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AMBER Alert developer blasts Steve Jobs over delays

updated 04:55 pm EDT, Mon March 9, 2009

AMBER Alert delays

Approval delays for the iTunes App Store have become out of hand, claims the developer of the AMBER Alert iPhone application. Jonathan Zdziarski is publicizing an open letter directed at Apple CEO Steve Jobs, complaining that while the app was originally submitted to the App Store on February 14th, its approval status is still listed as "In Review." The problem is that the delay of the app may be having real-world consequences, according to Zdziarski.

The developer notes that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has in fact launched efforts to accommodate the app, for instance by training call center workers and collaborating with the organization's CIO and regional directors. Zdziarski further claims that by delaying approval Apple is risking the lives of missing children, who the app is designed to speed location of by submitting reports to police. Police, in turn, can use collected sightings to designate a search area.

by MacNN Staff

(50)

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iPhone, industry, iPhone apps, App Store, Apple

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bobolicious
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2002

+24

03/09, 05:24pm | report spam | close Reply |
Blame is funny...

...how suddenly a pre-existing risk condition is suddenly 'Apple's fault' by not approving a third party application...

... this seems MacNN's interpretation of the letter, rather than a direct quote...?

dchapman68
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2009

+8

03/09, 05:38pm | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
Blame Steve? Really?

It sure seems pointless to blast Steve Jobs over this considering he's on medical leave until June. Who's in charge of the company right now? Tim Cook, right? Or better yet, why not blast the guy in charge of the iTunes Store/App Store/MobileMe: Senior Vice President Eddy Cue. I'm sure Apple has work to do on this, but it seems odd to blame every last thing someone doesn't like at Apple on Steve Jobs, especially right now.

jpellino
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 1999

+19

03/09, 05:41pm | report spam | close Reply |
Sad thing is...

...some boatload of lawyers will seize on this nonsense and go go after every device maker who doesn't anticipate Amber alert capabilities, anti-blinding-glare coating on their display glass, an accelerometer-based airbag, training wheels and dental floss included.

Aside from that, wouldn't it have been prudent for Mr. Z to make sure this app was actually in the wild before spending the amount of dollars needed to roll out the infrastructure and train the legion of people he seems to be referring to in his letter?

As for the specifics of the app, did he stop to think that approval of this one may take just a wee bit more analysis by Apple before they roll it out? You've seen the lawsuits flying just because people aren't getting the 3G coverage they imagined and they can't order pizza, what happens the first time this app crashes or the network is down or the iPhone doesn't get an accurate fix or it's on an iPT that can't get a fix via WiFi... Others with an attitude like he's taken will likely be the first with a lawsuit alleging it's Apple's or AT&T's fault that some kid went from bad to worse.

danviento
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 2005

+14

03/09, 05:51pm | report spam | close Reply |
Many unanswered questions

So what did we do before iPhones? I guess there were those highway signs and news alerts... How does not having this foisted on people for a few more days/weeks make any difference?

And to be more techie, how the h*** to you have an app allow alerts to go out without push notification under the strictures of iPhone app req's?

Dittos to jpellino- that was going to be my other point.

WiseWeasel
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 1999

+12

03/09, 06:10pm | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
BS

"The problem is that the delay of the app may be having real-world consequences, according to Zdziarski."

That assumes that any significant number of people would actually bother to install, and run their Amber Alert app on a regular basis, to the point that it will make a difference for law enforcement. This is likely a false assumption. Why would any normal person with a life install and bother to check this app? This is all a pointless discussion, as it won't be used in any case, even once Apple gets around to approving it.

boris_cleto
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Joined: Sep 2002

+4

03/09, 06:14pm | report spam | (2 replies) close Reply |
Risking lives...BS

There is no evidence that Amber Alerts have ever saved one life. In the rare case that the kidnapper intends to rape or kill the victim that victim ends up raped or killed.

Eriamjh
Addicted to MacNN

Joined: Oct 2001

+6

03/09, 06:35pm | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
Give me a frackin' brake.

Someone needs to tell this assh*le to STFU and he has too many Zs in his name.

Comment buried. Show

opiapr
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2009

-14

03/09, 06:44pm | report spam | (3 replies) close Reply |
I agree with the deve

I totally agree with the developer app approval time is unacceptable. Its not the one that will not install the app but the ones that will. If my child when missing I will want all the help I can get. But the fanbois dont see that they really need to grow up. Its fine to like a company but totally inmature to venerate it and side all the time with it.

zimbardo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2004

+4

03/09, 07:00pm | report spam | close Reply |
USE SAFARI !!!

Geez! Certainly, one could access the website on Safari on their iPhone without having a special RSS client application on the phone to do it!!! If it is such an emergency, he should spend more time looking for kids than worrying about when his stupid app will be available! LOL!!

mike3k
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 1999

+8

03/09, 07:03pm | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
Huh?

What a douchebag. Even if Steve wasn't on leave, he has nothing to do with personally approving apps.

mike3k
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 1999

+2

03/09, 07:04pm | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
Huh?

