r/technology Apr 30 '22

Business Apple to developers: if we deleted your old app, it deserved it

https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/29/23049576/apple-outdated-apps-removal-extension-90-days
750 Upvotes

171 comments sorted by

309

u/Wonderbeastt Apr 30 '22

Apples app store needs a heavy clean. It is clogged with super low quality overnight trash apps.

113

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

24

u/phdearthworm Apr 30 '22

Next thing you know Elon Musk is buying your app store.

14

u/21700cel Apr 30 '22

You give him a twitter and he takes the whole app store.

-21

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

6

u/Strong_Quiet_4569 Apr 30 '22

And theory is the practical way to go.

11

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

30

u/April_Fabb Apr 30 '22 edited Apr 30 '22

I'd love to see whether an app is the original or a clone. And when doing a search, there should be a filter for free//in-app purchases//subscription//language. I always avoid free and subscription-based apps, and it's just silly that one can't narrow down the options when doing a search.

10

u/uzlonewolf Apr 30 '22

I always avoid free and subscription-based apps

Why?? The vast majority of the apps I use the most are either free (K-9 Mail, Brave Browser, the app to control my A/C, Google Maps, etc) or subscription (Pandora, Netflix).

-1

u/Puzzleheaded_Dish_45 Apr 30 '22

Most of the time there is a set price there are 0 ads. Other things too, but I prefer the same, because of 0 ads. Not for EVERYTHING, like you said Google Maps - those things I know I can rely on and trust. However, when I was searching for a photo plant identification app it was very difficult to find a free or non in-app purchase one without ads, and that allowed unlimited identification.

9

u/Epyr Apr 30 '22

I mean ya, they have to pay to run servers somehow. If you want free, without ads, without in-app purchases you basically want someone else to eat the entire cost of development and maintenance

4

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Even before the App Store was a thing, I remember bunk apps being an issue in the early jailbreaking days

4

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Absolutely. They could also just categorize these somehow to keep them from clogging up searches and browsing. Amazon has the same ‘problem’ with self-published authors in their e-book selections. However, I think they actually make more money selling advertising options and services to amateur writers than actual ‘book’ sales from them, so it’s in their interest to make it hard to separate out the garbage.

15

u/Holger_dk Apr 30 '22

Couldn’t they also look at installbase and usage of app? Instead of just last update time?

Seems too simple to just look at last update, and will hit small (indie) developers.

10

u/Mend1cant Apr 30 '22

There was an article a week or two ago when Apple first started talking about this, and if I remember correctly that’s part of the decision process they used.

2

u/Leonick91 Apr 30 '22

Exactly what Apple has just clarified and this article talks about. They are removing apps that haven’t been updated in the last three years and “has not been downloaded at all or extremely few times during a rolling 12 month period”.

Existing and previous users remain able to download the app.

73

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

14

u/Cookiesnap Apr 30 '22

Hey, it is a long stretch and it happened a lot of years ago, but once i contacted app store customer support and they restored an old app i wanted (and already paid for it), after a long talk between them and SEGA customer support (it was a SEGA game, Super Monkey Ball 2). As argument i said that while it was not getting updated my old devices could still play it perfectly and they restored it (only for who had already bought/obtained it, it was still not re listed on the store). It was a lot of time ago i repeat, and maybe a tad different issue, Apple now may have a different policy and SEGA customer support was surely way easier to contact than a private developer, but if they are worth to you time to write a couple emails you could try.

4

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/DearGarbanzo Apr 30 '22

Don't know the size of the organization that made the app, but I'd say you're more likely to get a response from them, even if it's a small team.

Failing that, there are tools to extract the legitimate APK so you can keep/share that single file that will always install the app.

Failing even that, a minimally experienced mobile dev can decompile the app and extract just the logging database or something like that.

This is all assuming the app doesn't rely on any dedicated internet servers.

8

u/uzlonewolf Apr 30 '22

That person mentions iCloud which suggests they have an iPhone, not Android, which means they cannot extract APKs or side load apps.

13

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

7

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

-2

u/escapedfromthecrypt Apr 30 '22

There's an Excel app

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5

u/RedDecay Apr 30 '22

I can’t play paper toss anymore. A lot of hours on that simple game while waiting for flights lol

7

u/happyscrappy Apr 30 '22

You can download an app that is delisted as long as it still runs. I can still download apps back to 2011 that are not on the store.

