TechCrunch: Apple No Longer Rejecting Calculator Widgets From The App Store.

"The maker of a popular iOS app and widget, PCalc, which took advantage of iOS 8’s support for Notification Center Widgets, was recently told by Apple that his handy app would be pulled from the App Store due to the fact that “widgets on iOS cannot perform any calculations.” The app’s creator, James Thomson, took to Twitter to inform users and respond to inquiries about the matter, saying it was “extremely disappointing news,” and that he was “just really really sad.”

"But now we’re hearing that Apple is changing its course. "

James was told by Apple that his wonderful app, PCalc, would have to handicap or remove it's notification center widget. This is the same Apple that is currently featuring PCalc in the App Store for the very same widget. Apparently, there was an unwritten rule which says an app can't perform calculations as an iOS widget.

That "rule" is of course insane, and it's moves like this by Apple which tend to scare the crap out of indie devs.

I don't have inside information, but I'm willing to bet that someone with veto power in Apple got a little upset or jealous about PCalc's widget, and said "kill it". James is lucky that he has lots of friends and folks who love PCalc, and also have a soapbox to stand on. So with the outcry and bad publicity, Apple changed it's mind.

Of course, "Apple" isn't a single person and it's good to remember this. Rejections and about-faces like this are just the friendly reminder that "Apple" is actually a facade for warring factions and sometimes these wars spill outside 1 Infinite Loop.