Even if Steve wasn't on leave, he has nothing to do with personally approving apps.

Darth_Pixel
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 2008

+5

03/09, 07:58pm | report spam | close Reply |
Submit Earlier

Maybe they should have submitted this app earlier? It's a great idea...I guess. Not sure my iPhone sending me an Amber Alert while in a meeting at work is going to help find the kid (although some of the clients we meet with look a bit shifty). I can see the prospective value, but what gives him the right to trump others in line? I mean, come on, I need that iFart v2.0 first.

testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

-20

03/09, 07:59pm | report spam | (5 replies) close Reply |
Re huh

Steve sets up the rules. And since he's the one who said "the iPhone apps must be pre-approved". This he is as much resposible as the guys who can't figure out how to approve apps quickly.

But thank god those farting and beer apps have been approved. Those are really important

avfolk
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Feb 2005

+2

03/09, 11:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
It's your own fault.

Shameless effort to create buzz and raise funds.

Hooking your star to a 'cause' and blaming 'delays' on Jobs?Who nabbed YOUR sensibilities??? When you get RIM and WindowsMobile support I'll be impressed. Until then, chill.

If a child dies -- you're the blame -- for not getting your app done sooner.

SierraDragon
Mac Elite

Joined: Mar 2004

+4

03/09, 11:11pm | report spam | close Reply |
Wasted Bandwidth

We have already wasted too much bandwidth on this Z prima donna. It is not like folks who care cannot routinely go to amberalert.com.

bmn
Registered User

Joined: Apr 2007

-3

03/09, 11:29pm | report spam | close Reply |
Amber alert

You wont see that c*** on my phone.

rtbarry
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

+3

03/10, 01:50am | report spam | close Reply |
clearly...

...apple rapes children. children like testudo. then they become bitter attention whores.

nat
Junior Member

Joined: Mar 2002

+3

03/10, 08:26am | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
rtbarry

well said. i would only add "moronic" to the bitter attention whores part.

Roehlstation
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

+1

03/10, 09:02am | report spam | close Reply |
App Approval

Has more to do with stability testing than appropriateness, if an app gets approved too soon and it constantly crashes your iPhone, who do you think people will blame? Not likely the developer...

testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

-6

03/10, 09:19am | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
Re: Re: Huh

I bought my iPhone for fun and for communication purposes -- MY communication purposes. I don't want Amber Alerts on my phone.

Then don't download the app. But what does that have to do with anything. I don't want a farting app. Should that mean no one gets it?

Testudo, you don't know who the eff calls the shots at Apple, and it's quite presumptuous and stupid of you to assume so.

Um, first off, Steve Jobs is the CEO. He is, by default, responsible for EVERYTHING that happens at Apple.

Second, a verb was actually created for Jobs. "Steved" indicates a project that was killed by Mr. Jobs. He didn't get where he is by letting everyone else do the work and just sitting around.

Third, if Steve isn't to blame, then who is? If you don't have the answer to that, then don't say "You can't blame steve".

The problem with the AppStore is there is no clue by developers why products are killed, why they take so long to get approved, or who to complain to. So you go up the line.

And I'll bet you don't even own your own company, making six figures a year. I bet you're normal... not too damn smart, not too damn dumb -- just good enough to get by, like the rest of us. If you really had the knowledge in you, you'd already be successful at the top of Apple.

Um, neither Tim Cook nor Steve Jobs owns their own company either. Does that make them normal? And what does owning a company have to do with anything? Many people own companies. Many companies fail. Owning a company isn't the end-all of success.

There may be some really stupid people on here, but you've thusly met your match in terms of knowledge, experience and know-how.

Really? From who? You? You haven't even answered any of my initial criticisms.

The fact of the matter is that you don't know what you're talking about half the time, and pretend to have the education and knowledge just to appear like you know what you're talking about.

Oh, like ANYONE on the internet is any different? Please.

By the way, I love the fact that my iPhone farts at me

How nice. It just goes to show you that no matter how grown up people get, some keep that mentality of a 12 year old.

Why don't you spend more time trying to get Gucci ads off the side of public transportation buses and replaced with scrolling LCD Amber Alert warnings instead of trying to tell me what I should put on my telephone?

I'm sorry, but for all your ranting, you still sound like you have no idea what is being discussed. WHERE exactly does it say (from me or the original article) that we want EVERYONE to put an Amber Alert app on their iphone?

testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

-3

03/10, 09:21am | report spam | (2 replies) close Reply |
Re: App approval

Has more to do with stability testing than appropriateness, if an app gets approved too soon and it constantly crashes your iPhone, who do you think people will blame? Not likely the developer...

Right. When my apps crash on my computer or iPod, I always blame Apple. They must be at fault.

Then again, if Apple didn't insist on Approving each and every app, and they didn't insist you had to go through them, people would not be blaming them at all...

carloblackmore
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 2005

+2

03/10, 11:48am | report spam | close Reply |
Apple Thinks Samely?

