Apple to iPhone developers: Please make your apps less useful
Apple strikes again. Normally, when an iPhone/iPod touch app gets updated it’s good news. Woo hoo — new features, new fun! iStat users who updated their app to the latest version that became available this afternoon however, were in for a little surprise… From iStat developer Bjango’s site:
Where did ‘Free Memory’ go?
iStat’s Free Memory function was removed at Apple’s request.
This decision was completely out of our hands. Please note that all other apps with Free Memory appear to have been removed or updated without their Free Memory function too.
This was not taken lightly—we examined our choices, taking a lot of public feedback on board. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused and we do not plan to remove any other features from iStat.
If you choose (and you haven’t already updated), you can continue to run iStat version 1.0. You’ll miss out on new features, but you’ll get to keep the Free Memory feature.
We are very committed to ensuring iStat is the best iPhone and iPod Touch monitoring tool. Free Memory has been removed, but a lot of other useful features will be added in its place.
Garbage. The free memory function found within iStat and other similar applications allowed users to clear out wired and inactive memory, thus reducing drain on battery life and improving device performance without the need for a reboot. To be perfectly frank, it was the only reason we purchased and continued to use iStat. Forgetting about this specific function for a moment, it is completely unfair to both developers and users alike for Apple to approve functionality in an application and then force its removal in later versions. Moreover, it is absolutely unethical. In other industries, this practice is a form of ‘bait and switch’. In the App Store, it’s just another day at the office.
I would suggest to all iPhone users who have purchased the iStat… who subsequently updated to the newer version and lost the “Free Memory” function to file an official complaint/ suit for the reduce in paid features!
Shouldn’t Microsoft come out with a commercial where Justin Long plays tech-God and decides what people can and cannot do with the devices they paid for and own?
No matter how many people complain about WinMo, no one can take away from the fact that this crap never happens. Software for WinMo has been developed for years and years, by anyone who is willing to try. Approval process? What the hell is that?
Looks like they just took down the update. It was on “updates” but disappeared.
This is F@cking Bullsh*t, I bought an app called FREEMEMORY 1.5 and it has been removed from the app store too. Is not in my laptop and now its gone and cent ever get it back. Therefore I paid for something that Apple decided to take away later. It’s not the money, its just a few dollars but its still stealing. And is way worst when Apple does it openly and it doesn’t seem to bother most people.
This is the reason why I don’t have an iPhone and I sometimes hate my Mac. Apple thinks they are better than and more important than everybody else.
Maybe they will add automatic garbage collection and better heap management to 3.1….would’ve been time as it is standard on mac os x on the desktop and server hardware; and they would need these things on a tablet….
Fucking apple
This is why I’m happy I jailbroke my iPhone. I downloaded an app called Memtool from Cydia. A couple of taps and my memory is cleaned up. And it’s free
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Tempe Arizona, USA
So Apple has caused a man to commit suicide and now is basically allowed to steal money from their consumers with a bait and switch….nice.
I guess this means that if anyone bought a freememory app and it was removed by Apple, the developer is now responsible for refunding all of their users.
Am I correct? If so, sucks to be those developers.
Hmmm, Cydia strikes again! Thank god for the jailbreak community. It’s the only reason I still have an iPhone
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
this is exaclty why I passed over the iPhone 3GS and am waiting for the Touch Pro2 to come out. Tethering, MMS, Google Voice, viewing of free memory, removable memory card slot, real keyboard, do I need to keep going?
I think that crap like this could be avoided if they followed the advice from Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/24/editorial-apple-the-fcc-and-the-sideloading-solution/
Stick with RIM. Blackbery may not be as glamorous but is an honest to goodness workhorse. Besides the manufacturer is honest. And they keep getting better and better.
Jailbroken iPhone 3G here with SBSettings, which let me free the memory.
Just jailbreak like us ya whiners
:D
Another great reason to jailbreak. I have SB settings and with a simple swipe across the top bar I can free up memory with a click of a button! Thank you BigBoss and all the iphone devs that keep giving us the features that Apple won’t!
Wow. The iPhone is a really solid piece of hardware, but this is why I won’t get one (or if I did, why I’d jailbreak it). I’ll stick with Android.
SBSettings. Why are only 9% of iphone users jailbroken?
Jailbreak for the win
My iPhone is stock no JB or anything and I can release and free up memory. Apple has been removing features, or not allowing features that contradict what the phone can already do stock
Not sure why it’s necessary to put [sic] after ‘apologise’. That’s a perfectly acceptable spelling for an Australian.
I am unsurprised by this. CrApple programs and generally written to be far less function and have far less fatures than their PC conterparts. Therefore it is unsurprising that CrApple wish to have dumb apps on their dumb phone for their dumb users.
Nicely written
yet another reason why i wont buy an Iphone. Its an awesome phone crippled by its maker……
Another reason why you won’t see me use anything apple except to shoot at it. Isheep!