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Apple removes Launcher app from App Store for ‘misuse’ of iOS 8’s widget capability

An iOS 8 app that allowed users to create custom shortcuts and access them from a Notification Center widget has been removed from the App Store by Apple for what it calls “misuse of widgets,” the developers said in a notice posted on the app’s website.

The app, called Launcher, worked by letting users enter a URL or select an application to be launched when a shortcut was tapped. The shortcuts would then be displayed in Notification Center, allowing quick access to a variety of tasks such as starting a phone or FaceTime call, creating a new text message, email, or iMessage, opening an application, or more.

The app was pulled from the store on Friday night and Apple says there is no chance that it will be allowed back with the widget functionality still in place.

Users who already upgraded to the pro version of the app through an in-app purchase will still be able to use the pro capabilities, but no one else will be able to purchase the upgrade. The developers have said that while no new bug fixes or features will be able to be released for the software, it will still be able to connect to their own servers and download updates to its list of tasks, giving them the ability to add new functions to the app over time.

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Comments

  1. Andrew Mablekos - 10 years ago

    This is an awesome app and so useful. Why would they do that?

    • Ed Franco (@edfranco1) - 10 years ago

      Because Apple wants to buy them and make it their own.

      • fofer - 10 years ago

        That makes no sense whatsoever. This app uses a kludgy hack mechanism to work around a limitation created by Apple. Apple wouldn’t need to buy this company, they would just lift the limitation and offer the functionality themselves… if they wanted to.

      • Nycko Heimberg - 10 years ago

        Good thing ! “DASHBOARD” is always available.
        A different experience with iOs…
        But not rush above! Apple likes not the success of good apps..
        Apple is afraid of….. Better, fast and pleasant interface. ;-)

    • standardpull - 10 years ago

      I didn’t think it was awesome at all. It was like the fixed home page icons, but less flexible and less useful, and it noised up notifications.

      • It was useful for launching things like 1Password or Google Authenticator, so when you’re entering a password or two factor code, you could just pull down on the NC and launch the app instead of exiting to the homescreen. At least that’s what I use it for. Sure 1Password functionality may eliminate that process in the future and it really only saved a few taps, but it was still nice having that sort of shortcut capability while still in another app.

      • standardpull - 10 years ago

        I also read that the app may have been centrally collecting information about users’ actions? Is that true? I hate these apps that force you to create an account or link to Facebook or Google, when there is no real functional reason for you to have to.

        You can only lose your privacy once.

      • Just to clarify and respond to standardpull – there’s no way to link facebook or twitter to the app, no need to sign up or give any info at all to use it. As far as I can see it is simply using internal addresses to create shortcuts to launch apps – I don’t see how the developers could be collecting any info from the app – other than maybe a record of what apps you’d launched!

    • Christopher Carranza - 10 years ago

      The app store guidelines specifically forbid submitting any app that simulates a home screen or multi – app widget experience. I can totally understand this because of the complexity of Apple’s springboard environment and the control that they want over that. I don’t disagree that it’s a novel use of the today area, but this shouldn’t have been surprise to the developers.

      • True but why was it allowed into the Store in the first place? If Apple didn’t like what it did then it shouldn’t have been allowed in and then customers wouldn’t have bought it only for it to be pulled 4 days later!

  2. Joe Ferguson - 10 years ago

    Exactly… a reason to look forward to a iOS 8 Jailbreak.

    • Mr. Grey (@mister_grey) - 10 years ago

      *an* iOS jailbreak.

      And you will be waiting for apron. a year or a year and a half based on the last jailbreak release dates.

      • Raffi (@Dynax717) - 10 years ago

        A year / year and a half? iOS7 JB came out in september 2013 and it took only 3 months (just before christmas) until the evaders released a JB. And the JB developers are faster than ever before.

      • thejuanald - 10 years ago

        Don’t listen to Mr. Grey. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about

    • jrgibson1 - 10 years ago

      “Exactly”?
      What is “exactly” about this App?

      Are you familiar with how it works and how it launches the shortcuts? Maybe you should learn about the App before commenting!!

  3. PMZanetti - 10 years ago

    Having not used the App, did the shortcuts launch the actual App aka Phone.app, Messages.app, etc.. or was it some sort of sandboxed UI within its own App?

    • Dylan Luttrell - 10 years ago

      It used URLs to launch other apps.

