Not surprising. The media hyped up the app and the admin hyper focused on it. Was bound to happen eventually since Apple wants to play nice with the government. Nice thing is it isn't the only one and others are multiplatform instead of iOS only. I'm doubtful we'll be seeing ICEblock show up in the iOS side load community.
I'd love for all tech reviewers at future product launches to go: "Yeah cool new iPads thanks... why did you guys block and remove an app that wasn't illegal? One that helped people know if armed forces that could search them and tear apart their homes were in the area?".
Just refuse to report on or post about new product launches without mentioning it.
Press is an large thing for Apple. Multiple times now they've only sprung into action when the press got on their arse about something (faulty HDD cables/video cards in Macbook Pros, faulty keyboards, etc). Press getting on them could push them to take an actual stance, or at least explain why (bowing to the dictator in this case).
Yeah most companies want good PR for access. Apple takes this to the extreme where the first whiff of negatives things to say and you're cut off. Now you won't get invited to events or given devices early. So you'll have to wait until release and buy it yourself. Then take the time to review a device. By that point most people have already seen the other coverage and made up their mind. So you will get very little motion which translates to income.
These corporations have effectively built their own club of chosen mouthpieces who are willing to excuse negatives about a product to make money.
What if all the youtubers eg. MKBHD, Justine, etc. all piss off Apple at the same time? Or one big one goes against Apple and others follow as an act of solidarity?
Which is why all of them should, every single one. Ones who don't should be called out by others.
Same thing at White House press conferences, push push push them relentlessly with questions that make them uncomfortable... make them squirm.
Press who always allow the other side to control the narrative deserve to die out. I know this is all easier said than done, but holy crap we are making it so easy for them to walk over us right now, we could at least do something.
Capital does what serves it best. Values are little more than a fig leaf in capitalism. After all, how many of us sacrifice our income for our values? A very few, indeed.
