Apple threatens to ban iDOS 2, a famous DOS emulator

iDOS 2, a popular DOS emulator for iOS, may soon be released from the App Store. Apple threatens the developer to delete the application, because it does not respect the instructions of the firm. These prohibit an application from running external code.

Emulators are not popular with iOS. The Cupertino company has always refused to offer them in the App Store. And the reason is relatively simple: they are used mainly (to put it mildly) to run commercial games. Why install SNES9X on his smartphone if not to play Super mario kart, Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past or Final fantasy 6 ?

Android emulators: all you need to know to enjoy retro games!

And more generally, Apple restricts the use of external resources in the applications offered on the App Store. If it’s digital books, videos or web content, that’s fine. On the other hand, when it comes to video games, the firm is rather cautious: it fears that the external code will serve to override certain protections or that the content is not appropriate for the youngest users. It’s the same debate for streaming game services.

IDOS 2 emulator threatened to be removed from the App Store

However, despite this assumed positioning, some emulators manage to find their way to the App Store. This is the case of iDOS, famous DOS emulator based on DOS Box and first appeared in 2010 on the App Store. After a change in the terms of use, this emulator has been removed from the Apple store. Another version replaced it in 2014: iDOS 2. And it is now this version that is threatened with being banned.

Apple has indeed sent a message to its developer, Chaoji Li, to inform him that iDOS 2 does not respect the rules of the App Store on the use of external code thanks to the file sharing with iTunes. As a reminder, this function allows you to copy files to the iPhone from the application. It can be e-book in ePub or PDF format for iBooks for example, or videos for VLC.

IDOS 2 developer has two weeks to review his app

The developer had submitted an update a few days before to fix some bugs in his application. But this has not been validated. Worse, this refusal drew Apple’s attention to the version currently online which now refuses the integration of file sharing with iTunes. What caused the sending of the message requesting the sending within 14 days of a new version respecting the rules. But to adhere to these rules, the developer should remove the function of sharing files with iTunes. What he refuses to do.

Without a response from Chaoji Li, iDOS 2 will be removed from the App Store in a few days. Bad news for all those who liked to indulge on their iPhone with the retro versions of Doom, Civilization, Prince of persia, Monkey island, Warcraft or Pool of Radiance.