If you don't want the risk of developing for a closed platform, don't do it! But please please please stop whining about it.
I like to know about such things because I'm also an app developer. I also think it should be publicized because it's outrageous bull.
Even if I wasn't an app developer, I'd think this was interesting on grounds of knowing how people get content, and who can/does censor that access.
Also, there wasn't any whining in the EFF article.
* Apple censors stuff * Apple aren't consistent * Apple take random time to approve/deny apps.
I'd be surprised if many people aren't aware of those facts by now. It'd be news IMHO if any of the above changed.
I personally don't find it outrageous in the least. It's their platform to do with what they wish. Developing on top of someone else is a big risk. Just as if you build something on top of twitter, they could and might cut off access if they decide to.
We have different definitions of 'news' ;)
If you apply your standard of news to other stories on HN or elsewhere there would be very little left as most content is not original but sourced from somewhere. 20 very similar reviews of Wolfram Alpha or Google Wave isn't exactly news either.
But obviously it's all a matter of balance and I do understand the point you're making.
"PG Still writes articles, nothing's changed"
"Big Companies still acquire Startups, nothings changed"
"VCs still fund startups, nothings changed
"Startups still want feedback for their apps, nothings changed"
Sometimes details matter.
Well, I see your point about "their platform", although I can find it pretty crap policy if I like :-)
I think the EFF article is particularly interesting because I think in the end this will be one of those about-face situations for them, I think their policies and procedures may not actually match up with what they really want (or perhaps a better guess is that the might be blocking things they didn't really intend to block -- or maybe they just don't like the EFF!).
So the EFF rejection stands out for me. It's like blocking the NY Times app because there's a political cartoon shown in it -- which would actually match up with a lot of other rejected apps.
Anyway, it's sand in Apple's face, publicly. And many developers stay away from the platform because of these issues. It's good all-around that this is in the news, imho, it gives them more incentive to stop the lameness.
Hey look, we turned this into a discussion! Wee!