      • standardpull - 10 years ago

        I certainly hope it didn’t try to collect data about the links & apps each user invoked. That would be an incredibly huge privacy fail by the app developers.

      • nullifiedone - 10 years ago

        There were a lot of complaints in the app store that it did collect data. I never used it tho

    • I actually downloaded it. You can assign a shortcut to a certain person’s contact details (eg, Dad mobile) then when you pull down Notification centre and tap that icon it would launch the Phone app and dial the number (words the same as using the shortcuts on the multitasking page) but it does so much more than that. It is possible to assign a shortcut to a map route (eg. from current location to home), to a web URL, or to installed apps (when assigning the shortcut to an app it would use the path “soundhound://” to link the SoundHound app, or “prefs:root” for Settings). As far as I can tell it is just launching the apps and not storing and personal info.

      There is no need to connect a FB or Twitter account and no need to signup or anything. Just download the app and assign shortcuts.

      I’m glad I upgraded to the Pro version when I did but am wondering now if I’ll be able to restore the Pro functionality if I ever need to reinstall the app for any reason.

  4. dragonitedd - 10 years ago

    Does it mean that you can launch apps without password/touch ID?

  5. I have been using this app since release and it is pretty launch center pro as a widget. I think it’s great and i paid for the pro upgrade. why would apple remove it?

  6. stan1028 - 10 years ago

    Apple should maybe integrate this app together with iOS for the next big release. That is truly what users want, or maybe, need.

    • Michael Allen - 10 years ago

      I don’t think we all find this widget as useful as you. For instance, I had no idea it existed because it’s not a functionality I’ve ever needed or wanted. Just a thought.

      • jrgibson1 - 10 years ago

        I’m surprised you didn’t know about it, without sounding rude (as it’s not my intention), did you install iOS 8 without reading what new features it had?

      • I’m the complete opposite! This kind of functionality is the main reason why I Jailbroke my phone in the past. I was so happy when I saw it in the App Store but am really pissed off with Apple for pulling it now. Of all the dumb things they’ve done over the past couple of months this is by far the biggest annoyance for me!

  7. eminaz2014 - 10 years ago

    Check out Quickiee it kind of does the same thing

    • RaptorOO7 (@RaptorOO7) - 10 years ago

      I will have to check that out, says they only allow (2) other non-social media shortcuts (for now). So when they offer something than can do more or just other apps I am willing to pay. Especially when apple FAILS to deliver real functionality.

  8. So they take away one of the few widgets that are actually useful. Nice.

    • jrgibson1 - 10 years ago

      Damn! How dare Apple do that!!

      You know cuz it was so cool that the developer collects my data including friends phone numbers and email addresses.

      I’m changing to Android now, that shit would NEVER happen on that operating system!!

      • cosoft_shane - 10 years ago

        Yet you continue to play Angry Birds….. A game that also collects too much data yet has not been removed. Money goes a long way.

      • S G (@sg2367) - 10 years ago

        Yet Angry Birds does the same thing and hasn’t been pulled.

        Oh, and this actually would never happen on Android…… Seeing as how you actually have apps to block tracking and similar stuff.

      • Evan Ische - 10 years ago

        I hope you’re being sarcastic…

      • Who said it is collecting your data and friends phone numbers etc.?

        Oh, BTW have you heard of Facebook – you’re gonna love the things they keep a record of!

  9. Kasper Sverkel Rasmussen - 10 years ago

    I got the app and it’s great! It does most of the things that Launch Center Pro did but this widget could also take you right into the settings, something that I have been missting since day one of the iPhone! I know I can turn on Wi-Fi in the Control Center but I can’t see the settings or choose my network. With this widget i’m being taken right into the Wi-Fi settings or BlueTooth settings if thats what I want.

    Personally I got 2 rows of shortcuts, 1: Text my girlfriend, Feedly app, Notes app, my most viewed homepage. 2: Wi-Fi settings, BlueTooth settings, Hotspot settings, and another website.

    I love i’m now able to launch the Notes app and take a quick note without unlocking my iPhone and finding the app first or I can go straight into the Wi-Fi settings and change my network without going into settings manually.

    About security. I got TouchID on my iPhone 6 and I still have to unlock my iPhone before any of these shortcuts takes action if my phone is locked. If i’m allready using it the shortcuts works right away.