1) Interesting that barely a soul was interested enough to comment when MacNN initially announced this app. Not until Apple was being criticized by the developer did it become important to us? And I include myself in that.

2) I appreciate the difficulty for Apple to quickly process these apps; and obviously AMBER Alert is not the usual app. But I'm glad that the developer is bringing attention to this. It's time for Apple to step-up and address this issue more seriously; the App Store is not just a peripheral hobby bulletin board. When a deluge of useless bikini, f***-cushion, exploding grenade apps prevent truly innovative and socially critical projects from making it to the App Store, then something is horribly wrong, and it makes Apple seem like they're starting to THINK SAMELY.

mappingman
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Feb 2005

0

03/10, 11:59am | report spam | (3 replies) close Reply |
Blame

IMHOFWIW... There should be standards in place for apps of this sort. You know, this really isn't an issue of blame. This is an issue of social and moral responsibility. Corporations really ought to take it upon themselves to identify what social and moral obligations they have to the public, and act accordingly. Regardless of their ownership status. In this particular case, if this is the "official" Amber Alert app for the Centers for Missing and Exploited Children, Apple should make it a point to either approve, or return for correction this application as quickly as possible. It NEEDS to be in the hands of as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. It is their moral and social obligation. The application entry isn't even on the iTunes App Store any longer, as of this posting. I'm not singling out Apple either. This is the sort of responsibility that ALL corporations, large and small should take upon themselves. It's the same as if you are walking down the street and you see a child being brutally beaten. Would you act? I'm sure there are some out there that wouldn't. Shame on you. This is about protecting innocent young people. If you want to blame someone, blame the sick individuals who kidnap and exploit these children. But also pressure corporations when they have an opportunity to help, and don't.

Constable Odo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2007

+1

03/10, 02:50pm | report spam | close Reply |
These damn developers

are crying because the App approval system is backlogged. That happens to everything when they become popular. The developers used to complain and say they were going to some other platform because Apple was too restrictive and the App Store was gonna fail big time for all sorts of reasons. Now they're bitching because there's probably a line of 2000 apps a month that need to be approved. Did Apple ever give a time period that apps are supposed to be approved by.

If a Broadway play is popular, should people gripe about how long it takes to get tickets? They can always go see some play that nobody else wants to see and get in immediately. Hey Jonathan Z, go develop for Palm. I'm sure they'll approve your c*** immediately. No waiting. This dude's app had better be really good and I mean top ten good for him to start whining about approval dates.

Blaming Steve Jobs because of the immense popularity of the App Store is ludicrous. This dude ought to get down on his hands and knees before Steve Jobs for even getting the opportunity to develop on such a popular platform.

carloblackmore
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 2005

-1

03/10, 05:42pm | report spam | (1 reply) close Reply |
App store queue

My own visual opinion of the bigger point that Apple seems to be missing...http://gallery.me.com/carloblackmore/100199/Apple-iPhoneAppstore_AMBER-delay

rtbarry
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

+2

03/11, 01:22pm | report spam | close Reply |
@carlo...

...so your point is: "it's under review"

wow. very powerful message there. you're quite the scion of social justice and a powerful force for the betterment of mankind.

world, take note of Carlo!! he owns photoshop!

ZinkDifferent
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2005

0

03/22, 12:55am | report spam | close Reply |
Jonathan Zdziarski

.... attention w**** extraordinaire! When he's not calling himself a 'security consultant', and blasting Apple for non existing or fabricated 'security exploits', I guess he's creating a 'humanitarian app' with the sole purpose of being able to blast Apple when it takes longer to approve than he'd like.

He may want to consider that the reason his app hangs in limbo has to do more with Apple knowing that he's a fucktard, than the app itself.

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AMBER Alert developer blasts Steve Jobs over delays

updated 04:55 pm EDT, Mon March 9, 2009

AMBER Alert delays

Blame is funny...

Blame Steve? Really?

Sad thing is...

Many unanswered questions

BS

Risking lives...BS

Give me a frackin' brake.

I agree with the deve

USE SAFARI !!!

Huh?

Huh?

Submit Earlier

Re huh

It's your own fault.

Wasted Bandwidth

Amber alert

clearly...

rtbarry

App Approval

Re: Re: Huh

Re: App approval

Apple Thinks Samely?

Blame

These damn developers

App store queue

@carlo...

Jonathan Zdziarski

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AMBER Alert developer blasts Steve Jobs over delays

updated 04:55 pm EDT, Mon March 9, 2009

AMBER Alert delays

Related Articles

Recent Articles

Blame is funny...

Blame Steve? Really?

Sad thing is...

Many unanswered questions

BS

Risking lives...BS

Give me a frackin' brake.

I agree with the deve

USE SAFARI !!!

Huh?

Huh?

Submit Earlier

Re huh

It's your own fault.

Wasted Bandwidth

Amber alert

clearly...

rtbarry

App Approval

Re: Re: Huh

Re: App approval

Apple Thinks Samely?

Blame

These damn developers

App store queue

@carlo...

Jonathan Zdziarski

Login Here

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