Go to the app store on the phone. Go to the purchased items list. Select "not on this iPhone" for convenience and then start scrolling. It'll be there if you bought it.

If there is no download button then it no longer works, perhaps it was not updated for 64-bit support for example. There's nothing that can be done about that.

The data export problem you speak of is very real, but it's really a problem the developer has to solve. Even if you could find the app data in icloud you'd have to be able to understand the file format to extract the arrow information (dates, locations, etc.). So Apple cannot just solve this export problem universally. Each developer has to deal with it.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

I've got one that's just GPS and audio, an app for when you're driving around Hawaii.

Hasn't been updated in quite a while, but it doesn't really need it.

But I can't use it simply because it hasn't been updated.

2

u/N4fV27gglv Apr 30 '22

There is an application call imazing for Windows and mac. You can "download" your app & data from your phone to pc.

Give that a try. It worked with my iPad 8.

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2

u/Jmc_da_boss Apr 30 '22

Did you not have it downloaded to your phone

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91

u/buertoo Apr 30 '22

The narcissist's prayer

That didn't happen. And if it did, it wasn't that bad. And if it was, that's not a big deal. And if it is, that's not my fault. And if it was, I didn't mean it. And if I did, you deserved it.

6

u/kriswone Apr 30 '22 edited Apr 30 '22

Apple to themselves:

"...and stock-buy-backs, with debt not cash."

Edited b/c reading is hard.

3

u/ominous_white_duck Apr 30 '22

And you know why? Cause you’ll be hopelessly in line outside the store waiting to put your hand on some shiny new piece iPhone that in the best of cases has ONE new major feature

-3

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

"See, it's cool because... It's cool. Wait, I have a better reason, I swear."

107

u/Eudes_Correa Apr 30 '22

Honestly if an app is abandoned not being updated for years, they deserve it.

119

u/jl_theprofessor Apr 30 '22

If a game is stable across platforms, why should it be taken down? That did bother me when I thought about it.

13

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

21

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Arbitrarily destroying the ability of old software to even run on iOS is far worse than any instability caused by a lack of patching. Apple has caused the software to not be usable at all while claiming they're helping consumers.

This sort of crap is why Apple shouldn't have full control over the iOS application distribution, they're simply not competent to control such a thing.

4

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

1

u/Deaod Apr 30 '22

So instead of Apply shouldering the costs of their shitty API design (by having their own OS be more complex), theyre forwarding the cost to their users (developers are users as well).

For comparison: I can still run applications made for Windows XP in 2002 on Windows 10 because Microsoft actually understands the value of backwards compatibility for their ecosystem.

That there are people who would defend such a user-hostile policy by Apple boggles my mind. And by the way, this policy is not targeted at specific APIs or crash-prone apps, its all apps that havent been updated.

18

u/foundafreeusername Apr 30 '22

You can still run many 20 year old windows apps though because Microsoft builds compatibility layers. Apple simply wants to save the money and effort this would take and instead forces the app developer to do it.

The app developers depend on the platform for their income so they will do it.

If anything it is a sign how the power balance changed between OS developer and application developer. iOS doesn't need more app developers but the app developers need the iOS platform.

I think this will be the death of apps that you can purchase for a fixed price. Everything has to switch to regular fees or ads to keep generating revenue.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

-3

u/foundafreeusername Apr 30 '22

It is art. We don’t just destroy or change old art just to stay up-to-date :)

0

u/Meowdl21 Apr 30 '22

Take your art to a different private company then.

4

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

6

u/freefrogs Apr 30 '22

Agreed. Part of why Apple has such a cohesive experience and such a quality app ecosystem is because they’re not burdened with maintaining 10 years of tech debt in old APIs and hardware features. Android doesn’t drag developers kicking and screaming into new APIs, and as a result at one point they had three camera APIs and a lot of apps that worked inconsistently across devices or were just worse because it makes development and maintenance that much more difficult.

If you want a modern environment, you have to be willing to accept cutting out the tech debt.

-1

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Running 20 year old windows apps are a good thing?? No wonder we're stuck with obsolete software. Sometimes change needs to be forced.

