Apple introduced in iOS 5 the functionality of the rejected application from the AppStore

^{On the left - the original WiFi-Sync program logo, on the right - the WiFi-Sync function icon in iOS 5}



They say it is not the first time that Apple has banned applications for distribution via the AppStore, which duplicate the functions of the iOS interface. But the last case can be called out of the ordinary. The WiFi-Sync application for wirelessly syncing iPhone with iTunes was rejected for inclusion in the AppStore in May 2010, one month after the application was submitted. The author of the program, Greg Hughes, a student at the University of Birmingham (Greg Hughes), moved his program to an alternative catalog of Cydia jailbroken iPhones programs, where she became a bestseller.



What a surprise the student was when, on June 6, 2011, he saw his program among the new features of iOS 5 in an advertisement at the Apple office ! Interestingly, Apple retained the exact name of WiFi-Sync and did not even bother to change the logo much.



“Of course, I was just shocked,” says Greg Hughes, “I've been selling my program with this name and this logo for almost a year. Apple knew this because I uploaded the program to their catalog, so it’s just amazing to see that. ”

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Before excluding the program from the catalog, an Apple representative officially contacted the author, explaining the reasons for the refusal (using the undocumented OS functions and some security concerns). He also told the student that programmers from Apple’s development department had studied his program and were very impressed. Moreover, Hughes was even asked to send a resume to the personnel department.



For 13 months, over 50 thousand copies of the WiFi-Sync application have been sold through Cydia, which now costs $ 9.99. Thus, the student earned about $ 200-300 thousand, taking into account the percentage of Cydia deductions and periodic discounts on the program. In general, it is surprising that jailbreaked iPhones can also make good money. The example of WiFi-Sync perfectly demonstrates this.



Thus, the student earned everything he could. He had no chance to get into the AppStore directory due to the use of undocumented APIs, and there is no question of plagiarism of the logo either, because both logos contain generally accepted symbols of synchronization and WiFi. Formally, Apple can not be any claims on any of the items, she did not even apologize for that. These are the realities of developing applications for iOS, these are well-known rules of the game.



Additionally:

List of independent applications that will be superseded by new features of iOS 5