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"Finder for Airpods" Not Allowed in Apple's Walled Garden

posted by cmn32480 on Tuesday January 10 2017, @11:52AM   
from the can't-let-you-find-money dept.

takyon writes:

An app allowing users to locate their lost AirPod wireless earbuds has been removed from Apple's app store without explanation:

Mobile app developer studio Deucks Pty released the app, called "Finder for Airpods," last week. The app used the iPhone to track the Bluetooth wireless signal emitted by the two AirPod units to help locate the lost piece, displaying a line showing whether the user was getting closer or farther away based on signal strength. Excitement about Apple's new wireless earphones has almost been matched by anxiety about how easy it could be to lose one of the two unconnected mini speakers. So there was an initial burst of enthusiasm about the new app, which quickly garnered a rating of four and a half stars.

But on Monday, the app had vanished from the Apple App Store—and developer Raajit Sharm at Deucks Pty says it's not coming back. "Apple determined the 'concept' of people finding their AirPods with the app was deemed 'not appropriate for the App Store,'" Sharm wrote in an email to Fortune. "The app will not return back."

A new pair of AirPods costs $159 and a single replacement costs just $69.

Also at The Verge.

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Original Submission

• You gave the reasonYou gave the reason (Score: 5, Insightful) by J_Darnley on Tuesday January 10 2017, @12:04PM

  by J_Darnley (5679) on Tuesday January 10 2017, @12:04PM (#451991)

  > A new pair of AirPods costs $159 and a single replacement costs just $69.

  Starting Score:	1		point
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  Insightful=4, Total=4
  Extra 'Insightful' Modifier		0
  Total Score:		5

• Re:You gave the reasonRe:You gave the reason (Score: 2) by lx on Tuesday January 10 2017, @01:51PM

  by lx (1915) on Tuesday January 10 2017, @01:51PM (#452035)

  How do they manage pricing if two singles are cheaper than one pair?

  Parent

  • Re:You gave the reasonRe:You gave the reason (Score: 3, Informative) by epl on Tuesday January 10 2017, @02:39PM

    by epl (1801) on Tuesday January 10 2017, @02:39PM (#452050)

    Two singles don't have the charging/holding unit you do get with a pair, since that's a complete set.

    Parent

    • Re:You gave the reason(Score: 2) by lx on Tuesday January 10 2017, @07:28PM

      by lx (1915) on Tuesday January 10 2017, @07:28PM (#452198)

      Ah, that makes sense.

      Parent

• Re:You gave the reasonRe:You gave the reason (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 10 2017, @02:42PM

  by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 10 2017, @02:42PM (#452052)

  On a side note: assuming someone wants to buy these, why would they ever buy a pair instead of two singles at this pricing?

  Parent

  • Re:You gave the reasonRe:You gave the reason (Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 10 2017, @03:14PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 10 2017, @03:14PM (#452078)

    Because people who care about the money and can calculate would not buy either to begin with?

    Parent

    • Re:You gave the reason(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 10 2017, @08:20PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 10 2017, @08:20PM (#452221)

      Maybe it could be modded funny, but the correct info was given just above... charger station for the pods.

      Parent

  • Re:You gave the reason(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday January 10 2017, @10:13PM

    by DannyB (5839) on Tuesday January 10 2017, @10:13PM (#452259) Journal

    Let me guess, you must not be an Apple user to ask a question like that.

    --
    Stupid people exist because nothing in the food chain eats them anymore.

    Parent

• Re:You gave the reason(Score: 2) by Bot on Wednesday January 11 2017, @07:46AM

  by Bot (3902) on Wednesday January 11 2017, @07:46AM (#452400) Journal

  Incidentally, it is also the reason for buying 2 replacement pods instead of a new pair*

  *) probably won't work, can't outsmart a corporation on pricing.

  --
  Account abandoned.

  Parent