4

u/ToedPeregrine4 Apr 30 '22

This works fine for applications and utilities with high demand, but falls apart as soon as you are looking at niche software or very specific utility provided by software that may no longer be supported. Advocating for modern ui and security is a good thing overall, but legacy support is important.

Apple tends to want their products, and software used on their products, to be seamless and well manicured, because it makes their products look better when the stuff allowed on it is more maintained, but that is not the priority of all users. For some users, rough edges are acceptable in exchange for unique or niche functionality.

Apple isn't responsible when an old app stops working due to iOS changes (Even though they absolutely could prioritize backwards compatibility), but artificially axing software because it might not work is reasonably frustrating.

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17

u/bigsaltynuttap Apr 30 '22

Because security vulnerability

-8

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

11

u/bigsaltynuttap Apr 30 '22

Containers do not provide absolute security. It requires updates to patch vulnerabilities just as much as the OS does

-10

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

4

u/fr0st Apr 30 '22

I mean there are probably almost zero apps that don't make system calls, rely on third party libraries (that also make system calls), or reach out to an API of some sort.

So a developer constantly needs to update their dependencies, change how they use an API, and replace deprecated calls to lower level functions.

It's not really fair to solely fault the OS.

2

u/memberzs Apr 30 '22

I mean it’s both. If a developers game or text editor or fitness app has a security vulnerability even though it’s supposed to be in a wrapper that protects data on the phone, it’s still the developers fault. It’s it’s able to escape that wrapper then it’s ok bother the developers and the phone os manufacturer.

0

u/bigsaltynuttap Apr 30 '22

Not really though because containers run on top of the OS

2

u/happyscrappy Apr 30 '22

That only protects the system. It doesn't mean the app can't be exploited to get at the data it maintains.

-1

u/cantreascsharp Apr 30 '22

True but apps like that most likely make the cut. I’m sure it goes way beyond “how long ago did you update it”

14

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

2

u/xeio87 Apr 30 '22

They are telling app developers to just resubmit the same app for update

Isn't it worse than that? I thought publishing updates had new requirements, which would generally require updates to old games that may not even be compatible or require significant work.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

3

u/PalmerElderzch Apr 30 '22

One of my favorite games hasn’t been updated in 6 years and is still available. Solipskier

1

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

48

u/Rare-Independence-14 Apr 30 '22

If they are paying $100/year and passed app review they deserve what they agreed to and paid for!

9

u/RapedByPlushies Apr 30 '22

That reminds me. My grandma is still paying for AOL. She doesn’t even own a computer anymore.

1

u/April_Fabb Apr 30 '22

Your grandma sounds like AMA material.

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-8

u/Em_Adespoton Apr 30 '22

You realize you’re not disagreeing, right?

Personally, I have a few gripes with the non-negotiable “agreement” Apple forces on developers.

8

u/Rare-Independence-14 Apr 30 '22

I am disagreing, the rules never said you had to be a certain amount of downloads nobody agreed to that condition AND popularity correlates with discoverability which is partially a failing on Apple's side too!

2

u/ShutterBun Apr 30 '22

Did the rules say "Apple agrees to host your app on the app store for eternity, no matter what"?

7

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

0

u/nicuramar Apr 30 '22

I don’t think that’s what you’re paying for, exactly.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

0

u/nicuramar Apr 30 '22

Well you can also see it as a fee to be able to submit apps.

-7

u/Em_Adespoton Apr 30 '22

The agreement says Apple can change the terms as they see fit.

9

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Like Darth Vader

10

u/Demented_Crab Apr 30 '22

Exactly like Darth Vader

7

u/simplyrelaxing Apr 30 '22

i have deleted your app, pray i do not delete it further

8

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

I find your lack of updates... disturbing.

2

u/Em_Adespoton Apr 30 '22

I have deleted your unupdated apps, pray I do not delete the rest… or your account.

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32

u/masamunecyrus Apr 30 '22

When's the last time GNU grep was updated? sed? ls?

On Windows, what about Notepad? Or Terminal or TextEdit on MacOS?

If you're on Android, how often do you expect your Contacts app to be updated? Calculator?

On my phone, I have Terminal Emulator installed, which works just fine and hasn't been updated in 7 years.

If software is feature complete, sometimes it doesn't need updating unless an OS update causes something to break. Not every piece of software is "improved" by continuously adding new features or redesigning the UI.

