This comes across as though they never intended to make an app for the app store and all along just wanted to call out apple on their term sheet. It is purely a moral stance. Which is fine, but the article is slanted differently.
You have to look at these things before you start developing.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8854100 https://github.com/EFForg/pushserver/blob/ce2e5034629185af64...
I just took a quick look at the Google Play Developer Distribution Agreement, the Google Play Developer Program Policies, and the Android SDK license -- but it looks like some other differences are:
* Unlike Apple, Google doesn't seem to limit developers' ability to make certain "public statements."
* Unlike Apple, Google doesn't seem to restrict jailbreaking or "enabling others to do so." The "Security Features" language in section 6 seems to come closest but isn't, IMHO, equivalent.
* Unlike Apple, Google doesn't insist on being able to "revoke the digital certificate of any of Your Applications at any time." (Section 7.2 of the Google Play Developer Distribution Agreement does say your app can be removed from the store, but the list of reasons is rather short and includes copyright, porn, malware, viruses...)
That was just a quick look, so I may have missed some things and would welcome correction. I should add that I'm developing http://recent.io/ for both Android and iOS, so to the extent Apple is more restrictive, it's not a deal-killer for my purposes.
PS: EFF's Android app is on the Play Store here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.eff.action...
The apple devs I've spoken to over the years have confirmed that there is, indeed, an overbearing 'cult like' mentality within the company.
However, I think it is the apple-worship from outside the company which plays a larger role here.
Like all companies, Apple exists to make money. As much as I dislike the developer agreement, it has served the purpose of helping apple to control their devs and users, and has helped apple to make money.
Apple will end these policies when their financial health requires it. Given the readiness of many devs and users to forgive, defend, and rationalize on apple's behalf - and given apple's ongoing financial success - I think its going to be a long time before this changes.
For example, it's kind of sad that the only way to capture high quality screen recordings is to jailbreak your device and install DisplayRecorder, and it's been that way for 5+ years. Hardware supports been there, apple policy has not.
For myself, I can say that the benefits of Apple hardware are starting to be outweighed by the downsides of their software. And that while I love the hardware, the OS that is supposed to drive it no longer interests me; and the rapacious attitude that seems to imply that both devs and customers are sheep to be sheared grates on me.
I've been an Apple user from the days when I wanted an Apple ][ soooo badly. But these days, I'm not so sure.
1. http://www.marco.org/2015/01/04/apple-lost-functional-high-g...
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And worse, you're being DISHONEST to pretend like suddenly you were shocked-- SHOCKED!-- that Apple prevents malware in the store, and you just can't abide by such absurdity as protecting their users. The very same users the EFF was created to protect.
Never mind Apple's being on the forefront of securing users information against the government and thieves.
Never mind Apple opening the mobile app market, in fact, really creating it, breaking the stranglehold (and far more onerous terms) of the carriers.
Nevermind all that.
Grandstanding is bad enough, being DISHONEST is unacceptable, and this is why the EFF is going the way of the red cross and every big "non-profit" organization.
EDIT: I see the guy from the EFF Deleted his comment. Well, not really surprised.
There's a severe lack of integrity on display here.
Also, you seem intent on spinning everything to be exclusively an issue of malware.
Personal attacks are not allowed on Hacker News.
yeah, maybe they made the android app just so they could bitch about iOS.
Sure hardliners exist, but there is no reason to call everyone hardliners for a difference in opinion.
Edit: You're probably not being down-voted by adherents in some holy war. Just people who genuinely believe that neither Apple's nor Google's can be seen in black and white. It's possible to discuss the downsides of something even if you have decided that, in totality, there is more up than down.
There are people who have beliefs different from yours, and who believe that apple's long standing policies are socially harmful.
Most of them care most of all about the policies themselves, and not the company.
If apple changed their policies, they would stop voicing those criticisms.
So, this is a site where, if you don't kowtow to the prominent ideology you get buried.
That reflects more on you than those of us who are making counter arguments.
I do agree that ideology and hatred does contribute to why people are downvoting you.
We might disagree on whose ideology, and whose hatred.