I want to see a movie...should I go see one or rent/buy one from iTunes?

CEOself

@Der182:
Is it wrong that I imagined your post read out in a Bill Cosby voice?

Camperton

wait a second!! are you guys saying that Apple pulled a dick move once again?? NOOOOOOO!!!! That can't be! Not Apple! /sarcasm

froggy

The most likely reason that Boxoffice got pulled is because it was open source. The NDA still doesn't allow developers to openly share resources.

Watch out, Wordpress, you're next!

hungtruong

In a world where TV Listings are considered content, there is no telling who is pissed off that you can get movie listings, times, etc. without ads for free.

NNTPgrip

My guess is that it is a trademark problem with the name. A google search reveals other "BoxOffice" websites or products that have the same function. He should have taken the safe route and gone with "iBoxOffice" : )

DinoKingfisher

The most likely reason the app got pulled is because it was open source. The NDA still doesn't allow developers to share resources openly. Check out [www.fuckingnda.com] for all the complaints.

hungtruong

@Der182: Apple is running very lean personnel-wise. I believe they have 1/7th the employees of Microsoft, yet they are only slightly larger than half Microsoft's size in cap.

Microsoft's upper-management can't be happy about those numbers - 1/7 the employees, but still trumping them with almost every product. Amazing.

C'mon Apple - hire a few more folks for this new 'platform.'

Dancing Milkcarton

This pretty much puts a big friggin' hole in this walled garden application store thing. It's convenient, and sounds nice, but I'd rather risk screwing my hardware with a completely open pool of applications like I can with full-desktop OS X than have apps that I've been considering but haven't jumped on yet suddenly disappear from the *only* app store for the device.

Kaiser-Machead's BSDM Shenanigans

apple really does piss me off sometime. Even if his is something justified by apple or a glitch, I feel they should atleast try to stay open to their customers and try to be available for help. That's Apple for you. They really dont give a sh*t about their customers. Atleast microsoft has better availability and a great support community (Zune team for example).

Der182

This is one of my favorite apps... I hope they resolve the issue with Apple soon.

rockstarjoe

@FredicvsMaximvs: It's free.

Joseph

I've tried to contact them about the issue, but it's been a complete dead end.

I'm not 100% certain but I believe every developer has two complimentary contacts to Apple for questions. He should be able to exercise one of those although I'm not sure where on the portal those links are :).

Joseph

I don't have an iPhone, so pardon my ignorance...

Is this an application that you have to pay for? 'Cause if it is, then I'd say that's definitely "commercial use." (IANAL.) So if the data is licensed for noncommercial use, that sounds like a big no-no to me. The author of the software would then be making money off of data provided by Rotten Tomatoes.

FredicvsMaximvs

Apple should be required to at least give a reason. But who would enforce the requiring? It can only be us, the developers. OK, developers, united we stand. Let's all pull our apps immediately until Apple replaces Box Office.

waterwizard

I could see Apple re-releasing it for money designed by their own design crew.

Metkis

Well, that would make clear then that the average attention span of a gizmodo reader is <= 4 paragraphs. Some of those aren't really even paragraphs other than in spacing.

raleel

@Elliuotatar: The author said he was in contact with his data providers, which would have been rotten tomatoes.

Probably just apple screwing around behind the scenes. All of these apps are approved in a lengthy process; I doubt it is a conspiracy.

kwicherbichin

@Elliuotatar: Did you read the article?

I'm in regular contact with all my data providers, and none of them have had an issue with my app. Indeed, the response was the exact opposite. They like my app and have even asked if i would do custom application work for them in the future. Furthermore, all the data i use is licensed by the owners as 'free for non commercial use'. i.e. precisely what BoxOffice is.

hypnotik_jello

@Elliuotatar: Why is that a problem? It gives credit to Rotten Tomatoes, so what's the big deal?

Katoejoe

I noticed this yesterday around 3pm or so when I tried getting the app for my dad. Why would this get pulled off? It's so useful, and as far as I can see, secure. Let's all just hope this gets resolved soon. (and that nobody accidentally deletes the app from their phone!)

Katoejoe

Ah, I just clicked the boxoffice link above and it's not only using the little tomatoes, it's pulling the scores from the rottentomatoes website.

So there's your culprit.

Elliuotatar

Maybe apple got threatened with a trademark violation for the use of the little tomatoes as ratings, which is precisely what RottenTomatoes.com uses for their movie rating scheme.

