In a message posted on February 3, 2010, Apple reminds existing and potential application developers that functionality is more important than revenue. The post specifically points out that the Core Location framework is intended to be able to identify a user’s location in order to deliver useful content (i.e. clean public restrooms and the nearest Super Target) and not to simply push localized advertisements out to them. What happens if advertising is the only reason the application geo-tags the user?
“If your app uses location-based information primarily to enable mobile advertisers to deliver targeted ads based on a user’s location, your app will be returned to you by the App Store Review Team for modification before it can be posted to the App Store.” – iPhone Dev Center, February 3, 2010
The message could be interpreted (or at least should be) as a reminder aimed at money-grubbing developers who litter their iPhone and iPod Touch apps with banner ads. While it is understandable that those who sell “free” apps should have the opportunity to at least recoup their time and financial investment, everyone has seen an application or two that had one too many ads to make it worth being free. Paid apps should not have any ads, period. What is the irony in Apple’s “functionality is more important than profit” theory? Apple’s last reported net quarterly profit is listed at $3.38 billion. Along those lines, maybe someone should post a message reminding Apple that increasing an iMac screen-size to 27-inches is less important than providing a functional, flicker-free screen.
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