Flash of Genius, developers of the “Flash of Genius: SAT Vocab” exam preparation app, recently made a post on their blog that makes for interesting reading.  Apparently, when Flash of Genius updated their app recently, they, quite justifiably, mentioned that the app was a finalist in the Android Developers Challenge.  A harmless and perfectly reasonable boast surely?  Not according to Apple.  Flash of Genius received an email from the Apple approval team stating that-

“Providing future platform compatibility plans or other general platform references are not relevant in the context of the iPhone App Store.  While your application has not been rejected, it would be appropriate  to remove “Finalist in Google’s Android Developer’s Challenge!”  from the Application Description [Emphasis added].”

Flash of Genius have complied, but did state that they wished “there were a wording that would somehow allow us to leverage our Top 10 finish in the Android Developer’s Challenge in the app description, without offending Apple.”. It’s the sort of comment that could sway a few sales for the app.  What are Apple trying to achieve here?  Pretending that Google Android doesn’t exist as another platform is ridiculous, it’s not like anyone is going to look at the description in the iPhone Apps store and think to themselves- “Egads! Google Android?  I must ditch my iPhone immediately!”.

I’m not one of those die-hard Apple fans who have nothing good to say about Apple.  I’ve always had the utmost respect for the company, they are responsible, either directly or influentially, for a lot of what’s great about tech and gadgetry at the moment.  They know how to create devices that appeal to Joe Public like probably no other company.  But over the past few weeks, the high regard I had for them has been tarnished.  This act of sheer pettiness, along with Jobs’ recent tantrum are not exactly inspiring.  Somewhere in the Google offices, someone will be having a chuckle about this one I’m sure.

You can read the full Flash of Genius blog article here.