Apple remove thousands of sexually suggestive iPhone apps
By Jenny • Feb 22nd, 2010 • Category: iPhone- Photo: Apple
Apple, who can’t stay out of the news, it appears, have banned all iPhone app store content with even slight sexual references. In a move of unexpected self-censorship, this draconian practice makes Apple look more and more like today’s Microsoft of old.
Bikinis too raunchy
Applications with latex, even if it is an innocent swimsuit, have been removed. What does this mean for Olympic-focused apps? Applications with sexual innuendo have been removed. Basically, as some outlets have reported, even the slightest indication of skin will result in a downright removal of content. And while some readers may think this will result in small scale gratuitous content being removed, one needs to remember publications like GQ and FHM, which aim to a specific demographic, would not make the app store cut, either, according to Apple’s criteria.
Developers left to die
- Photo: Apple
The thing about this move is it’s resulted in several developers whose entire livelihoods were built around selling their iPhone apps in Apple’s store now being, ostensibly, out of a product, and to some extent, out of a job. What sparked the decision is unclear.
App Store limbo since day one
The problem with Apple’s approval process since day one is unclear guidelines. Furthermore, influential tech leaders like Paul Graham have dedicated whole essays to what the company is doing wrong. Apps have been banned on ridiculous criteria in the past and this problem is seeming to continue.
Android, Windows 7, Blackberry gap
In a world where the App store is the king in terms of mobile phone application processes, Apple seems to allow more and more freedom for their competition to take them head on. Granted, a tight focus on quality control has meant the iPhone has become the leading smartphone on the planet, as is the case with the iPod before it. The difference is, however, this time Apple has to contend with a platform where other developers have great influence on the direction the product takes. If they stifle this too much, they could very well concede their dominance to the competition.
Tags for this article: app store, iPhone