Elliuotatar

This is to bad since I like it and the 2.1 update will probably kill it off.

Hope it comes back, whatever the problem.

wanago

@Der182:
I did it again, but this time it became more of a Fat Albert voice.

Camperton

@Camperton: hahha Should I change my avatar to Gary Coleman instead and end every post with "Whatchu talkin bout Willis?" hah

But seriously, it seems like Apple doesn't take pride in making customers happy. it's like, "Ok I have your money. Goodbye. If you have a problem, buy another product and I'll talk to you." That may not be the actuality, but it's how it's perceived.

Der182

I would not be surprised if someone with a online ticket selling site didn't pay Apple a truck load of money for exclusive rights to have such a program in the app store.

BlowfishAvenger

I received an update on my iPhone 3G the other day about this app. It said I had to update via iTunes, and not directly on my phone because that way was causing crashes. Perhaps this app was bricking phones via the update process, and was pulled because of that? Apple couldn't afford any more bricked iPhones, so it panicked and pulled the app? Just a guess.

Jack Loftus

Apple is probably going to come out with a 10 dollar version. So they decided to level err clear the playing field.

oddgit

Anyone who buys into the App Store concept is a sucker. You think DRM is bad because it allows the MPAA to tell you how to view and when to view it? This is DRM for Apps. You don't own that phone, Steve Jobs does and he can do whatever he wants with it. Enjoy your serfdom.

Brock

@donlphi: If it was pulled for stability reasons, don't you think the users should be informed too? How hard is it to send a bcc email to everyone who bought the app telling us what the problem is? "Hey, this app is unstable, uninstall it for now, and we'll fix it soon." Done. Suddenly, instead of getting flack for stonewalling, Apple gets praise for proactively looking out for its users.

Like I said, I suspect its a trademark issue and that we'll see the renamed version soon, but the point is that no one, not even the developer, knows.

Netshare is the same thing. It's pretty obvious that it got pulled because it violates AT&T's TOS, what about the people who spend $10 on it? Do they get a refund? A notification that use of the app violates their TOS? Will it get erased or deactivated with the next itunes update? No one knows, and the refusal of Apple to get in front of this thing undermines users' trust in the integrity of the app store.

SEJerome

Sorry for double post, but if apple did this RIGHT and was smart, they could turn the appstore into the start of making the Iphone/Itouch a competitor with the DS and PSP.

Alluvian

Pisses me off, all the reasons given here are still bullshit because apple made no effort to work with or even inform the developer of the problem.

How could a large business want to make apps for the appstore now knowing that apple can pull the product anytime they want for no reason and flush their dev dollars down the toilet?

This is a HUGE PR issue, as the appstore is a BIG selling point for the Iphone, and it is trash without good developer relationships.

Alluvian

Lame, this was actually one of the apps I was really excited about...

Nekro

There was talk on the macrumors forums of the app being renamed to "Now Playing" a la the splash screen just before the app was pulled. They said it was due to "copyright" issues (trademark actually), but so far no renamed version, and no notice or explanation to the developer.

If this is the case, Apple has once again taken a very small problem, i.e., renaming an app in response to a trademark complaint, and made it a big problem by stonewalling everyone, including the owner of the app, for no reason. Once again, Apple will come clean, but it will be like pulling teeth. The bigger problem for Apple is that no one gives them the benefit of the doubt anymore, and for good reason.

SEJerome

the people that are posting ridiculous comments like "Apple is probably pulling it so they can release one of their own for money." are just idiots. If Apple wanted to do that, they would just release a better one.

Why is everybody talking like this app is the greatest App ever? I'm sure it has been pulled for good reason. A lot of these apps have a negative effect on how my phone acts. If it was pulled over the weekend, I'm sure the developer will recieve notice as to why later today.

donlphi

If it was pulled for stability reasons, don't you think the users should be informed too?

Not to mention that there'd be a lot fewer apps for sale if Apple started pulling ones that are unstable.

daveNYC

Anyone try to fine iPint lately? Gone also.

PhyllisKapla

It was pulled for the tomatoes most likely - it does not matter if they have permission or anyone's blessing... Apple's policy was to steer clear of any and all trademarked properties.

Hiphopopotamus

@donlphi: " I'm sure it has been pulled for good reason."