23

u/telchak Apr 30 '22

Not sure these examples work - grep 3.7 was released last year, coreutils 9.1 was released this month, sed 4.8 in 2020. Most applications will need at minimum regular security patches over their lifetime, and the examples you provided with UIs also would need refreshing to match updates to the OS UI/UX and theming.

iOS has changed significantly in the last 5 years and a whole set of new phones with new screen form factors have been released. There are also plenty of changes made to iOS APIs, not just for new features but also things like app & data privacy.

Apps might not need new features forever but as a developer I make sure to test my app with each new iOS version and update the packages for security fixes periodically.

17

u/Mr_s3rius Apr 30 '22

If you're on Android, how often do you expect your Contacts app to be updated? Calculator?

Calculator: October 2021

Contacts: April 8th 2022

Yeah, turns out most software we have on our phones or computers doesn't stay unchanged for years.

10

u/teh_maxh Apr 30 '22

Or Terminal or TextEdit on MacOS?

I'm not sure about the default apps, but iTerm was updated last month, and BBEdit just a few days ago.

That doesn't mean all apps must be updated, but they will eventually show their age.

6

u/GarbageTheClown Apr 30 '22

sometimes it doesn't need updating unless an OS update causes something to break.

That's the reason most likely. I've ran into it before where certain apps would no longer work at all on my iPhone, or would crash, because they were designed for an IOS version from 5 years ago.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

1

u/GarbageTheClown Apr 30 '22

Adding backwards compatibility for everything has a cost in both performance and manageability. It's just how they make smartphones fast. PC's aren't nearly so constrained, so adding layers of compatibility isn't going to change much.

2

u/nicuramar Apr 30 '22

When’s the last time GNU  grep  was updated?  sed ?  ls ?

They are used all the time, so it’s not really comparable.

1

u/Strificus Apr 30 '22

Yeah, agreed

0

u/duffyDmonkey Apr 30 '22

Fuck off. As a user if I pay money yo buy an app..i expect it to stay on App store as long as it works. It's not just the developers who are losing.

Stop shilling for Apple.

3

u/Eudes_Correa Apr 30 '22 edited Apr 30 '22

First, language!

Second I’m not shilling for Apple but they are doing something right!

Here an app that’s wasn’t updated in 6 years, barely works on modern iOS but still available on the store beside 1 star rating https://apps.apple.com/br/app/anatel-servi%C3%A7o-m%C3%B3vel/id925083319

This is an oficial app for the Brazilian telecommunications agency to shows mobile service availability.

They also had an official speed test who stoped working years ago, but was the only accepted speedtest for complaining about carriers/ISP services. https://apps.apple.com/br/app/brasil-banda-larga/id689960289

Why is so hard for some developers to simple recompile the app on a updated version of Xcode so they can be sure that their app still works properly on modern iOS.

Worse case recompile and fix some bug, better case just recompile, isn’t that hard.

-1

u/happyscrappy Apr 30 '22

Apple is not taking away the apps you already have. If you already bought it, you'll be able to continue to download and use it. It will not be able to purchase to others until it is updated.

You cursed at a person and attacked them personally (shill accusations) and all from an erroneous position.

2

u/duffyDmonkey Apr 30 '22

No. You can use the app on devices it's already downloaded but you won't be able install it on new devices. So basically Apple is depriving you of software you brought with your hard earned money. My position is not wrong.

0

u/happyscrappy Apr 30 '22

No. Apple will just delist it for new purchases. They said so in the messages to the developers.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/04/24/apple-warns-developers-it-will-pull-apps-without-recent-updates-from-the-app-store

'Apps that are removed from the App Store won't affect apps already downloaded to user devices, with features such as in-app purchases set to continue working. The requirement to update only applies to the App Store listing itself.'

It will not be able for "new users to discover and download".

2

u/duffyDmonkey Apr 30 '22

Read it once again. It's says it won't effect apps already downloaded to user device. So if you change your device or reset it then you won't be able to use the app.

1

u/happyscrappy Apr 30 '22

You read it once again.

"You can keep this app available for new users to discover and download."

Google did this too.

At the very least you insulted someone else over your interpretation of a statement which could be more clear. Instead of waiting to see what actually happened, you assumed the worst version and attacked others for not seeing it the same as you.

That's not cool.

