Apple has banned Chinese software developer Molinker from selling more than 1,000 of its iPhone applications on Apple's online iTunes store. Apple took action after learning that Molinker was giving users the apps free in exchange for five-star feedback reviews, thus artificially boosting the profile for their products, many of which are cheap knockoffs of other apps. Is Apple losing control?
Apple has no one to blame but itself: The company brought this on its own head, says Sarah Perez on ReadWriteWeb. Given that the iTunes store is selling more than 100,000 apps, developers have had to resort to ever-more “unscrupulous” tricks to “make sure their apps get noticed.” The only solution is a “trustworthy rating system.” Get working on it, Apple.
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