AF, Apple & The Blogger

[brayharper]

Been thinking about the whole discourse on AF's Community feature. Something is bothering me.

Apple set forth the criteria for app development.
Usually submission criteria include source code, technical / user documentation as a deliverable. Most times those documents are reviewed by a team of editors, knowledgeable in different aspects of software development.
Apple approved version 1.0 and it became available on 11 July.

A subsequent programme update with patches was submitted the latter part of the week of 14 July. It was to address a variety of bugs and open up new capabilities.

The Blogger put forth an Op-Ed using inflammatory language, in a highly charged atmosphere of security sensitivity. It became a point/counter-point article with open participation from the Developers. (Not sure of the date progression...sometime over the weekend/beginning of week 21 July).

Apple deactived the download for AF on 22 July est. 6:00 PDST ... after The Blogger's Op-Ed "made the 6-o'clock news".

Something just doesn't quite seem right and proper to this "wise and prudent man"*.

Anyone else think about this: Danielle and Jason may have their future careers endangered. Inuendos, unsubstantiated accusations, and hear-say can be ruinous.

_{*yes, i'm female...and sat in too many jury deliberations. this was one of the criteria _we_ were asked to consider.}

[peloquyn]

What's really sad is you're right - this inflammatory Op-Ed (and others like it) may just be ruinous...but I still have to believe that with the pure talent that Danielle and Jason have displayed in the creation of AF, all will not be lost for them. I believe (I keep saying this, but I truly believe...) that this one set back cannot possibly be the end of AF, nor the end of their careers. They are taking responsibility, showing that they did and do care and that has to count for something.

Litigiousness aside, I hope that the people that are disturbed by this really take into consideration the ramifications of their words and actions as well - berating and spewing anger because of an issue that was acknowledged and currently is being dealt with is the nature of the anonymity of the entitlement-seeking masses....and I hope that people will see that while it's serious, it was not done with malice, and, as Danielle had indicated in the post relating to the "hows and whys" - Apple had included the "seek friends" option as part of their development package. I'm of the opinion that it *is* a cool feature, and while I understand people's frustration with the possibility of their friends and colleague's information being sent out into the ether, I still have to believe that Danielle and Jason are, will be and have been brutally honest about it all. And, well, trust is a funny thing, but I'd rather have that information on their server than put it out on myspace or facebook or any of the rest of that type of networking site.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, and may feel free to blog about them, too. I just worry that this particular blogger has made a bid to undo all of the hard work and sacrifice Danielle and Jason have put in - and on their behalf, I kind of resent it. I am quick to jump to their defense because I have seen that they are willing to step up and do what's needful and right...and they haven't made excuses for the misstep. That makes me respect them even more.

[Hughdogg]

I can fix this blogger issue.
Wheres his house? ;D ;D ;D

[peloquyn]

Hughdogg - you need flying monkeys too! And maybe a guy named "Guido"

[shmore]

I don't think it's the end of the world for them. They made a mistake and owned up to it immediately. As long as they continue to handle the situation the way they have been everything will turn out fine. I do think they have a bumpy road ahead of them and that this issue is going to slow all app store updates to a negligible crawl.

All in all though in a way I'm glad this issue came to light (unfortunately to the detriment of a great game). Odds are good that there is someone out there that signed up for the SDK for the sole purpose of doing something malicious and they are now cursing AF for highlighting something they intended to exploit.

[brayharper]

No, no retribution *lol* I keep thinking of the pic of the "Ninja Possum" as comic relief.

Kidding aside, it hurts everyone involved. Not to mention, creats a wicked guilt trip, right up there, years later with gout, lumbago, and gas.