Apple revises iOS rules on outside advertisers, cuts out Google, Adobe by implication
By Donald Melanson 
posted June 8th 2010 2:52PM
posted June 8th 2010 2:52PM
Apple and Google's newfound rivalry in the mobile advertising space was already pretty interesting to watch as it stood, and it looks like things just got more interesting still. As expected following Steve Jobs' comments at D8 last week, Apple has now revised its rules on advertising in iOS to allow outside advertisers to collect stats for ads, but the company has included some language in the new rules that seems to effectively cut out Google's AdMob. While it obviously doesn't mention Google by name, only "independent" advertising providers can collect tracking stats, and Apple says that any "advertising service provider owned by or affiliated with a developer or distributor of mobile devices, mobile operating systems or development environments other than Apple would not qualify as independent." That would seem to not only affect AdMob, but Adobe and Greystripe's just-announced effort as well, considering it specifically mentions companies affiliated with "development environments other than Apple." We told you things would get interesting. Head on past the break for the complete relevant section.
3.3.9 You and Your Applications may not collect, use, or disclose to any third party, user or device data without prior user consent, and then only under the following conditions:
- The collection, use or disclosure is necessary in order to provide a service or function that is directly relevant to the use of the Application. For example, without Apple's prior written consent, You may not use third party analytics software in Your Application to collect and send device data to a third party for aggregation, processing, or analysis.
- The collection, use or disclosure is for the purpose of serving advertising to Your Application; is provided to an independent advertising service provider whose primary business is serving mobile ads (for example, an advertising service provider owned by or affiliated with a developer or distributor of mobile devices, mobile operating systems or development environments other than Apple would not qualify as independent); and the disclosure is limited to UDID, user location data, and other data specifically designated by Apple as available for advertising purposes.
this is about to get good
"development environments other than Apple."
Walled Garden? Monopoly? Closed Eco-system?
Now I see why Apple will be LONELY in this world, and Google always making friends: Intel, Sony Ericsson, HTC, Motorola, LG, Samsung, Dell, Logitech, Dish Networks, etc...
This is getting interesting.
Union makes the Force.
@TomSawyer
...or stinky.
Good indeed, no more annoying AdMob. iAds seem tolerable, for now...
@barac
or spammy... hey you're not my president!
@Beatnik
Forgot Adobe.
Remember all those CEOs at Google i/o? Wow, like the Justice League of America or Superfriends?
@Beatnik
Apple needs to stop living in their box of imagination. (like Spongbob and Patrick do lol)
They need to realize their product can't be controlled soley by them (iTunes, ads, apps) and that they're are heading down a dark path of self destruction.
One of these days you'll learn. I used to love you, but these stunts you're pulling have driven me away completely (except for your Macbook Pro...yummy)
Realize your evil ways Apple. Come back.
@Almo
Yes, but how long is "for now"
@TomSawyer Can we say more fuel to add to the fire of the DOJ's monopoly inquiry!
@Beatnik
or The Avengers?
@Drybones5
Yes. Apple should take business advice from random commenters on Engadget. Great idea. Should help that struggling market cap and help them finally surpass Microsoft.
/s
@Drybones5
Yes, Agreed, but If I remeber well, their business always had this closed model, always betting for the exclusivity of their products and the followers of the Apple cult.
Some of us want to keep out of the Apple Matrix and see Reality just like it is, not the Magical utopia apple tries to $ell us.
@Joao
WTF? All these kids on Engadget are tech geniuses.
They all know how to run multi-billion $$ corporations.
From their mom's basement
@jaxim You do realize that monopoly means exclusive control of a commodity or service, right? So, Apple, with 20% smartphone market share, or whatever it is, has a monopoly on what? iPhone users?
Well, if thats the case that I'm going to go sue Ford for not allowing GM to install Onstar in my Ford.
@Joao
Maybe you should look at peeks in terms of progress. When something reaches a climax, it'll fall. And in terms of things like technology in energy. They fall fast. If you look at other companies in the past who used to be huge. They fell faster.
