Comments on: iPhone apps can’t require desktop apps?

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:50:18 +0000

Hi, PLEASE release an iPhone version of this. I'm not sure what the issue is with a "companion" app, but I've got several like that. For example, "Things" and "Evernote" Both are awesome apps that make my life easier. As a freelancer, this would make my life SO much better.

And, now with Push capabilities in OS 3.0, you could make them really sync well.

Thanks!

By: JulesLt

JulesLt — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:28:58 +0000

Strikes me as a pretty stupid move, seeing as the ability to use your iPhone as a companion to your Mac adds value to both.

I think I can guess where they're coming from (they don't want to process lots of refunds from people buying an App, only to discover it needed additional software, or switching from Windows to Mac) but that should be something they could sort out pretty quickly in the App store (throw up a 'Stop : Do you have ...... installed' notice - and later on even add ability to iTunes to detect if blah installed.

I can't see that they are trying to block developers bypassing the App store for alternative markets.

(The Reznor thing should be fixed come June, once they add the Adult Approval locks, but you can see this is the start of a slippery slope - how adult can adult be?).

On the other hand, the news that the Android Marketplace removed a tethering application, internationally, at the the request of a US Telco, seems to have come and gone far too quick. Apple are not the only ones arbitrarily blocking apps after the development has occured.

By: Erik J. Barzeski

Erik J. Barzeski — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:38:30 +0000

Our app Scorecard is called a "companion app" to the desktop version. I wonder if it makes any difference that our iPhone app is free?

There's a bit more to that story, of course...