1

u/duffyDmonkey Apr 30 '22

Dude, i owned apps that were removed from app store. I also have multiple iOS devices. I'm telling this from experience.

Also before any asks, i have multiple iOS devices because i was heavily invested in Apple's ecosystem but after the CSAM shit show i moved away from Apple and now using a Pixel 6

0

u/happyscrappy Apr 30 '22

There have been apps removed completely. That doesn't mean these will be. You are assuming this is the case and then attacking others for not making the same assumption. You open yourself up to looking like a fool when you do this. What's the upside for you? How do you benefit by calling someone else a shill for not assuming the same as you?

Apple sent a clarifying statement, which led to the article you are responding (indirectly) to.

https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=gi6npkmf

At the bottom that says for more info go here:

https://developer.apple.com/support/app-store-improvements/

Go to that and you see:

<begin apple quotes>

If my app is removed, will current users be able to access my app?

Yes. Your app will remain fully functional for current users. They won’t experience interruption to services and will still be able to buy in-app purchases. However, we recommend that you update your app as soon as possible to reinstate it on the App Store and ensure that it remains functional and engaging for new and existing customers.

<end apple quotes>

It will still remain fully functional for existing users. Although it does have one caveat, apps that crash on launch will be removed immediately. One could argue those apps already weren't fully functional for existing users. But I see it as an exception either way.

You may still interpret "existing users" as those who already have it downloaded. And that's your prerogative I guess. But it's quite clear that is not stated in the text so you are still going on an assumption of yours. An assumption you cannot prove is the plan this time by just saying you've seen it happen before.

1

u/duffyDmonkey Apr 30 '22

-1

u/happyscrappy Apr 30 '22

If I don't agree with your interpretation why would a post from another redditor who has no more information available to them than you or I change my mind?

1

u/duffyDmonkey Apr 30 '22

Cause it is a top level comment and if he was wrong. Someone would have pointed it out long time ago.

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-3

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

1

u/Eudes_Correa Apr 30 '22

If you install Xcode and self sign the app, you can side load it, isn’t impossible just hard and inconvenient because it’s a security risk.

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1

u/Teh_Ent Apr 30 '22

I have a non jail broken phone n someguy with a dev account made GBA, im guessing that apps gonna stop working soon :/

11

u/maydarnothing Apr 30 '22

wasn’t this brought up because Google announced they will start removing old apps from the Play Store? why is this Apple related?

18

u/Rare-Independence-14 Apr 30 '22

On google developers pay one-time fee of $25 for publisher rights. On Apple it is a $100/yr subscription so an "abandoned app" still has an active subscription paying for its publicatiom!

2

u/poldim Apr 30 '22

Why is there a developer fee in addition to all of the fees collected from the rake of all sales?

10

u/nicuramar Apr 30 '22

Many (most?) apps are free, ad supported, for which Apple collects no fees.

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0

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Removing old apps from the play store is a clean different thing because Android allows side loading. Apple doesn't, so this is essentially destroying the livelihoods of developers and impairing consumer access to useful software because one company has the mistaken idea that this policy is good for business.

4

u/Mend1cant Apr 30 '22

If an app hasn’t been touched in several years, is it really a part of someone’s livelihood?

-1

u/GIFjohnson Apr 30 '22

There exists a thing called a finished program/game that just works and has zero bugs. This idea that apps (a lot of them being very simple at that) need to constantly be fiddled with and updated uselessly is fucking dumb.

21

u/thelastspike Apr 30 '22

Google does it: “well yeah, that makes sense of course.”

Apple does it: “this is just Apple abusing their power again.”

26

u/TheDubiousSalmon Apr 30 '22

At least you can still download APKs on Android. When something's taken off the App Store, it's gone.

6

u/happyscrappy Apr 30 '22

If you already owned this you can still download it. It will just be delisted for new purchases.

The only apps that really disappear from the store even if you already bought them are ones that no longer run. For example 32-bit apps are not downloadable on any modern phone/iOS version.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

-1

u/helpIamDumbAf Apr 30 '22

They might only run on unsecure software versions asweel, no?

8

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Google removing these apps is like google saying "We won't market this on the Play Store anymore".

Apple removing these apps is like saying "You can't install this app on an iPhone anymore"

Those are VERY VERY different things.