  10. valkyrie743 - 10 years ago

    annnnnnd here comes an awesome app to cydia.

    fuck apple

  11. patstar5 - 10 years ago

    This is why I left iPhone. Apple has way too much control over the os. Android is freedom! Open sourced and I can choose different custom ROM’s and launchers. Also much better value for money. (My 1+1 hasn’t bent in my pocket yet)

    • Bruno Fernandes (@Linkb8) - 10 years ago

      “Open Source” you say? While you can install most of what you want, the OS you have on your particular phone is most certainly not open source by any stretch of the imagination. You can’t modify your Samsung, HTC or whatever shipping version of Android. Nor can you get the source code nor modify the vendor specific features. Nor do you have any source code access to the many core components that are controlled only by Google.

      • patstar5 - 10 years ago

        I am running cyanogenmod 11s, that is what my phone shipped with

      • jrgibson1 - 10 years ago

        Don’t feed the troll, if this little dick wants to flap over his beloved Andorid, let him…but until morons like this educate themselves on why the App was removed, we should all leave him to his own devices–pun not intended.

    • rlowhit - 10 years ago

      Android is also a developer nightmare. Do you realize each handset maker has their own version of Android and all have differing screen sizes. Most developers shy away from Android because its just too much to have to worry about 500+ handsets for one app.

      • Gregory Wright - 10 years ago

        Exactly, this is the primary reason Android lags behinds IOS in new release adoption rate.

      • patstar5 - 10 years ago

        Doesn’t it auto scale to fit each screen size?

      • RaptorOO7 (@RaptorOO7) - 10 years ago

        Are you high or something? Android has out performed iOS globally for a very long time. So where are the developers on iOS with their apps that look like crap due to (2) new screen resolutions. Odd how Android can autoscale to fit the device.

      • mburnet6 - 10 years ago

        @RaptorOO7, the apps that don’t resize well on the new iPhones are not using Auto-Layout, something Apple has been pushing since iOS 6 came out…

    • Brian Pex - 10 years ago

      That is a comment from someone who doesn’t get it. I left Android due to my weather app was always off, glitchy always, GPS worked when it wanted to (Weather in turn didn’t work)… Open means open. Open to problems.. I will live with Apple control and good user experience. Bend? Are you gonna really go there? I wish every phone went under as much scrutiny as the iPhone. No one would ever buy anything for Android..

      • patstar5 - 10 years ago

        What phone did you have? If it’s Samsung or some other manufacturer that modifies android that is why. Pure stock android is the best. Motorola or nexus phones are pure google. Those are the best to get instead of crappy Samsung

    • Edison Wrzosek - 10 years ago

      Hey, Mr Fandroid, keep your Open Source BS full of un-vetted security holes, and your cheap hardware with fake accelerometers, gyros, GPS modules, and all-around shit UX, and GTFO!

    • zmac11 - 10 years ago

      Android is Freedom, sure. The freedom to get 99% of the mobile malware on the Internet. That freedom? No thanks.

      • S G (@sg2367) - 10 years ago

        Yeah, right. Please educate yourself before making nonsense comments without providing a single shred of proof. If what you say is the case, then explain to me why I haven’t been infected. Ooops.

        As with ALL computers, INCLUDING iOS and OS X, never download shady apps or visit shady websites. Those two are your guarantee against viruses and android.

        Another uneducated iTroll.

  12. Guy Gubi (@guygubi) - 10 years ago

    We can still use Favorites Widget (http://tiny.cc/favorites_widget) which let you call your favorites contacts from the Notification Center and organise them by groups.

  13. mchpad (@mchpad) - 10 years ago

    Thank God! Just made the notification useless and ugly.

    • S G (@sg2367) - 10 years ago

      If you don’t like it, you don’t have to use it, dumb-ass.

      “thank god they cut the developer’s income!” – You

  14. hijaszu - 10 years ago

    The same happened with one application that was allowing to build custom dashboard previously. Probably it is stated in the development guide that these functionalities are not allowed. And since they are stated, Apple has the right to enforce it. If you don’t like this, don’t develop for iOS. I think the reason is because they want a certain integration in the whole OS/App stack.

  15. tuandbui (@tuandbui) - 10 years ago

    good thing i got it already haha

  16. Michael Perry (@Alticus) - 10 years ago

    This stuff just pissing me off about Apple over and over again.

  17. And I thought my wife was ugly.

  18. Lee (@leemahi) - 10 years ago

    Apple being a jerk as usual. I wish the Android watches were better so I could confidently go to android.

