Microsoft jabs Apple's iPhone app rejection policies
updated 05:30 pm EDT, Tue October 20, 2009
Win Mobile team jokes about App Store
The Windows Mobile development team today indirectly criticized Apple with a video (available below) promoting Windows Marketplace for Mobile. The spoof makes fun of Apple's tendency to reject certain iPhone apps and allow novelties, and instead portrays imaginary apps that Microsoft would have rejected, such as ones that would provide a fake mustache or that regularly shock the owner. Apple isn't mentioned directly in the roughly two-minute spot.
Besides implying a less restrictive policy towards app approval, the video more directly reinforces Microsoft's emphasis on premium apps. In developer sessions, it has characterized the iPhone's App Store as a 'race to the bottom' for pricing and simple features while Windows Marketplace is envisioned as having more sophisticated apps on average.
Microsoft has significantly expanded its store's library since its official October 6th opening but has a fraction of Apple's catalog, which at last check includes over 85,000 active programs. However, Microsoft's store is more heavily biased towards productivity apps where games make up the single largest software group in Apple's portal. [via TechCrunch]
Jealous?
10/20, 05:34pm reply
They're just jealous because they keep trying to develop something that will approach the field that the iPhone is playing on but keeps coming up short. What a bunch of dweebs.
loudpedal
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 1999
Living under a rock
10/20, 05:54pm reply
Only a clueless user or Windows drone will fall for this joke of an ad. 10 years for MS to do something new with their mobile platform. Oh wait, did I say something new? My mistake, to copy Apple and pass it on as something new.
slapppy
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2008
Sound of tree falling
10/20, 06:04pm reply
What lousy timing by Microsoft to release an ad attacking what Apple's financials today show to be a highly popular and successful device. Talk about irrelevant!
This from the company who makes its customers pay a premium for a new OS, then admit the OS is inferior by developing a new OS to fix it, only to then once again charge a premium to get it! That's the whole Microsoft mentality...the developer is more important than the customer.
/
pairof9s
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2008
Back to work guys
10/20, 06:10pm reply
Their developers have been too busy making semi-funny commercials and haven't actually been doing any development work.
cmoney
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Sep 2000
weak
10/20, 06:15pm reply
You want weather app to open in 1 second? iPhone
You want weather app to open in 8 to 10 seconds? Microsoft
You want calculator app to open in 1 second? iPhone
You want calculator app to open in 8 to 10 seconds? Microsoft
You want your app to open in 30 second with mandatory ad? Microsoft
http://obamapacman.com/2009/09/microsoft-zune-hd-vs-apple-ipod-touch-3g-feature-comparison/12/
dliup
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2006
one part was good
10/20, 06:18pm reply
I did like the part where he says that "Pung" was rejected because it was too much like Pong.. and the other guys says "No ours was different.. you only had one paddle"
Otherwise... meh
DeezNutts
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2008
let me get this straight
10/20, 06:30pm reply
they mock rejecting apps but they're shooting for "premium" apps. they'll have a less restrictive approval process.
so does that mean that they will have a really really high submission of "premium" apps only? people who make less "premium" apps simply won't submit thus keeping their rejection percentage really low? developers are going to say "hey, this ain't bad but it sure as hail ain't "premium". i'll pass on submitting it."
who's going to decide what is "premium" and what isn't?
i'm guessing if they're going for "premium" only then it won't take long for them surpass apple in the rejection department.
nat
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Sounds like fun
10/20, 06:40pm reply
I thought those apps were really cool! Wouldn't mind having a few of them!
Zkatz007
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 1999
They still don't get it...
10/20, 07:54pm reply
This proves once again that the people at Microsoft just don't get it!
The great thing about iPhone is that it not only helps us work but it allows us time out to relax, have fun and be cool with our friends.
Just try to relax, have fun and be cool with Windows mobile!
Padloc
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2009
Windoze MovieMaker sucks
10/20, 08:33pm reply
If you're going to make a movie about how much better your product is than someone else's for Pete's sake make sure the video is of decent quality.
I heard pretty much bugger all of what they were saying because I was distracted by the voice being off synch to the video.
Another thing Microsoft fails at.
lowededwookie
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2008