Apple blocks radio app update from App Store
updated 10:10 am EST, Tue November 11, 2008
CastCatcher update blocked
An update to an Internet radio app for the iPhone and iPod touch has been denied, despite the acceptance of earlier versions, its developer notes. return7 observes that CastCatcher 1.3 has been denied permission for posting at the App Store, even though three previous versions of the app were accepted and the most recent one, v1.2, is still on sale. A message from Apple is claimed to say that v1.3 transfers "excessive volumes of data over the cellular network," which is forbidden under Section 3.3.15 of the iPhone SDK.
return7 says it has replied to Apple on the topic, and hopes to have the v1.3 update posted shortly. The developer defends the software, insisting it does not burden cellular networks any more than the other radio apps available. CastCatcher is used to stream the Shoutcast, Icecast and nicecast stream formats, which are popular on desktops and notebooks but not natively supported by Apple handhelds.
Apple has encountered significant flak for its approach to the App Store, where a variety of programs have been denied under what many consider arbitrary reasoning. The most publicized explanation for denial has so far been duplication of existing functions, even though blocked apps such as Podcaster and MailWrangler support functions not currently provided by Apple.



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