[gabemart]

A minor point, but the app was rejected rather than "shut down".

It's a shame, it seems like a neat application and I can totally imagine using an app like this to weigh spices or coffee beans.

[gitah]

My guess is that Apple didn't want their customers ruining their phone screens by putting heavy objects on it.

By accepting the app, Apple is implicitly allowing the use case of using the phone as a scale.

[dragonwriter]

> By accepting the app, Apple is implicitly allowing the use case of using the phone as a scale.

This may be a bigger issue than just concern that customers might ruin their screens (and blame Apple.)

Scales (for commercial use) are regulated, and devices marketed as scales but intended for only non-commercial use are explicitly labeled "not for us in trade"; Apple probably doesn't want to be seen as marketing or endorsing the iPhone as a scale, even implicitly.

[hugh4]

That plus the fact that the sensor is probably not reliably calibrated between phones and may degrade with age. Apple doesn't want to deal with complaints about how their phone is doing a crummy job at weighing things.

[Nadya]

Exactly this.

  "Oh, let's see how accurately it weighs 50lbs!"

Anyone remember the "waterproof" troll? Apple is protecting some of their users from their own stupidity.

[threeseed]

> imagine using an app like this to weigh spices or coffee beans.

Seriously ?

You would rather potentially ruin your $700 phone by breaking the screen or getting spice particles inside instead of buying a $5 scale.

[XJOKOLAT]

Let me decide that.

I accept your point but having Apple iNanny watching over my shoulder is boring as hell.

(disclaimer: I don't own an iPhone and cannot see that happening in the near term).

[threeseed]

You already can decide that. You can build the app and deploy it your phone.

Putting this app on the store however is an implicit endorsement of it.

[jasonkostempski]

For $99/yr. Edit: + the price of a Mac of some kind.

[chillacy]

Well, just the mac now, since you can "sideload" apps onto your phone with xcode: http://9to5mac.com/2015/06/10/xcode-7-allows-anyone-to-downl...

[jasonkostempski]

Sorry for the uninformed response. Been out of the iOS game for a few months and I didn't even bother checking if that was still true since I never thought they'd get rid of that silly requirement. Good for them.

[schrodinger]

Nope, it's free now

[jack-r-abbit]

... and then carrying that scale around like you do a phone? Lots of things are being replaced by phones/apps because you always have your phone. Do you always have your scale?

[dkokelley]

While I personally can't recall a time when a scale-in-my-pocket would have measurably improved my life, I will concede that often capability leads utility. Maybe a future where everyone's phones are also reliable scales will fulfill needs we didn't know we had.

[bdamm]

Such as reverting to gold for common currency.

[TeMPOraL]

One use: grocery stores will stop bother cheating on you with miscalibrated scales.

[threeseed]

No I have no need to carry around a scale at all times. But I do have a need to carry around a working phone with a screen that isn't scratched, broken and with a force touch sensor intact.

Again if you are the sort of person that is willing to risk a $700 phone because of the inconvenience of carrying a scale then I suspect you may be a niche consumer for Apple.