Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Apple won’t remove controversially named Mac app from the App Store

Georgina Torbet
By

Many have complained about Apple’s inconsistent application of its policies on its app stores, and that accusation is rearing its head once again due to a new spat with a developer. This week Apple has backed off from its previous threats to remove a popular app from the Mac App Store due to its controversial name.

At the start of the week, Apple contacted the developer of popular Mac app Amphetamine to say that the app violated app store guidelines. The app works to keep Macs from going into sleep mode, and Apple said that, particularly because of its name, the app violated guideline 1.4.3, which reads: “Apps that encourage consumption of tobacco and vape products, illegal drugs, or excessive amounts of alcohol are not permitted on the App Store. Apps that encourage minors to consume any of these substances will be rejected. Facilitating the sale of marijuana, tobacco, or controlled substances (except for licensed pharmacies) isn’t allowed.”

Recommended Videos

Developer William Gustafson said in a GitHub post that he believed the app was not in violation of the guidelines, as the app does not promote the use of illegal drugs. He pointed out that amphetamines can be legally prescribed by doctors and that, “There is nothing illicit about, or inherently wrong with, the legal use of prescribed amphetamines.”

Related

Another argument put forth by Gustafson and other fans of the app was that Apple applies its policies inconsistently. He pointed out a number of other apps that remain available on the App Store which seem to violate the rule against the promotion of illegal drugs in a more explicit way, but which are still available for download.

It is also notable that Amphetamine has been available on the App Store since 2014 and has been a popular and prominent app during that time, and Apple has only just decided to take action against it.

However, after an appeal by the developer and support from many Mac users, Apple has decided it will not remove Amphetamine from the app store. Gustafson posted a note on Twitter saying he had spoken with Apple on a phone call and that the company had accepted the app and would let it stay on the App Store.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Georgina Torbet
Georgina Torbet
Space Writer
Georgina is the Digital Trends space writer, covering human space exploration, planetary science, and cosmology. She…
Elon Musk says he will speak to Tim Cook about changing the ‘Apple tax’
tesla and spacex ceo elon musk stylized image

Elon Musk has said he’s going to have a word with Apple boss Tim Cook about "adjusting" the 30% fee that Apple takes from in-app purchases made via its App Store.

Musk, CEO of Twitter (now X), said in a tweet on Wednesday that changing the way that it's charged would maximize the amount that creators on Twitter would receive when followers subscribe to their exclusive content.

Read more
No, you can’t use an Apple gift card on Apple Pay
Photo of Apple gift cards.

A viral TikTok has made the internet rounds, showing a person who thought that they could transfer Apple gift card funds to Apple Pay. After buying a $300 Apple gift card, however, they quickly learned that that's simply not possible. While their choice might seem misguided in hindsight, there are plenty of people who have been left confused about the differences between Apple gift cards and Apple Pay.

While having a $300 Apple gift card certainly has its uses — such as buying 10 years of Apple Music, as the original poster jokingly pointed out — it's certainly not the same as having that same money to spend freely with Apple Pay. To avoid making the same mistake as this TikTok user, make sure that you understand the distinctions between the two Apple services, as it might just save you $300 (or more).
You cannot add Apple gift cards to Apple Pay

Read more
It’s not just you: the Apple Weather app is down
Cloudy weather showing in iOS 15's weather app.

Stop trying to force quit apps or restart your phone, it isn't going to help. It's not just you, Apple's Weather app is down right now. There were some sporadic issues yesterday, but it seems more widespread this morning.

Whether it's on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac -- the back-end service running Apple's Weather app seems to be having issues loading data. Sometimes the home screen widget won't work; other times you'll get one or two locations in your list to update, but not the rest. Other times it all looks good, but the hour-by-hour forecast details aren't working. That's frustrating!

Read more