The App Store whistle blowing team of Patrick Timney (the SCW) and Glyn Evans (iPhoneography blog) have uncovered news that banned developer Molinker Inc. has resurfaced in the App Store under a new DBA as ShiningWorks. Evans alleges that Molinker, who had all 1,000 apps banned from the App Store by Apple earlier this month, has jumped back into the iPhone app game, already populating the App store with some 23 products. Most of those apps are variations on a lame Fireworks theme that looks like cookie cutter crapware.
"Apart from the photo app "R & B", none of the
other apps looked like anything special, but it came as no surprise
when Patrick discovered a 5 star review for one of the ($0.99)
firework apps, possibly made by the developer himself [MarkItunes]." Source: iPhoneography
As Timney applied his investigative skills to developer ShingWorks, he quickly discovered that the company's website gotocamera.com clearly reveals Molinker in the header. A quick look into ShiningWork's go2camera.com domain registration details, reveal aSmartVision registrant Mark Ma, the same individual that's listed as the registrant on the Molinker, Inc. domain.
It was Patrick Timney who caught Molinker Inc. allegedly gaming the App Store ratings system with fabricated 5 star reviews. That news resulted in Molinker Inc. paying a severe penalty for trying to deceive users in the App Store with hyped up popularity. Obviously Mark Ma has learned nothing from having his apps banished to the App Store graveyard.
It appears that Timney, an unwitting App Store vigilante in this twisted tale, has once again uncovered big trouble in little China. Catching Molinker Inc, sneaking back into the App Store through the rear entrance without a proper all access pass.
ShingWorks should expect a big bouquet of oopsy daisies from Apple arriving at their door just in time for Christmas. Just wait until Phil Schiller gets wind of this little stink bomb.
why is Moolinker back?????
They just changed the name to Feng and changed the icon name and app theme. All the content is exactly the same, why does Apple allow them back after what they did before???
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/feng/id354108897
Posted by: Carlos | March 10, 2010 at 06:31 PM