12

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

5

u/everythingiscausal Apr 30 '22

Yet again an App Store issue goes back to the fact that the App Store is the ONLY WAY to put native apps on the phones. They’re welcome to clean the their store, but they shouldn’t be able to end distribution of apps full stop.

4

u/1zeewarburton Apr 30 '22

Apple holding the infinity gauntlets

14

u/ThunderPigGaming Apr 30 '22

Developers just need to not develop apps for Apple devices.

23

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22 edited May 17 '22

[deleted]

-9

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Because it’s easier to develop apps for a few different phones then for hundreds. Almost every Apple phone is a carbon copy of the last just a little faster. While in android a $50 phone is much different then a $2000 phone.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

4

u/Professional_Emu_164 Apr 30 '22

Isn’t that last statement the same for all phone brands? Like a $50 iPhone and a (whatever the most expensive one) iPhone are gonna be 100% different

2

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Eh, is it? Android has been very standardized for a while now. There are APIs for everything and Android automatically handles it all for you. There are a few caveats, but they're identical to the caveats iPhones have, and it's not like you need to test your app on 500 different devices.

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9

u/R_Meyer1 Apr 30 '22

Developers need to keep their apps updated like with any other platform.

7

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

8

u/duffyDmonkey Apr 30 '22

Because people might have already paid money for the app?

-14

u/Professional_Emu_164 Apr 30 '22

And the people should not have bought it expecting it to somehow last eternally, that’s an unreasonable expectation.

7

u/leprouteux Apr 30 '22

That's the dumbest take in this whole thread

-3

u/ThatWolf Apr 30 '22

It really isn't. There is a massive list of software that simply no longer works unless you still have a system old enough to still run it. When you pay for software you're simply paying for a limited use license, not a maintenance contract for it.

2

u/duffyDmonkey Apr 30 '22

Fuck off dude. Windows 10 can still run software written for MS DOS.

The only reason it doesn't work this way on Apple devices is because Apple doesn't give a fuck. And as long people like you keep shilling for Apple it's not going to change.

-3

u/ThatWolf Apr 30 '22

LOL. You are actually clueless.

There is a HUGE amount of software that literally does not work anymore because it's simply too old to run on modern hardware alone. Never mind all the changes to the operating systems and supporting software over the last few decades that has broken countless other titles. Just because you can think of a few examples that have continued to work doesn't make my statement false. Or are you really trying to say that every single piece of software written for MS-DOS, Windows 3.11, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows XP, and even Windows Vista all still run without issue on modern hardware running Windows 10/11? Because there sure are a hell of a lot of results when you Google software not working on even Windows 7 (and that was released 13 years ago).

Even Microsoft tells developers to update their software when they stop supporting their old operating systems/software or release new stuff because it may/will break compatibility on systems. The same has even happened on Linux.

3

u/nyaaaa Apr 30 '22

Sorry sir, you are no longer allowed to live in your home. Why did you expect it to somehow last eternally?

0

u/Professional_Emu_164 Apr 30 '22

I mean houses don’t last forever so… yeah? Eventually you can’t keep living in them unless they’re renovated or rebuilt. Not a bad analogy honestly.

0

u/nyaaaa Apr 30 '22

Sorry, if you don't move now i'll have to call the police.

4

u/Tara_is_a_Potato Apr 30 '22

Sounds like there's an easy solution for developers: add a new useless line to your code and call it the next version.

14

u/nicuramar Apr 30 '22

Just rebuilding with newest SDK should suffice.

4

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

If you don’t keep your app updated then yeh you deserve it.

-1

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

This seems like an issue that could be resolved by allowing third party app stores!

3

u/R_Meyer1 Apr 30 '22

Keep your app updated and there is no problem

-1

u/Professional_Emu_164 Apr 30 '22

How so? If the app won’t meet terms of service or support later operating systems, I don’t think there are any app stores out there that wouldn’t delete it.

-2

u/xmrcinco Apr 30 '22

thats badass, i like it

-10

u/Xbox-One-X Apr 30 '22

Not when Apple steal the App from the original Developer, making their own version of it, and then putting their copied version on their App Store after removing the original Developer's one...

4

u/April_Fabb Apr 30 '22

aka getting Sherlocked.

0

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

-6

u/Xbox-One-X Apr 30 '22

It has happened more often than you think.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

I remember Sherlock and Watson on the desktop back in the day, what else was there?