Microsoft sells 2 products basically. They are Windows and Office, both software.
Their hardware division makes REALLY good devices. But it seems Microsoft doesn't care so much for them as their 2 huge software Giants. It doesn't matter if they are bad or not.
THEY OWN 86.14% of the market of Computer OS's
They own 7% in the world of Mobile OS's
They are 2nd in terms of sales in console gaming
Apple has 5.80% in the Computer OS world
the iPhone is only 15% in the world mobile OS
Apple's market cap. is an inflated value of a company who is about design of their product in stead of features first.
Microsoft is lazy. If they actually worked on their computer concepts, they would be top in devices in some places.
But I'm no Windows fan. At all.
@Beatnik hardly useful friends to Apple since Apple design their own stuff anyway, other than Intel which is probably on the way out thanks to restrictive specs.
The only friends Apple needs are the media providers, which are attracted by the lucrative eco system that's already making a lot of money.
Google's friends are just doing all the hardware work
@Gonzie
Apple's iPhone 4 parts aren't all Apple made.
that A4 chip was made by someone else with Apple's designers in the loop.
The screen is probably a samsung.
The wireless band is qualcomm probably.
Motherboard is by foxconn.
@TomSawyer
Wow...Apple just thumbed their nose at the FTC / Justice.
@JK11 Your car analogy would be more accurate if you said you tried to sue Ford because they won't let any other manufacturers make aftermarket or replacement parts for their cars, would only let you listen to Ford approved radio stations in the car, all the commercials on those radio stations had to go through and be approved by Ford, etc.
@suicidebob We are CONSUMERS. We KNOW what we want, and this isn't it.
@Beatnik
No Apple is just getting in bed with old media, brick-n-mortar, and government and education institutions.
They want to be the sole technology provider.
This is truly getting to the point of The Empire (old guard) vs. The Republic (rebels).
@Beatnik
Yea but Google partners w/ all those companies that provide the hardware/services in area's that they don't specialize in. I'm sure if it was economical for Google to make its own TV's, Boxes, Chips, & Phones more than half those names you list don't exist in partnerships w/ Google.
@The Madman but this is exactly what Apple Zealot one. Look at the previous posts. Apple iAd is less annoying than other advertisement.
I'm pretty sure all advertisement are annoying, but with an apple name on it, it soothes them a little.
@The Madman
"If *I* think it's crap, but the marketplace thinks it's vastly superior, the only way to resolve this paradox is to assume that the marketplace is profoundly stupid and duped by Apple's svengali-like marketing. Because it couldn't possibly be that I don't have a freaking clue what people want."
@nobled well yes and no...because the analogy was also meant to demonstrate that if I could always buy a Chevy or a Ford or any other car, and if I didn't like Ford's business strategy, I could go elsewhere.
Now, the argument that I haven't heard yet is about what a cell phone manufacturer or mobile OS company's obligation with respect to protecting their users. As far as I can see, android users are exposed in a lot of ways to collection of their personal information. Are we heading to the day when you have to run anti-virus software on your phone? I've seen what happens when facebook doesn't regulate apps and uses our personal info as a commodity.
In other words, while "walled garden" has taken on such a negative connotation, I'm not sure I mind being walled in after seeing all the spyware, adware, viruses and scams out there. My prediction is that we're less than a year from a major android virus or spyware that exploits the platform's openness. Now, that may be worth the risk for some people but if I have to start doing virus and adware removal on my entire family's cell phones, I'm going to scream.
@Drybones5
Again...what are you doing online? You should be a billionaire business consultant by now.
/s
@Beatnik Google doesn't allow other search engines...googles choice is use different devices but one service (Google service), Google search, etc....check this out...
http://hungrybeast.abc.net.au/stories/beast-file-google
@suicidebob "We" meaning, "The people [consumers] that are here complaining".
