Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Software : Apple slaps muzzle on HMV dog, nukes new app for enabling MP3 downloads

Software : Apple slaps muzzle on HMV dog, nukes new app for enabling MP3 downloads


Apple slaps muzzle on HMV dog, nukes new app for enabling MP3 downloads

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Apple slaps muzzle on HMV dog, nukes new app for enabling MP3 downloads

Apple has removed HMVs new iOS app from the App Store after it refused to comply with a request to remove the contested MP3 download feature.

The music store's new app was launched on October 17 and was especially noteworthy as it was the only portal since iTunes to offer music downloads on Apple's own iOS devices from within the app.

However, it soon became apparent that this was not a move deliberately sanctioned by Apple, but a rare oversight from the company's notoriously exhaustive application approval team.

Apple gave HMV until 6pm on Monday night to remove the feature, the store declined to do so, and now, citing a violation of the App Store guidelines, Apple has temporarily suspended the app.

Disappointing

"It is disappointing that Apple has chosen to suspend an app that has proven to be very successful in only a few short days despite Apple having already approved the exact same version on 15th September," said HMV chairman Paul McGowen, who said Apple got the hump after the app passed 5,000 downloads.

"We are unable to explain the change in Apple's position as we have been given no explanation by them as to any difference they view between the approved version and the one suspended this evening."

HMV said it was working to restore the app to an acceptable state, while Apple confirmed to the Guardian it had suspended the app under clause 11.13 of the App Store guidelines.

That rule reads: "Apps using IAP to purchase physical goods or goods and services used outside of the application will be rejected." So that's that. Here we were thinking Apple had gone soft in its old age...

Blip: BBM for iOS and Android downloaded 10 million times in 24 hours

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Blip: BBM for iOS and Android downloaded 10 million times in 24 hours

Guess the month-long delay and wait list didn't temper demand.

In 24 hours, BBM for iOS and Android has been downloaded 10 million times, according to BlackBerry. It already reached 5 million downloads in its first eight hours of availability, so the adoption rate seems to have held fairly steady.

In a BlackBerry blog post, the company said BBM for iOS became the top free app in the Apple App Store in more than 75 countries, including the US and UK. The same can't be said for Google Play (it ranked 98th in free apps at our last check), however it has received 67,793 5-star ratings out of 98,750 reviews.

Look for more improvements, like BBM Video, BBM Voice and BBM Channels to land on iPhone and Android "in the near future."

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