RIP Netshare

Mr. Fazookus wrote:
It looks like Netshare has been officially killed by Apple, according to the Nullriver web site.

How do I go about getting my $10 back?

Contact Nullriver. They made the app.

Apple sold it.

I don't know much about the process involved here but what would happen if you managed to source this application from another place and manually placed this file in to your applications library?

The reason I ask is bought an application called Vicinity a while back. When I upgraded for XP I made an image of the drive and re-installed iTunes in Vista. I then went to the image of XP and extracted all of the apps and manually copied them in to the folder where my apps are stored. They appeared in iTunes and synced across without any hassle. What would stop you from doing that if you had the NetShare application to hand?

Note that Nullriver stated, +"Looks like Apple has decided they will not be allowing any tethering applications in the AppStore. As such, NetShare will not be available in the iTunes AppStore."+

The fact that no one else can purchase NetShare at this point says nothing about the functionality of the app for users that already purchased it. Certainly, there will be no updates. But, if the app works at this point (and reportedly, it does, through the 2.02 and 2.1 updates), then it works. Not sure what basis you would have for requesting a refund under those circumstances. If a subsequent update 'breaks' the app, then a refund could be requested.

The refund would need to be issued by Apple, using the Report a Problem link from the Purchase History of the iTunes Store account used to purchase the app. One blogger who purchased the app directly on the iPhone, then was unable to transfer it to iTunes since it was subsequently pulled from the App Store, did report getting a refund from Apple. Faethor, apps are DRM-protected and linked to the iTunes Store account used to purchase them. Same account, the app works. Different account, it doesn't, and it gets deleted from the iPhone.

As a consumer I would like to see Apple post clear documentation online what their App Store approval process requires to approve or deny an app and not use vague wording such as "unforseen". It appears Apple denied Netshare app due to pressure from AT&T even though AT&T is in the USA, not Canada, Asia, etc. So why block access to customers who's carriers in other countries are allowing tethering on their Smartphones including the iPhone? Apple could of just restricted access to the app in the iTunes Store for countries that don't have such restrictive usage policies. Rogers/Fido in Canada for example allow tethering on their Smartphone data plans which includes the iPhone 3G but unfortunately consumers that want this option will either have to jailbrake their current iPhone which voids their Apple warranty or opt for a competitors device such as RIM's Blackberry Bold or HTC Touch Pro that allow tethering. Since the Smartphone data plans here don't offer unlimited data but do offer a huge amount of data (6 GB for $30.00) I would prefer to have one data plan instead of feeling pressured into opening a second data account for my MacBook to access HSPA across Canada.

You can call here: Apple Public Relations (408) 974-2042

Or write here:

Apple
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
408.996.1010

But I wouldn't hold your breath about getting your answer.

deggie wrote:
But I wouldn't hold your breath about getting your answer.

Isn't that hard on the brain? And I know you are qualified to answer that without speculating.

😀

In iTunes you were probably using the same iTunes account. You can move apps around if the account is the same, but supposedly the DRM would not allow you move this to another iTunes library that was based on a different iTunes account.

"what would happen if you managed to source this application from another place and manually placed this file in to your applications library?"

This is unlikely to work. You would need to "jailbreak" your iPhone in order to run "non-approved" applications. This is a form of hacking and is definitely not recommended (and it is not a topic for these discussions).

The withdrawal of Netshare from the Apps Store is one reason I have been holding out on buying an iPhone 3G. Tethering is allowed by service providers in Australia (and most countries outside USA) so this is very frustrating.