When the iconic Obama "Hope" image showed up for App Store approval on the Start Mobile Wallpaper Gallery app, Apple rejected it stating that it "ridicules public figures." The fact that the same image hangs on the wall of the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian, made it obvious that Apple's decision was a brilliant mistake right out of the gate. What a difference a month makes.
Start Mobile, recently received an email from the iPhone Developer Program encouraging the company to resubmit their Mobile Wallpaper Gallery. It appears that Apple had another amazing change of heart aimed at making nice with developers forced to live a rejected life beyond the Thunderdome. The company even offered Start Mobile an "expedited review" in the email signed by some Apple staffer named Amy.
The good news is that the Start Mobile Wallpaper Gallery app is now hanging in the App Store as it should be and it's free. Pushed through at record speed just like miss Amy promised in her email. That's an authentic "Yes we can!" moment Start Mobile should be proud of.
There are also three volumes of Shepard Fairey Wallpaper to choose from at
$.99-cents, with each app containing seven original images from the artist. The Obama "Hope" image is not one of them. I know this because I downloaded all three paid apps myself, so grab the freebie while you can.
For those who've been eyeballing Apple closely, you can consider this recent reversal another small step forward for developers... and one giant leap for the App Store. So far, Phil Schiller is holding fast to his promise of making App Store improvements.
This means that there's still hope Apple might eventually approve my idea to use the wildly controversial "Obama Joker art" by Firas Alkhateeb as part of a future American anarchy iPhone wallpaper app. If not, there goes my one great app concept!
Maybe Apple can continue their goodwill efforts here by expediting the spurned Google Voice app for immediate approval. Then we can all pretend that the rejection never really happened just like Apple is doing. According to Apple, they never really rejected the app at all. So, what do you say Phil? Can you ask Amy to push Google Voice through the App Store too?
The truth is out there. I want to believe.
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