Transmit for iOS restricted from using iCloud Drive, forced to delete all share sheet options
In its latest puzzling App Store policy assertion, Apple has reportedly blocked Panic from adding the standard iOS Share Sheet to its Transmit file transfer app due to an unwritten policy that "forbids apps from uploading content to iCloud Drive unless the content was created in the app itself."
Panic is unable to simply remove Transmit from the iOS Share Sheet
The App Store policy appears intended to prevent apps from dumping large amounts of arbitrary files into a users' iCloud Drive storage. However, it's current not possible for app developers to selectively disable the ability to send files to iCloud Drive because iOS creates the Share Sheet itself.
That has forced Panic to remove the entire Share Sheet from its app, erasing the ability for users to send their files to any cloud service enabled by iOS 8's new Document Provider App Extension feature, including services like Box, Dropbox, Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive.
Panic informed users of Apple's decision in a blog post on Monday, saying Transmit would no longer be able to implement the "Send" feature due to iOS developer guidelines.
Apple's App Store Review Guidelines make no mention of iCloud Drive, and the section on Extensions only references iOS Data Storage policies related to iCloud Backups.
Core Data and iCloud Backup seek to limit the amount of data that needs to be shuttled back and forth between users' devices and Apple's iCloud servers, meaning that Transmit's file transfer features could result in an unanticipated server load, given that iOS intends to use iCloud Drive as a repository for users' active documents that are actively backed up and kept in sync.
However, that policy creates a problem for apps that want to use other cloud services that are intended to act as simple network storage, because iOS doesn't currently allow apps to edit the Share Sheet to only list select cloud services.
Transmit is billed as a complete file management app that allows users to remotely log in to FTP, SFTP, S3 and WebDAV servers, upload and download files, edit permissions, create folders and more. At launch, iCloud, A tentpole feature, "Send" drew on new iOS 8 extensibility assets to offer full Share Sheet compatibility, meaning users were able to upload files from other apps also supporting Share Sheets.
Apple informed Panic that Transmit was in violation of Apple's rules -- specifically a limitation on uploading data to iCloud Drive that is not created in-app -- and would need to remove the "Send" feature. Removing hooks into iCloud would, however, force deletion of all Share Sheet compatibility since iOS does not allow developers for selective Share Sheet customization.
Apple's evolving policies for App Store titles have frequently ran into unanticipated issues with developers as the company cultivates a strictly managed "walled garden" of apps that are free from the rampant spyware, malware and quality issues that affect other platforms, including the collection of user's personal data, location and documents; the piracy of other developers' work and app spamming of low quality software.
"If your App is rejected, we have a Review Board that you can appeal to. If you run to the press and trash us, it never helps," Apple notes in its review guidelines. However, the frustration of running into seemingly arbitrary and capricious app rejections frequently prompts developers to communicate their issues with users. Apple hasn't yet responded to questions about its iCloud Drive policy.
Panic is unable to simply remove Transmit from the iOS Share Sheet
The App Store policy appears intended to prevent apps from dumping large amounts of arbitrary files into a users' iCloud Drive storage. However, it's current not possible for app developers to selectively disable the ability to send files to iCloud Drive because iOS creates the Share Sheet itself.
That has forced Panic to remove the entire Share Sheet from its app, erasing the ability for users to send their files to any cloud service enabled by iOS 8's new Document Provider App Extension feature, including services like Box, Dropbox, Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive.
Panic informed users of Apple's decision in a blog post on Monday, saying Transmit would no longer be able to implement the "Send" feature due to iOS developer guidelines.
Apple's App Store Review Guidelines make no mention of iCloud Drive, and the section on Extensions only references iOS Data Storage policies related to iCloud Backups.
Core Data and iCloud Backup seek to limit the amount of data that needs to be shuttled back and forth between users' devices and Apple's iCloud servers, meaning that Transmit's file transfer features could result in an unanticipated server load, given that iOS intends to use iCloud Drive as a repository for users' active documents that are actively backed up and kept in sync.