The issue for many is that we don't know the reason. Even the developers are being kept in the dark as to why their apps are making now-you-see-it, now-you-don't appearances on the App Store.

distortedloop

For those of you know-it-alls laying into me for my comment, this is directed at you...

Obviously none of us, including me, could know for sure why the app has been removed. I just think it is funny that as soon as this thing is pulled off the app store, you assume Apple is up to no good. My point was Apple could potentially be looking out for their developers. Since Apple is the sole distributor, they may have some responsibility.

As far as why they haven't notified the developer, I can't say. It could be somebody that works for Apple was at home over the weekend, just like many of us. Noticed a real problem or vulnerability on the app and decided to yank it before more copies were distributed, but the people in charge of notifying developers only works on weekdays.

The point is, nobody knows, but I assure you Apple did not pull this app to make money.

donlphi

Maybe they pulled it because none of those movies featured in the above list had enough Apple products in them.

Rabid Penguin

Why is Apple pulling the good apps? I've been using Box Office for a while, seems perfectly stable to me(assuming it's free of security glitches, etc). Why can't Apple get rid of the Triplog/1040s of the App Store?

max.goedjen

Bottom line is Apple should have informed the developer. Regardless of this issue, the developer can't do anything to resolve the situation until he's informed by Apple what the problem is. As already mentioned, this is a major PR issue for Apple. I wonder how a company like EA or Sega would react if one of their top sellers was suddenly pulled with no explanation! Hopefully, these are just the growing pains of the AppStore in it's infancy and not an indication of the way that Apple intends to treat developers going forward.

jaizone

So, I've been sitting on the sidelines waiting for my current POS phone to die, thinking about potentially replacing it with an iPhone.

There is so much iPhone drama going on in the world that just totally turns me off from wanting to get the phone (other than the lack of a physical keyboard, no cut & paste, no MMS, no video recording, etc.) - the SDK comes out but only Apple can choose the apps to publish, free wifi at Starbucks, no free wifi at Starbucks, a tethering app, no tethering app, Box Office, no Box Office.

The only good news that comes out has the word "jailbreak" associated with it. Is there a bright side to a non-jailbroken iPhone? Or is Jailbreak *the* bright side?

G.Quagmire

I went on my iPhone and click on the Box Office, and it runs for two seconds, and goes back to the iPhone screen.

WTF Apple? If you are protecting us from a flaw, at least say something about it!

silomunke

@donlphi The point is not that Apple might release their own app, but that they may have sold out a small time player in favor of cash up front for an exclusivity agreement. With the lack of evidence who's to say what the issue is and this may be an unjustified assumption. They need to release more information to avoid the PR problem.

Notice the network lock-in with various carriers around the world? If they do it for the hardware, why not for the software?

BlowfishAvenger

So wait...lets say Apple gets a notice of take down (DCMA) from someone holding the right to RT or BoxOffice name. They probably have been informed that the holder will contact the maker directly. Seems pretty lame on the developer that they cant contact somebody at apple...they have 2 contacts specifically for this...but if there is legal action pending from a 3rd party source....Apple would be well advised to pull it and comply and sit tight.

This was over the weekend so lets see what shakes out before a lot here start hyperventilating. Just because you like an app doesnt mean it is complaint with TM or Copywrite law.

I can wait a day or two to see whats up.

And if it turns out the the app was crashing phones or the author is in legal trouble for TM/C violations...then i will be demanding that everyone of you bashers STFU!

If it turns out that apple is being a douche here, then i will gladly eat my hat...but i will wait to see what the result is...rather than make unfounded claims and bash Apple without the facts.

Wowwzers

The developer's website indicates that the App is being renamed to "Now Playing" and is available on the AppStore. I suspect it is in review because I just searched the Appstore and it doesn't show up yet...

dleach02

Not a big loss. It was great when i first downloaded it but then the update killed it. I just constantly get "no information available". Anyone else have this problem?

wormco

If you go to the developers website: [code.google.com]
It says and I quote "Now Playing (formally BoxOffice)". So it's just a Trademark/rename thing and will probably be back soon. They don't give any details. I got the website from the About Section in the App, imagine that.

jwestern

If you go to the developers website from the website link in the About section in the app, it says it's "Now Playing, formerly called Box Office"

RhettBenkar

This is why I support jailbreaks and installers for iPhone. Never really liked app store and I don't think i ever will.

sigh...

sukarno

These stories could be damaging to Apples reputation over time. As they pile up, the walled garden is going to look more and more like a prison with barbed wire. Selling "simple" products is much different then forcing your customers to keep those products simple. Good luck to Apple on this little experiment, but I don't think it will last. Walls will have to come down.

