Says it will be 'rejecting these type of apps'

Photo-calendar app developer Nushka Labs says it has had a free "tribute calendar" dedicated to Steve Jobs rejected by the company, with a note saying that although "we appreciate your effort honoring Steve," the company "has decided to honor his life in other ways and will are not accepting these types of apps," implying that other apps commemorating Jobs will also be or have been rejected. The app maker will instead post the tribute images on its Tumblr blog.

The developer makes an app called PhotoCalendar HD (and a similar "Lite" version) that allows users to impose calendars over their own favorite photos and use the results as wallpaper screens for the iPhone. Calendar photos created with the app can be e-mailed to others or shared on Facebook or Twitter. The app normally sells for $1.

It had asked Apple for approval of the tribute calendar, saying the app was "our tribute to Steve Jobs." The developer went on to add that photos used in the tribute carry full credit and sourcing for the images, and that the app would be free of charge. Simply crediting photos, however, is sometimes not sufficient to avoid legal issues associated with copyright, even in the case of non-profit uses such as a tribute. It's possible, even likely, that some of the images the company was planning to use would require licensing in any sort of commercial application, even a free one.

While the company referred to the project as "our sincere attempt to reach out people in remembrance of Steve," it said it would respect the decision of Apple to reject the app. The rejection letter itself did acknowledge the sincerity of the effort, and suggested that the developers could use the Ad Hoc distribution method to share the app with family and friends only. It also referred the developers to the rememberingsteve@apple.com e-mail address, where the company is continuing to collect and share stories about the legendary Apple co-founder through its "Remembering Steve Jobs" page.

by MacNN Staff