14 DAY TRIAL // Waiting for Opera Mini to be approved in the Apple App Store is getting downright ridiculous, with Apple taking well over seven days now to review it. Although there are still hopes that the mobile web browser is ultimately to be granted access into the company’s online venue of third-party applications for iPhone, iPod touch, and now the iPad, it seems the Mac maker isn’t even considering it.
We can’t even remember how many times we said Apple wasn’t likely to approve the powerful, feature-packed Opera Mini for iPhone. The reason seems obvious – the competition it poses to Safari, Apple’s own web browser. Still, could there be more to this scenario than originally believed?
What if Apple likes the browser very much, wants to approve it, but has found a small bug that Opera Software needs to fix, before accepting it in the App Store? Actually, it’s very likely that this is not the case, but it’s not out of the question either. Whatever is happening, though, folks are very disappointed.
On March 29th, Softpedia signaled that we were closing in on six days since Opera Mini had been submitted to Apple. Not much later, the readers started to speak.
“I fail to understand why Apple is taking such a long time to decide,” said Scorecard3, who doubts that Apple has much to lose “by approving a browser that will actually provide people with the features Safari lacks. It seems as if Apple will say 'no' but I hope I am wrong.”
Another reader, Darrell, is even more outraged by Apple taking so long to approve the application, saying, “I do love my iPhone but if Apple rejects Opera i'm going to seriously consider switching phones once my contract is up with At&t.” Whether or not Darrell is going to make good on that promise, we must agree that Apple seems to be wrong in preventing a good quality app like Opera Mini from making it into the hands of users.
“Even if apple rejects opera for the iPhone a version should be made avaliable [sic] on the Internet since 90% of iPhone users are using programs outside ‘regulation’ which make the iPhone a better product,” reader ItsTrue chimes in. “Please don't hessitAte [sic] to release a public version, it will be viral within days,” is his advice to Opera Software and / or Apple, although we’re sure this comment is falling on deaf ears.
“Please release this to Cydia Store,” a less naive suggestion goes. “There's plenty of people who will enjoy this browser,” theamp believes.
Whether or not you’re still waiting for Opera Mini to be approved, don’t hesitate to leave more comments. Who knows, maybe Cupertino changes its mind one day.