App developers complaining about Apple’s strict requirements for the App Store is nothing new, but French app developer ADNX has gone one step further by writing an open letter to Apple attacking their app policies. ADNX makes the popular xPlan application, as well as apps for the Mac and web server apps.
It’s pretty long, so I’ll only translate the main parts.
Dear Apple, we are writing this open letter to you and the press because we like Apple and we like to make applications.
When Apple no longer respects developers or is heading in the wrong direction, we think that we need to express ourselves publicly.
[…]
The problem is the arrival of new regulations. These rules are more and more complicated for developers and also limit creativity. Apple disallow a large number of applications for no viable reason. If you create an app linked to a service, Apple want a 30% margin of that service. It’s an abuse of power.
It then goes on to describe how Apple rejected their app, xTwin, twice for similar policies as described in the above paragraph.
They continue:
Unfortunately, creativity and freedom is no longer possible on Apple’s platforms. Apple want to control everything and we want to stop this despite our small size.
Apple has to be more and open and cool. Apple is now too big and too rich. The developers are small and are forced to follow Apple’s rules. However they can still open their mouths and talk about their problems. That’s what we’ve decided to do.
If you’re against the new Sandboxing rule scheduled for June (which will kill more apps), add these banners to your website.
While to some it might seem a bit extreme, it is very understandable. I’m all for Apple adopting the same strategy they do for Mac, where you can install apps even if you haven’t downloaded them through Apple.
