changes its behaviour. Without any review. That's what Apple is removing.
Re: (Score:2)
I don't think that's what this is about, though. Though that can be a problem as well, if not disclosed.
From the article linked above (that was linked from the C|Net article, but that the author apparently didn't read or comprehend...) this is actually about downloading executable code.
There are these crazy schemes that use Javascript (which is approve
It seems that Apple is (Score:2)
It seems that Apple is protecting its brand and its customers.
A secure platform (Apple does money, yes it does) has a lot of reasons
to managed the stuff folk install and when.
Consider zero day exploits. What if a "dark web" exploit is picked up and
is quickly instantiated by an application and pushed to all of a market before
Apple can update iOS. It may be a known bug to Apple... just not yet patched.
There are a number of attacks. The most common successful attacks involve
code that can be run locally on