We don't HAVE to be expert business-men to know what we want and what we don't, and I'll say it again: those of us that are complaining DON'T want this.
@Joao
Oh thanks *rolls eyes*
Sarcasm aside, you don't need to be a CEO of a company to understand how a company should act.
@The Madman
But you people complain about anything Apple does, even though you all claim not to own, like, or want to buy Apple products.
Funny that.
@suicidebob Except we don't. We all know they make a lot of very right choices in product design. We just don't like when they force people's hands - like, say... right now.
Stop pretending like everybody that has an opinion has to have some kind of allegiance or emotional, hormonal attachment to one company or another. Just because *some* of us are that primitive (*cough*), doesn't mean we all are.
@Beatnik to be fair, non of the companies you mentioned are in the OS or the Internet search/advertising business. Apple is just preemptively preventing Google collect usage data on iDevices for the benefit of Android development. What I see happening, is Google will withheld updates to Google Apps, Docs on the iDevices, then Apple start to cozzy up with Microsoft with Office Online...
Quick show of hands...who here has any idea how to run a multi-billion dollar company?
...and...yeah, thought so.
Apple does what they do, because people buy their products regardless. You think real people out there with real lives give a flying fuck if a few aps out of the thousands available get denied over what ad format they use? Good god..."Walled garden! Closed Eco-system! Apple is DOOMED!". People have been saying the same horseshit for a decade now, while Apple has been making money hand over fist. The grumbling from a few dozen self-absorbed tech nerds is meaningless.
In that same vein, Microsoft shouldn't have had to bundle a browser choice menu with their OS in the EU - you could always just buy a Mac, right?
Also, closed systems aren't inherently more secure; it's all about the vendor keeping up with security fixes.
@ebon Oh shut up. People don't have to be business managers to disagree with a large company's practises.
And if Apple was doing these things because that's the ONLY way to run a business, then EVERY company would be doing these things and we wouldn't have room to complain.
Except it ISN'T the only way to run a business. There are countless ways to run businesses. The very reason we complain is because other businesses don't run in the same manner and we prefer their method of running. One company that comes straight to mind: Dyson (yeah, bet you didn't see THAT one coming!).
@ebon I hope you're a Catholic, then, because unless you're the Pope or God you don't have any idea about how religion works at all, and the Pope thinks Catholicism is the only way a person should live.
@TomSawyer -- It's really quite simple:
Apple's hardware and software engineering teams - Unmatched in innovation and design
Apple's ecosystem & app guideline decisions - unmatched in their shortsightedness, greediness, and communistic ideals.
The former is evoking a "WANT" reaction across the world... the latter is riding that wave FOR NOW, but ultimately they are going to need to make some fundamental decisions (set us free from iTunes) or it's going to drag their deck of cards down.
*Disclaimer - Palm Pre user since launch, Win7 user since Beta, Engineer and self-professed Anti-Apple. Not a single one of you can honestly look at the iPhone4 and not BEG for that hardware to be matched across mobile platforms. Hopefully the catchup cycle will be shorter (especially for HP-Palm :D ) THAT hardware w/ WebOS would be insta-WIN
@Drybones5
Apple designed the iPhone period.
Making something is different than designing it. No tech company manufactures all of the components that go into the products they design.
That is why other companies can use the same (or better) components as the iPhone, and still end up with inferior products.
@Drybones5 Kinda reminds you of the 80's doesn't it?
@Schifu10
Marketplace > Search "Bing" > Download widget.
@ebon Amen to that
@JK11 You might find this hard to believe but Google designed Android with the philosophy that you can't trust the user and every single program is a virus in some manner. Security within Android is very aggressive, it was designed to be secure, not as an after thought. The only way to get open access to the phone to even delete or modify a system file (or any program file for that matter) is to root the phone with a very complicated bypass process using recovery mode. Now it's always possible to find exploits, but being an open system it's far easier to check for them and it's far easier for the company to correct them.