However, that policy creates a problem for apps that want to use other cloud services that are intended to act as simple network storage, because iOS doesn't currently allow apps to edit the Share Sheet to only list select cloud services.
Transmit is billed as a complete file management app that allows users to remotely log in to FTP, SFTP, S3 and WebDAV servers, upload and download files, edit permissions, create folders and more. At launch, iCloud, A tentpole feature, "Send" drew on new iOS 8 extensibility assets to offer full Share Sheet compatibility, meaning users were able to upload files from other apps also supporting Share Sheets.
Apple informed Panic that Transmit was in violation of Apple's rules -- specifically a limitation on uploading data to iCloud Drive that is not created in-app -- and would need to remove the "Send" feature. Removing hooks into iCloud would, however, force deletion of all Share Sheet compatibility since iOS does not allow developers for selective Share Sheet customization.
Panic is hopeful that it will be able to return "Send" functionality in a later update.In short, we're told that while Transmit iOS can download content from iCloud Drive, we cannot upload content to iCloud Drive unless the content was created in the app itself. Apple says this use would violate 2.23 -- "Apps must follow the iOS Data Storage Guidelines or they will be rejected" -- but oddly that page says nothing about iCloud Drive or appropriate uses for iCloud Drive.
Apple's evolving policies for App Store titles have frequently ran into unanticipated issues with developers as the company cultivates a strictly managed "walled garden" of apps that are free from the rampant spyware, malware and quality issues that affect other platforms, including the collection of user's personal data, location and documents; the piracy of other developers' work and app spamming of low quality software.
"If your App is rejected, we have a Review Board that you can appeal to. If you run to the press and trash us, it never helps," Apple notes in its review guidelines. However, the frustration of running into seemingly arbitrary and capricious app rejections frequently prompts developers to communicate their issues with users. Apple hasn't yet responded to questions about its iCloud Drive policy.
Comments
well that's pretty lame. hopefully this was just the action of one person and the policy will be clarified and the policy reversed...
This behavior is just incredibly alienating to me.
Seems like Apple's arbitrary, unwritten restrictions are reaching all time highs. I find this truly intolerable.
http://m.imore.com/editors-desk-vp-app-store
People are getting pissed at this, but when I look at it from Apple's perspective it makes perfect sense. This is a slippery slope, they are just guarding against people uploading copyrighted materials on icloud drive. We are in a very litigious world where everyone, every companies and every government are looking to get a piece of that $200 billion apple have. So they can't be too careful, it's best to pissed off a few developers then having to deal with a bunch of lawsuits about having copyrighted materials on icloud drive.
Just got to say, although OT, Transmit is amongst the best programs for the Mac under OS X I have. Great company. I've used not the iOS version yet.
The mobile version is awesome. It was surprisingly late to the game, but version 1.0 immediately became the best FTP client on iOS.
So do Microsoft, Google and Dropbox have this issue? All Apple is doing is driving people away to other solutions.
So do Microsoft, Google and Dropbox have this issue? All Apple is doing is driving people away to other solutions.
Not yet, but they will. It's only a matter of time or when, not if, before people eventually starts using those storage for copyrighted materials.
Apple's own solutions in this area don't really get the job done. Other companies are more "Apple-like" in their seamless integration, intuitive interfaces, and ease of use. Dropbox... Transmit... They feel like what Apple SHOULD have done somehow. iCloud? Hmmmm....
I think it's a mistake for Apple to put down the competish. Apple should up its game instead.
I've used not it neither.
Removing them with a legitimate reason is fine.
It's removing them without a legitimate reason that is questionable.
Guess you have to boost the post count somehow.
This is so stupid by Apple. Frankly, everyone makes mistakes, and companies make mistakes as well. The problem with Apple and the App Store, is that they don't seem to learn, and keep making the same mistakes over again.
It's simply annoying at this point, and Apple's mind-boggling decisions like this, are what have kept me from buying my iPhone 6 yet. I am seriously considering WP or Android as an alternative. Of course, with those platforms the problem is that they don't have the apps whose arbitrary removal of features you would get pissed about in the first place.