MarkDirce

I hope they do resolve this because when I show of my iPhone to friends this App is what I highlight as probably the most useful app on the phone.

dleach02

The part I'm confused (and appalled) with regarding this, Netshare and the Aurora Feint issues in the last couple of weeks... is why Apple isn't looking at these apps SOONER and finding issues with said apps until they've been released and distributed to thousands of users?

What about some of these crappy smaller games and apps... what if one of these has malicious code in it that will copy and send out your contact list, text message history, and photos to FOX News on September 11, 2008? Are they just going to sit around and wait for it to happen or are they going to review the code TODAY before it happens?

What kind of review process is in place that lets these things get released only to have them pulled a week later?

Total dumbshittery here. Apple, you are really embarrassing yourself lately.

ikelleigh

WALL-E, being the first feature-length Apple advertisement, should have been listed at the top by default. You can't get away with insulting Steve like that.

Monty

@metalhaze:

*shrugs* its worked awesome for me, zero problems, can i guess you have a 1st gen iphone? If so, maybe they yanked it outta the store cause its having issuses on gen 1, but not gen 2 (me, obviously). If so, you think they'd fuckin say something to someone : P

glad i snagged it while i did, its a hella awesome app.

djfoxx64

How about this buggy, piece of shit application never worked. I couldn't even open it without the app crashing.

GOOD RIDDANCE!

metalhaze

This is what happens when one company controls the only distribution channel.

Jailbreaking means never having to say, "Apple pulled it".

HeartBurnKid, creepy morbid freak

Apples, Tomatoes...

I like the Movies app better anyway, it has direct access to the trailers.

BEERxTaco

You guys aren't trying hard enough. The MPAA has already shown their disdain for rottentomatoes and metacritic, and negative reviews in general. They've been shown to have taken action to suppress negative reviews before, since they have an immediate bearing on their profitability.

Blame the MPAA. They turned the thumbscrews on Apple to have BoxOffice pulled: visions of armies of filmgoers with iPhones spooked them.

/crackpot theory but I'm sticking to it

ctthoqqua

@distortedloop:
Last time I checked "know-it-all" wasn't that bad, but it got your attention, so mission accomplished.

That's right. The only thing Apple has to do all day is check in with developers creating free apps. So YOUR logic is the only logic. Thanks. Unfortunately, last time I checked it was gizmodo.com, not distortedloop.com.

Apple totally dropped the ball. How on earth are we going to look up movies on our iPhone now? Developers had better head for the hills if this is the treatment they are going to get.

Give me a break. The app store is barely a month old and some of you guys a crapping your pants over nothing.

@ikelleigh: I totally agree.

donlphi

@dleach02: Umm, so your biggest concern in this whole thing is that your friends won't be as impressed when you "show off" your iPhone?

I see you bought the phone for the right reasons

efenili

Remember, when you buy an iphone, you are supporting DRM!

dieman

@jwestern: I"f you go to the developers website: [code.google.com] "

That's the reason it was yanked right there, don't you think? Aren't open source code and distribution outside of the iTunes Store both violations of the SDK license?

distortedloop

@donlphi: "For those of you know-it-alls laying into me for my comment, this is directed at you..."

A tad emotional there, aren't you. I didn't see any comments towards you to warrant the childish name calling. That said, all your it was the weekend and people were off work logic goes down the toilet when you realize that Apple had all day Friday, a week day, a work day, to tell NullRiver why their app was yanked, but they didn't. I have no problem with Apple yanking apps for valid reasons, but they have an obligation to tell their business partners, the developers, and their customers, the reason. Let's see what they say today.

@ctthoqqua: crackpot or not, I like it.

distortedloop

@donlphi: How old are you, 12? Your continued emotional over responses to people whose opinions are not in line with your own only furthers my assessment of your lack of emotion maturity.

What does the domain name here have to do with anything? This is an open forum inviting anyone to post their opinion, even if it contradicts or points out the flaws in your own arguments. If you can't deal with that, don't post.

You made a flawed argument based on incomplete facts, a couple of people pointed out that they disagreed with them, and you attack them for it. Grow up, kid; get over it. Some day, when you get a real job, and have to deal with business partners and customers, you might understand that making a deal with someone to sell their wares, then yanking them off the shelf with no explanation upsets both customers and manufacturers. Until you get out of grade school there, you just won't understand how the real world works.

distortedloop

...