  19. RaptorOO7 (@RaptorOO7) - 10 years ago

    THIS is where apple SUCKS TO THE CORE. Really, they add functionality and apple doesn’t like it so they pull the app. This is where Android succeeds.

  20. S G (@sg2367) - 10 years ago

    I love how the comments are yelling “but! but! it collected data!” yet the money making Angry Birds does the same freaking thing.

    http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/01/27/report-angry-birds-among-apps-vulnerable-to-government-data-collection.aspx

  21. One Widget (@OneWidget) - 10 years ago

    Hmm.. Wierd.. Waiting for my app to get approved for more than 12 days now. Hope everything goes well. If interested please look here. Onewidgetapp.com. Have got some cool widgets

  22. Khaled Abo El Dahab - 10 years ago

    what is this???this is one of the best apps i have ever seen for IOS
    so what are we going to do now after i bought the pro version

  23. kuchera4 - 10 years ago

    Apple SUCKS for this! This app is solid and it really shows how awesome iOS 8 could be! Shame on Apple for making this decision! People need to speak up and let them know how disappointing this is! Thank God I have the premium version! Hope I can use it as long as possible!

  24. chrischamber - 10 years ago

    Completely true, first really usefull Widget out there, gets blocked. WTF!

  25. skarchmit - 10 years ago

    This is (was) the perfect widget.

    • fofer - 10 years ago

      Slightly bummed I didn’t know about it until now and didn’t get a chance to grab it. Ah well.

  26. RaptorOO7 (@RaptorOO7) - 10 years ago

    We can bitch about it or promote the Change.org petition they list on their website funny how I don’t see ANY Apple blogs promoting that part of the story.http://www.change.org/p/apple-allow-widgets-on-the-app-store-that-launch-other-apps

    So lets promote it and get the word out, Apple could care less about our opinions but it the negative press continues on with the bungled 8.0.1/8.0.2 updates, bendgate, and the Irish Tax issues then perhaps they will pull their collective heads out of their arses.

  27. 7 Media (@7mediaws) - 10 years ago

    If the app collected data, then that is bad. I am a huge Apple fan but was never a fan of iOS and the iPhone until now. The fact that Apple added widgets and folders, it made me look at iOS differently, and this app would have been a great addition to the widget feature.

    I hate the fact that the apps are in your face every time you unlock your phone. It’s not like I am accessing every app at the same time, and they are covering up the wallpaper. I like the idea of a launcher and widgets because it gives me control of what I want to look at or need to look at and access on a daily basis. Hopefully, something like this app can be added to the app store in the future which still follows the developer guidelines.

    At the moment, the combination of a blank home screen, widgets, and folders gets me closer to tolerating iOS.

  28. harore - 9 years ago

    What’s the difference between Launcher and Quick-Tap app?

    • Robin (@pacorob) - 9 years ago

      Not much difference actually. The great thing is that Quick-Tap is still available in the App Store.

      For all those out there like me which didn’t download the Launcher app in time. Since September there is also Quick-Tap in the app store which is also an amazing widget. I just bought it (in-app purchase) and really love it.

      Features:
      – direct post an e-mail/sms/imessage/whatsapp/facebook messenger to someone
      – directly call/facetime someone
      – directly navigate to your Home with Google Maps or Apple Maps
      – has tons of apps which can be opened directly from the notification center (not all, the app has to support it)

      Can be done but needs some extra work from the user:
      – post a tweet (can be set via Add Item > More > Browse to.. type in Url: twitter://post?message)
      – quickly access Settings options e.g. WIFI, General Use can be done in a similar way as mentioned with posting a tweet.

      Missing options (hopefully in an update, if Apple allows them to):
      – post a facebook message on Facebook (it does support facebook messenger)
      – send a message via Telegram to someone
      – cannot sort/move the apps/links in row (only edit/remove)
      – cannot add your own icons to e.g. Safari links for e.g. Settings, Quick Twitter post

  29. Róhit  (@SirRohitB) - 9 years ago

    Do you guys realise that Siri can do most of the tasks faster than this widget?

    • fofer - 9 years ago

      Not exactly and not always. Siri is great but not always… correct.

    • fofer - 9 years ago

      (Not to mention, speaking to Siri isn’t always feasible, like in a meeting or a loud venue. Swiping down and tapping a button? Works 100%, every time.)