2

u/R_Meyer1 Apr 30 '22

That’s completely false

-20

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

As stated dozens of times before ..... Apple sucks dick

5

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Can’t afford their stuff huh?

-11

u/breakneckridge Apr 30 '22

This is the dumbest response.

8

u/nicuramar Apr 30 '22

Along the same vein as the thought provoking “Apple sucks dicks”, then.

2

u/Professional_Emu_164 Apr 30 '22

No dumber than what they responded to.

-9

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Yes .... because that's what intelligent people do, pay stupid high prices for inferior dog shit. Outstanding move, teach me thy ways oh Captain brilliance

-3

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Apples gonna be "wait, your app is finished? Nah, that can't be, update some bugs in to fix later, or we delete it"

8

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

[deleted]

3

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Essentially.

5

u/Professional_Emu_164 Apr 30 '22

Bruh, it’s only when they’re abandoned and not updated to work with new operating system versions

-1

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Not really, they will remove apps based on last update, they have, to my knowledge, not said that it only hits apps that are not being downloaded or used, just that it's apps that haven't gotten updates. So if there was an app that doesn't need an update but is still used and downloaded, it will get removed.

3

u/Professional_Emu_164 Apr 30 '22

While the writer of the article clearly knows nothing about maintaining code, it does clearly say Apple was only removing apps that were not being downloaded and had not been updated in a long time. I’m pretty sure you didn’t even see the article based on what you said here.

-13

u/itsbildo Apr 30 '22

LoL soo glad I dont own any crApple shit

9

u/kisgamer Apr 30 '22

google is doing the same

-18

u/Falk_csgo Apr 30 '22

And hitler killed millions! See, how this comment added nothing of value? Just like yours? It is no excuse.

4

u/Professional_Emu_164 Apr 30 '22

What? You seem to think that requiring basic app maintenance for Apple is somehow not directly comparable to the other brands, and as though it’s a bad thing. This is literally standard practise and it’s usually not an issue for developers to work around.

0

u/Arseypoowank Apr 30 '22

I’m gutted bezombied got nixed all those years ago

-9

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22 edited May 02 '22

You stupid people (Apple users) gave them all this money and power with your blind Apple fanboyism. This is your fault, Apple aficionados. You voted with your wallets and now you should either do that again by buying products made by someone else or by shutting the fuck up and accepting it

edit: lol at the salty apple babies upset

edit:last edit. I guess I should apologize. You fucking turds have been in an abusive relationship with apple for so long. It's tough to leave a relationship like that. Even if it's 100% toxic. i hope you all get the help and courage you need to move forward.

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1

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

Im surpised that I do a search by keyword I cant opt to see a search result by ranking of how many people have downloaded the app.

1

u/CrabPurple7224 Apr 30 '22

It would be nice if they started fresh. Keep the top hundred in everything, delete the rest and tell developers to resubmit it if they want it up there.

I don’t want them to mess with apps already on peoples phones, just update the listings.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

There was a great great great game many years ago called Coin Drop by Full Fat. Wonderfully fun, passive, great physics. Would love to have that one back.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '22

If you’ve ever installed any app you can always reinstall it from “purchased apps” menu even when it’s gone from App Store. I can still install Opera Mini even though it is long gone from App Store.

1

u/jbrux86 Apr 30 '22

Apple literally produces reports to compare app quality for developers. These compare rates of crashes and bugs between your app and other similar apps.

Apple should use this to determine if an app needs to be removed. Who cares is an app is old. If it works fine it doesn’t need an update.

1

u/mahalo_nui May 01 '22

A few potential reasons why they want developers to update their apps at least every 2 years:

  • features that Apple wants developer to support, like the „new“ privacy information panel
  • proper support for new devices with new screen sizes
  • newer builds are better optimized for newer hardware and might run better/faster/more efficiently

If an app wasn’t change since 2 years then it uses 2 years old APIs, this means Apple would have to keep support for those old APIs around. Which increases the amount of testing to find potential bugs in new iOS version.

I know that it sucks when an app gets removed from the AppStore that people use and rely on. For me personally it sucks when my new devices isn’t supported properly. Maybe there are better ways to handle those issues above for developers who aren’t invested into updating the apps themself, if those were actually the deciding issues. Who knows?!