Can't wait until summer's over, and we adults can continue our civilized conversation and debate.

...

iomatic

This is the problem when one company can control what software can be installed on your device.

Imagine, if you will, if Microsoft could prevent you from downloading and installing applications onto your desktop.

I eagerly await the Android platform, a truly open system where I can install and manage the application I want on MY device instead of having BIG BROTHER watching over me.

Kamalot

Well it did group all movies starting with "The" together in the listings under "T". Maybe that was it.

someToast

@quikboy:

As if WinMo has any great apps. And Microsoft doesn't control you? Riiiiiiiiiiiight.....

freakshow1

@Camperton:

I thought the same thing.

freakshow1

Which is why I can't find myself buying an iPhone. At least with WinMo, I don't have to worry about Microsoft pulling down great apps just because they don't like it.

Great example of how Apple controls YOU.

quikboy

I was upset at this as well. I had it on my iPhone at one point, restored, and couldn't find it again.

Alas, I am stuck using Showtimes.

moviscop

@freakshow1: WinMo has plenty of awesome apps.

draiko

Apple Gestapo!

draiko

Movies.app is infinitely better.

leetXcore

Seems like Apple is really making a solid effort to completely eliminate the most useful apps. I was really interested in getting an iPhone but Apple that was before the boys in Cupertino uncaged their inner desire to become the Napoleons of the gadget world.

Thrillcekr

@Dancing Milkcarton: Uh, citation needed. This whole Apple store verification is such junk. Please, it's way to get money out of the developers and end users. Once again, this just shows the Kool Aid drinkers complete and total inability to be logical about Apple products. the only good thing about the store, is that it killed the apps that were being written for jail breaked iPhones. Now instead of free and vibrant apps being written, you can only get what your Apple overlords approve.

coolkiwilivin

Crap, I just deleted Showtime!

misterwho

Ack. That should be "i'd prefer it if people did *not* jump to conclusions"

Metasyntactic

Hi there, as i mentioned on my site, i'd prefer if people did jump to conclusions over this issue. Let's just wait a few days and find out what's happening. I do wish that apple had contacted me when they removed the app (or preferably before), and hopefully they'll improve in that manner at some point.

For those interested, i will be porting this app to Android, and WinMob (likely in that order) when i get a chance.

---

@metalhaze: "How about this buggy, piece of shit application never worked"

Well... i wish you'd emailed me about this. I would have loved to work with you to fix the issue and release an update. Both my personal email, and developer site are listed in iTunes in the 'support' category.

@Jack: " Perhaps this app was bricking phones via the update process"

The app never bricked any phones. A bug in the update process made 1.1 crash unless you uninstalled it/reinstalled it. but that was it. I addressed the issue in 1.2.

@SomeToast: "Well it did group all movies starting with "The" together in the listings under "T". Maybe that was it."

This has been addressed in the latest builds. Cheers!

Metasyntactic

Does this mean when I sync my suckPOd it will remove it? HUH HUH HUH???@!?!?!?!

Stacky Botrus

I bet some mega movie corp killed it via Jobs and want to eliminate the free competition when they reveal "their" app that's not free but does the same thing. Money talks.

westonalan

This is why apple sucks.

mikecoscia

This whole issue with Apple being third-party-app gatekeeper makes Microsoft look like open source in comparison.

brundlefly76

Apple and ATT together doing their part to take us 10 steps farther away from affordable and fair wireless service.

gimmetaffy

What really makes me mad is how AT&T has so much power over my user experience with Rogers up in Canada. Rogers allows tethering, and we pay 30$ for 6gb of data, and can use that data however we like. But AT&T charges the same 30$ but absolutely won't allow tethering on the Iphone.

If these pulls keep happening from the store, its really going to cut down on informed buyers purchases. Already people have spent money on pulled applications with no information if they are going to get a refund. Soon its going to be to risky to spend money on an app because they might remove it at anytime for any reason.

SuperSan

I thought the whole point of Apple's SDK was so that applications couldn't cause problems with the phone? So you'd imagine that the program hasn't been removed due to technical problems. My bet would either be that it's open-source (why should Apple be concerned about that, seriously?), or that Apple is about to launch a similar application of their own.

ChapmanBrutus