Apple has yet to respond to the takedown, but some are speculating that it could be due to security, while others believe there's a more egregious reason altogether.
Either way, it has me thinking: what’s going on with the App Store? Sure, Apple has only removed two applications so far and there’s no indication that the company is unilaterally removing applications for no reason, but doesn’t it beg the question of whether or not the apps available on the service will thrive in this application ecosystem?
If nothing else, Apple may be taking a too hands-on approach to its development. Why should Apple be the last say in whether or not an app survives?
I know, I know, “it’s Apple’s store.” So what? Just because Apple owns the store, it doesn’t mean that it should force developers to be beholden to AT&T and other organizations that have a vested interest in making sure a certain application either survives or dies.
When Steve Jobs first outlined how the App store would work, his entire discussion was underscored by Apple’s perceived belief that developers would have a free hand in developing applications that would benefit the consumer. But after the past week progressed, I can’t help but wonder if that freedom is severely limited.
Granted, the company did allow NetShare to go back up, but it quietly pulled it again and so far, it hasn’t made its way back. All the while, Apple may be setting itself up for another unlocking debacle if it doesn’t allow the most compelling applications to thrive in its application ecosystem.
Some think this will help users distinguish between the good apps and the bad, but I think it’s nothing more than another example of certain developers finding ways to game the system and ensure that quality doesn’t matter if the right partnership is formed.
That’s not to say that either Apple or Facebook will make sweetheart deals with organizations and there’s currently no indication that that will ever happen. But doesn’t it leave open the possibility of some level of corruption that could hamper the viability of either service?
In other words, why don’t Apple and Facebook stay out of it and let us decide which applications are necessary and those that should have no place on the service? It’ll solve the main problem that could develop if Apple and Facebook play too big a role with their services: trust.
After all, if we can’t trust the company owning the service, how can we trust the apps?