Apple purging widget applications from App Store

Apple is deleting widget applications from its App Store, fueling speculation it will incorporate homescreen widgets into its forthcoming iPhone OS 4.0 upgrade. According to developer Russell Ivanovic, his Groundhog Software was contacted by Apple with word the computing giant planned to remove the startup's iPad photo frame app MyFrame: "[Apple] refused to be pinned down to an exact reason, simply stating that they were doing a cull of any applications that presented widgets to the user," Ivanovic writes on his blog. "All the guy on the phone would say is how much he liked our application, and how sorry he was, but there was nothing he could do. All we got out of him was that Apple no longer liked ‘widgets' and wanted all widget apps removed."

Seeking further clarification, Ivanovic contacted Apple CEO Steve Jobs, firing off an email reading in part "Apparently Apple is cracking down on ‘widgety' type apps. Our app is a beautiful photo frame with a few nice things you can put over your photos. It's not ugly, or even widgety. What gives?" Ivanovic soon received a reply mailed from Jobs' account and sent from the exec's iPad, reading "We are not allowing apps that create their own desktops. Sorry."

The move seems to suggest Apple will introduce its own iPhone homescreen widget functionality, a feature already available from Google's rival Android mobile OS. Apple released its iPhone OS 4.0 beta software and SDK in early April--confirmed features include multitasking support, a new folders function, enhanced enterprise support and the company's new mobile advertising network, iAd.

For more on the widget apps removal:
- read this PCWorld article

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