Apple rejection of Indigenous app described as symptom of 'digital colonisation'

Apple rejection of Indigenous app described as symptom of 'digital colonisation'(abc.net.au)

24 points by subatomic 9 years ago | 6 comments

Aaargh20318 9 years ago |

From what I can see this app lets you scan an AR marker (that you apparently have to buy) and then it plays back a movie. End of functionality.

I'm sure the actual movies are decent enough, but as an app there's hardly any functionality and it does look like it violates Apple's policy.

This has nothing to do with 'digital colonisation' and everything with rejecting shitty money-grab made-in-an-afternoon apps.

anotheryou 9 years ago | |

really not enough information to judge on...

All we have is "Apple [..] expect[s] apps to provide a really great user experience" vs this low-res screenshot of some video or animation (can't even tell which and there is no UI visible) http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-17/a-screenshot-of-the-in...

As you said, if the app part is starting a video that could just as well be on youtube, there is no use in it. If it has a decent interface to discover different videos, it can make sense. But we can't know based on the spare facts we have and for this I blame that company, not apple. Even on their website there is not a single screenshot showing the app...

edit: so they mapped a video on to a business card with unity... http://www.indigital.net.au/single-post/2016/11/09/Indigital...

Aaargh20318 9 years ago | | |

The app is available for Android if you want to try it.

slededit 9 years ago | |

Its unfortunate we have a gate keeper like that. How many ideas started out as simple proofs of concept, how many world changing ideas appeared stupid at first. The users should be the ones deciding which apps are worth having on their phones.

At this point we're limited to whatever Apple can imagine is useful. Long term this will stifle innovation.

danboarder 9 years ago |

This makes me wonder if Apple could let more of their app selection process be a crowdsourced function? Outside of illegal content or porn I can't imagine why Apple should block anything on content grounds to satisfy their 'walled garden' protective goals, and cultural content like in the OP is certainly relevant to the indigenous communities involved.