March 4, 2010 10:28 PM
- Text
No Wi-Fi For You! Apple Removes Wireless Detector Apps; Alienates iPhone, iPod Users [UPDATE]
(MoneyWatch) 
UPDATE: The iPad will be available in less than a month: April 3. Pre-orders are set to begin March 12.
Apple has taken off all the Wi-Fi detector apps -- which come in handy when the iPhone and iPod Touch need a faster connection -- in a step that will further alienate both developers and customers.
Says Just Another iPhone Blog:
The strange part is that Apple is days away from releasing the one product you'll actually need Wi-Fi for: the iPad. The iPhone obviously has a cellular connection, while the iPod Touch can still prove useful without the Wi-Fi. On the other hand, the iPad is meant to serve as a laptop surrogate -- and we don't see a Firewire jack on the device. Good luck trying to find a Wi-Fi spot, especially since the first set of iPads, scheduled for April 3, won't have any cellular options. RELATED:
UPDATE: The iPad will be available in less than a month: April 3. Pre-orders are set to begin March 12.Apple has taken off all the Wi-Fi detector apps -- which come in handy when the iPhone and iPod Touch need a faster connection -- in a step that will further alienate both developers and customers.
Says Just Another iPhone Blog:
In yet another bizarre, head-scratching move, Apple has removed all apps that allow the iPhone and iPod Touch to detect nearby Wifi networks, such as WiFiTrack and WiFiFoFum.
The explanation from a few of the affected developers is that the apps were removed because they used "private frameworks" to collect information on the wireless networks nearby. Of course, this has added fuel to the jailbreak fire, with many calling for the developers to simply release the apps on Cydia.
I'll come out and say it - the Android Market and it's lack of draconian control is beginning to look more and more attractive by the day.
Strange, but not much stranger than recent decisions. Let's recap Apple's actions over the past two weeks: The "private frameworks" idea goes along with Apple's declaration that apps accessing location-based information wouldn't be approved henceforth. It's not clear what this may mean for FourSquare and similar ilk, but it seems to be affecting Wi-Fi seekers.The strange part is that Apple is days away from releasing the one product you'll actually need Wi-Fi for: the iPad. The iPhone obviously has a cellular connection, while the iPod Touch can still prove useful without the Wi-Fi. On the other hand, the iPad is meant to serve as a laptop surrogate -- and we don't see a Firewire jack on the device. Good luck trying to find a Wi-Fi spot, especially since the first set of iPads, scheduled for April 3, won't have any cellular options. RELATED:
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