Update: Thompson has verified the policy change.
We learned yesterday from developer James Thompson that Apple had informed him that the calculator widget for his app PCalc, which had already been approved and even featured by the App Store, would have to remove the widget from the app to remain available for sale. The reason Apple gave, according to Thompson’s tweets, is that “widgets on iOS cannot perform any calculations” which his PCalc calculator widget obviously did, but it seems Apple has since reversed that decision, according to iMore and TechCrunch. TC reports that an Apple spokesperson has confirmed that PCalc’s widget can now remain as well as any other similar calculator widgets.
But now we’re hearing that Apple is changing its course. The PCalc app and widget will remain in the App Store, and all calculator-type widgets will be allowed as well, an Apple spokesperson has confirmed to us.
It’s not clear from how high up the Apple rank the original decision to reject Thompson’s PCalc widget came, but Thompson got the impression the decision was made from high up during his experience.
Regardless of where the decision was made, the facts remain that PCalc’s calculator widget was not only already approved, but PCalc is currently featured in the App Store for its widget.
PCalc isn’t the only prominent app to face losing its app widget or risk being pulled from sale. Shortly after iOS 8’s release last month, a rather robust Notification Center widget app called Launcher was pulled from the App Store due to misuse of Notification Center widgets.
Other developers have expressed concern both publicly and privately over what functions can be built for iOS 8’s Notification Center and what Apple will reject. Apple describes widgets under its extension programming guide, but as you can see, its description leaves room for interpretation.
App extensions in the Today view are called widgets. Widgets give users quick access to information that’s important right now. For example, users open the Today view to check current stock prices or weather conditions, see today’s schedule, or perform a quick task such as marking an item as done. Users tend to open the Today view frequently, and they expect the information they’re interested in to be instantly available.
According to Thompson’s recent tweets, he has not personally heard from Apple on the decision reversal.
PCalc (and its Notification Center widget) is available in the App Store for $9.99.
Update: Thompson writes: “Just had a phone call from Apple – decision has been reversed, no changes required to PCalc’s widget. Thanks to everybody for their support!”
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Great news. It’s a good move. iOS 8 was heralded for its more open and flexible capabilities. It would be shame to dampen that spirit. Congrats to Mr. Thompson. In a way, he’s a pioneer of a new type of iOS app/widget and an example that Apple can change they’re minds when they’re wrong.
Dude he pioneered a calculator. It’s been the widget on the mac dashboard beside weather since the 90s. But you’re right… limiting freedom a bit too much I think on Apple’s side.
Maybe Apple is seeing the power of Social Media concerning ApplePay and CurrentC and thinking that maybe they’d better rethink some of their decisions? Maybe?
Even better would be if Apple updated Control Center to allow third-party widgets and a completely customizable layout. I’d love to remove Airplane mode and replace the default calculator.
They must’ve heard me complaining lol
I’d love to know what the logic was which made them to come to the conclusion to ban them in the first place.
Probably fear of the slippery slope. If they allow calculator widgets, then why not slightly more complex widgets foregoing the app, and so on and eventually, you’d have people trying to shove little mini game widgets into Today view, bogging down the entire pull down shade in terms of UI performance..
They’ll probably draw a much more defined line in the sand now right behind basic calculator.
Who cares if there are more complex widgets? If they suck, no one will install them.
@mrobertson21 thats not what happens in real life though. People would install them then complain the phone/ipad is slow and unresponsive… and if Apple came back with “thats not made to be a widget”, people would say it shouldn’t be on the store then.
^This guy gets it…