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GoodReader app forced to remove some iCloud Drive features to comply with App Store policies (update: reversed!)

Screen Shot 2014-12-31 at 09.55.05

UpdateGoodReader 4.8.1 has now been released and the iCloud functionality has returned without explanation. It is unclear what prompted the reversal, although it is likely that Apple has once again backtracked on a public App Store decision.

Continuing the string of controversy regarding App Store approval in recent weeks, an update pushed through by GoodReader ($4.99, iPhone and iPad) earlier today shows that the company has been forced to remove some significant iCloud Drive features, in order to comply with iCloud Drive usage guidelines and remain in the App Store.

Specifically, the GoodReader update removes the ability to add folders, remove folders or move files around the iCloud Drive storage location. The update notes reference a ‘usage policy’, although it is unclear what document the company is referring to.

Folder operations are included in the public iCloud Drive API’s, which makes the situation even more puzzling. Panic’s Transmit app was recently told it had to change functionality relating to iCloud Drive. In that particular case, Apple told Panic that “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”. After considerable public outrage, Apple reversed its decision and Transmit’s iCloud Drive features were allowed once more.

Similar ‘rejections-then-change-of-heart-by-Apple’ instances have arisen over iOS 8 features, like Notification Center Today widgets. Most notably, PCalc and Drafts were told they had to enact significant changes to the feature set of their respective widgets. Apple has later backtracked on their position, although the chilling effect on developer ambition is much longer-lasting.

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Comments

  1. rogifan - 9 years ago

    Apple is bound and determined to make sure there is no trace of a file system on iOS. I think it’s stupid. All this in-app only stuff is more confusing than a file system would be.

    • jkratz - 9 years ago

      Except for the fact that the story notes that the API has public methods for folder operations. Probably just another case of stupid app review that will be reversed.

  2. poldev - 9 years ago

    That’s just utterly ridiculous.

  3. Scott Ribe - 9 years ago

    Right now, it seems that app review is being run by idiots. I’ve experienced this myself–my obscure you-never-heard of it app has had an update rejected for something which it has being doing for several years, for a reason I’d never heard of, with reference to documentation which absolutely does not forbid it. In other words, they’re just making shit up as they go along.

  4. My thought when it happened with PCalc and others was that they were prepping for the Watch and those features wouldn’t work on the watch so Apple was being proactive… but I dont see how this new one with iCloud Drive fits into that… I dont see any reasoning anymore with those rejections

  5. TechSHIZZLE.com - 9 years ago

    Wow. Stupidity is now the norm at Apple. Ok, maybe an overstatement-maybe.

    And there’s no bigger Apple fanboy than me.

    • jkratz - 9 years ago

      No, stupidity is the norm in the department that reviews apps. Hard to generalize it to the whole company.

  6. TechSHIZZLE.com - 9 years ago

    Guess I shouldn’t have cancelled my 3TB Dropbox account and switched to iCloud.

  7. iCloud and iCloud drive are completely useless to many consumers and in fact end up restricting what third party sync and cloud services can offer. Shame. Even as a shareholder I see this as a problem because iCloud isn’t adding the value that it promised to the platform, yet it drains millions from Apple’s operational budget.

  8. darwiniandude - 9 years ago

    I’ve stored PDF workshop manuals for my car, product manuals for all products I own, and other data in nearly organised iCloud folders within GoodReader for years. The behaviour means they are always all on my Mac, and backed up with time machine, and I can locally keep which ever ones I want on any iOS devices.
    Well this restriction by Apple is exceptionally annoying. I have now copied the 1GB of data into a Dropbox folder and setup a sync action to sync that with a GoodReader folder. What a pain.
    Guess I won’t be paying for extra iCloud Drive storage as intended after all…

  9. darwiniandude - 9 years ago

    FIXED. Just noticed an update appear which resolves the issue, I can now nest folders like a crazy person again, woo hoo!

    • TechSHIZZLE.com - 9 years ago

      Beat me by 1 minute!

      • darwiniandude - 9 years ago

        I tweeted Benjamin Mayo as soon as I noticed, applied the update and confirmed that it now works as before. They might append the article saying it’s fixed now.

        Good Reader is something I’ve known people at Apple to use themselves… This issue was likely a big pain or PR nightmare in the making.

  10. TechSHIZZLE.com - 9 years ago

    I think there’s has been a reversal. I just updated to 4.8.1, and the iCloud functionality language has been removed.

Author

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Benjamin Mayo

Benjamin develops iOS apps professionally and covers Apple news and rumors for 9to5Mac. Listen to Benjamin, every week, on the Happy Hour podcast. Check out his personal blog. Message Benjamin over email or Twitter.