Hey there, my tech-loving followers! I’ve got some interesting news to share with you today. It seems that Apple is once again embroiled in a fight with Hey, the popular email service, over their new calendar app. Let me break it down for you.

So, Hey recently announced a new feature – an integrated calendar within their app. Exciting stuff, right? Well, not according to Apple. Just 72 hours after the announcement, co-founder David Heinemeier Hansson received some disappointing news. Apple was rejecting the standalone iOS app for Hey Calendar because non-paying users couldn’t do anything on it. Ouch!

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Apple’s App Store rules require most paid services to offer in-app payment and sign-up options. This ensures that Apple gets a cut of up to 30 percent. However, there are exceptions for certain apps like Spotify and Kindle. The rule has sparked antitrust fights in various countries due to its gray areas and carve-outs.

But what really irked Hansson was that Apple had rejected Hey’s original iOS app for their email service four years ago for the exact same reason. Talk about déjà vu! In a post on X, Hansson expressed his frustration, saying that Apple’s rejection felt like bullying tactics.

However, the outcome of this latest battle ended up being favorable for Hey. After lengthy discussions between Apple’s App Store Review Board and Basecamp (the company behind Hey), a creative solution was proposed by Apple exec Phil Schiller. Hey would offer a free option for the iOS app, allowing new users to sign up directly. But there was a twist – these users would receive a temporary randomized email address that worked for 14 days before they had to pay to upgrade.

Currently, Hey users can only pay for an account through their browser. Following this saga, Apple made an exception to their App Store rules for free companion apps to certain types of paid web services. However, calendar apps were not included in this exception, which raised concerns for Hey. They had spent 19 days preparing for the launch of their stand-alone free companion app, only to have it rejected by Apple.

Hey is not one to back down easily, though. Hansson has stated that they plan to fight Apple’s decision, although he hasn’t revealed the specific approach they will take. It’ll be interesting to see how this unfolds.

That’s all for now, folks! Stay tuned for more tech news and updates. And remember, keep smiling and stay curious!