You seem to be confusing open access versus security. In fact your belief that pay-walled = secure is scary because the two aren't even related. The only thing the pay-walled system means is that you won't know about the vulnerabilities because no one can disclose them but the bad guys due to contract provisions. Apples pay-wall system can't and doesn't block vulnerabilities. In fact, the Apple system could be far less secure if it's design isn't focused on security. It's conceivable that a developer could submit an application with one stated purpose and bury an exploit in the code and Apple would never catch it because I sincerely doubt they review every line of code. If the developer doesn't disclose a function of the software Apple wouldn't know it exists, they rely almost entirely on the developers disclosing everything, and that's a far more dangerous situation because it's security theater, not real security. Users believe that this pay-wall system makes them more secure (like you) but don't realize that it means nothing in regard to security.
@ebon
So what you are saying is because none of us here understand how to run a multi-billion dollar company, we should all just agree with it?
God, people are dumb. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand business moves after they are made. It doesn't take a brilliant mind to understand the actions of a billion dollar corporation. It takes a brilliant mind to MAKE those actions and do well with it.
Stop acting like business models are some magical mystical genius plans that no one can understand besides its creators. Just because YOU don't understand it, doesn't mean nobody else does.
So now shut up.
@JK11 Apple will make it. And on a side note, ikee b.
@corylulu
Considering the vast majority of the comments here don't even pertain to what this is actually about, nor display any sort of comprehension about the topic at hand, other than a vague interpretation of the article title...yeah, I'd say not many here know how to run a company. Or know their ass from a hole in the ground.
@Schifu10
The link you gave says: "This content is only viewable from Australia"
I found one similar in youtube.
Its the same?:
The Beast File: Google ('HUNGRY BEAST', ABC TV)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7yfV6RzE30
It is interesting and a little scary.
@ebon
I know I can run a business model pretty well considering mines working great but besides that,
Just the act of calling someone ignorant without more than a comments worth of information ignorant in itself.
But as I said, doesn't take a genius to understand whats going on right now.
And btw,
"Maybe you should look at peeks in terms of progress. When something reaches a climax, it'll fall. And in terms of things like technology in energy. They fall fast. If you look at other companies in the past who used to be huge. They fell faster.
Microsoft sells 2 products basically. They are Windows and Office, both software.
Their hardware division makes REALLY good devices. But it seems Microsoft doesn't care so much for them as their 2 huge software Giants. It doesn't matter if they are bad or not.
THEY OWN 86.14% of the market of Computer OS's
They own 7% in the world of Mobile OS's
They are 2nd in terms of sales in console gaming
Apple has 5.80% in the Computer OS world
the iPhone is only 15% in the world mobile OS
Apple's market cap. is an inflated value of a company who is about design of their product in stead of features first.
Microsoft is lazy. If they actually worked on their computer concepts, they would be top in devices in some places.
But I'm no Windows fan. At all."
was probably the most intelligent thing stated in this whole thread. (but idk, I never make it past the second page)
@ebon Are you still spouting this rubbish?
So, in your naive little world where you believe everything anyone tells you:
Only the Pope understands ethics;
Only the most athletic person in the world understands fitness;
Only clothe manufacturers have any taste in style;
Only massive food chains have any understanding of health and healthy eating;
Only Bill Gates can understand computers and software development;
Only Facebook executives understand relationships;
[insert more completely false and plain-as-day stupid assumptions pertaining to this rule].
@The Madman no, you are wrong. To them
Steve Jobs is GOD and thou shalt not question GOD. Smite thee he will
@TomSawyer I absolutely love this thread. Now you guys are pissed that AdMob can't shove more ads in your face. This is priceless.
Just get it over with already. You guys are pissed because Apple is killing it in the market and they don't care about the tech nerd. It's that simple. Stop the temper tantrums and move on.
Are you really picking a fight because you want more ads from more companies. You are never going to own an Apple product anyway so whats all the fuss about?