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I downloaded a Shabbat Alert app for my iPad, because i needed an alarm that would shut off after a few minutes. It worked fine (except that my iPad was muted), and it seemed to be quite halachic. In fact, perhaps it even went above and beyond.

Before it let me do anything, it made me "sign" an agreement that i wouldn't use the app on Shabbat.

Is there any halachic basis for requiring an agreement like this?

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  • Hm. I closed this quickly as a duplicate of mi.yodeya.com/q/10389, but then I noticed that that asks why specifically audiorecordings have such a notice and answers address audiorecordings specifically. So I guess this is a different question: I've reopened it.
    – msh210
    Oct 30, 2014 at 21:21
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    It's also different because that's simply a request, while this is actually requiring an agreement.
    – Scimonster
    Oct 30, 2014 at 21:22
  • If I had to take a guess, I would say there is no obligation for the publisher to have written that, as they are not responsible for other people using their app on Shabbos. It's just one of those things that it can't hurt to add and it might help, so why not write it? Oct 31, 2014 at 0:53

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I'm the developer of this app and Salmononius2 is spot on. I never really considered it but I guess this could be an issue for non strictly observant users... Will try to add a 'Bli Neder' mention at some point Enjoy the app and Shabbat Shalom Jeremy

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    Welcome to Mi Yodeya, Jeremy, and thanks for your personal expert answer.
    – Scimonster
    Jul 3, 2015 at 12:00
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    – mevaqesh
    Jul 3, 2015 at 14:09
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    You are responsible for your animal not working on Shabbat, in certain circumstances, even if the animal is under the care and direction of a gentile at that time, and even if you do not benefit. That logic should NOT apply to an app since there is no commandment to let your apps rest on Shabbat. Perhaps such an agreement does help avoid lifnei iver (putting a stumbling block - leading/enabling someone to sin).
    – Yehuda W
    Jul 3, 2015 at 14:39

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