Apple shook up the iPhone App Store and the developer community this last week with the removal of about 5,000 apps that it deemed too overtly sexual. In messages sent to these developers, Apple cited complaints from customers as the reason for removing the apps.
For the most part, these apps did not include any nudity, as that was not allowed in the app store. Instead, many of them featured women in bikinis or other revealing clothing.
The controversy over this move comes from three areas. First, the developers were given little or no warning of the change in policy. Second, apps like the one from large companies like Playboy and Sports Illustrated were left in the store. Third, many non-sexual apps were caught in the dragnet, including at least one eBook and the shopping app SimplyBeach which included bikinis in their app-based catalog.
This sort of action also scares developers outside of that genre as it shows how quickly a business built around iPhone app development can be destroyed by a single decision inside of Apple. Many app developers are small and single-person companies.
In other news, the iTunes Music Store served up its 10 billionth song this week. Since its launch in 2003 iTunes has become the world’s largest music retailer.
A school district in Pennsylvania has been accused of spying on students and their families through the iSight cameras of MacBooks given out by the schools. One family filing a lawsuit against the schools says they have proof that pictures were taken in their home by the school district using the cameras. Each MacBook has anti-theft software installed that enables the use of the cameras this way. The irony here is strong, considering the original announcement of the Macintosh in 1984 used an anti-big brother theme.
Apple Removes Overtly Sexual Apps
Comments: One Response to “Apple Removes Overtly Sexual Apps”
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Does anyone else see the "Big Brother" role Apple is taking. They are doing exactly what most reasonable people rail against, telling us what is good and bad for us. If the concern is children, that's fine, let the parents exhibit the same oversight they do with cable TV. If the app is inappropriate for a child then the parent can remove it. Or even better couldn't Apple embed a log in code in the set up of certain apps that requires a user log in before the app will open. My concern is not the viewing of half naked women, god knows there are enough avenues to achieve that end if one desires. it's simply what's next? A podcast that has adult language, a radio feed that has an adult comedy channel. My genuine fear is that Apple will "Big Brother" the iphone to a sterile, Sesame Street only devise. And why? Just becuase they can. Here's an idea. Let's create a simple protest movement. Pick a day in the near future and everyone with an Iphone boycott the Itunes store. No purchases, no downloads and no visits. Let Apple know to leave the parenting to parents and "Big Brother" to George Orwell.