APPLE "DICTATORIAL" apps approval style

Apple rejects iPad app for pinch-to-expand

This is not fresh news. Once again it shows Apple "dictatorial" style in approving and allowing apps in their store. Simply put, no approval will be granted if the said apps are found to be better than the builtin apps. This has indeed created a situation where developers are "forced" to submit a downsized version. If this be the case why bother even to download and try any other apps when similar ones are already provided for in the ipod/iPhone ???

I am a great fan of Apple MAC OSX - and without fail I always heap tons and tons of praises on the OS versus Windows. However the Apple's restrictive policies on apps is a turn off for me ; the need to have iTunes management to use your iPod/iPhone effectively and efficiently is a stumbling block

QUOTE: http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/07/apple-rejects-ipad-app-for-pinch-to-expand/

We've heard all kinds of reasons for rejected apps on the App Store, but this one seems new to us. An iPad app called Web Albums HD has reportedly been rejected from the App Store for including a pinch-to-expand feature in its Picasa albums viewing functionality, as reported on Apple Insider. The developers allegedly hand-coded a pinch-to-expand feature for their galleries to match Apple's official photo app, but were told by App Store editors that the feature was "associated solely with Apple applications." Interesting. Not actually true, as "pinch-to-expand" is really a feature that's common to many touchscreen interfaces, even if this photo gallery-browsing instance is unique. But apparently Apple feels it has laid claim, and so no other apps on the store get to use it.

The folks behind Web Albums HD promptly removed the feature, and their app was subsequently approved on the store (which is why it's there now), but before you go spend the $2.99, know that even the devs think that they've "ended up having an inferior product" out there. Of course Apple has definitely limited the functionality of apps in the past by disallowing certain APIs, but now it seems replicated functionality of something they deem Apple's domain can also fall under their banhammer.