You may have already heard: Apple is cleaning out their apps store. They’ve decided “to remove any overtly sexual content from the App Store.” It’s definitely not a first for Apple… banning a particular genre of apps. According to PC World, Apple also banned GPS apps that feed the user location-aware ads and Apple-brand competing apps (such as Google Voice and “Flash of Genius” which mentions the Android).
TechCrunch uncovered this recent no-no after developed Jon Atherton, Wooble iBoobs, received a letter from iPhone App Review. Then there was the letter from Apple, that didn’t explain much. And today, a few guidelines have been uncovered through Atherton’s blog, ChilliFresh, regarding his app.
- No images of women in bikinis
- No images of men in bikinis
- No skin
- No silhouettes that indicate that Wobble can be used for wobbling boobs
- No sexual connotations or innuendo
- Nothing that can be sexually arousing
- No apps that in any way imply sexual content
Is Apple going too far? Can we call it censorship? I don’t think I can say they don’t have a right to regulate the Apple App Store… but I can definitely see how they are going too far. As a recent owner of an iPod touch and somewhat recent user of Google Voice (thanks to Michael, one of our IT guys at SoftwareMedia.com), I was completely shocked when I found out there was no Google Voice app — yes, iPod and not iPhone, mostly because my phone is just that… a phone (no data, no text, I’m the worst software techie ever, I know)! Okay, that has nothing to do with these new rules. But still!
C’mon Apple! We already own your expensive toys, can’t we play with them as we see fit (okay, NO pun intended there…)? If you’re curious where (some of) the public stands, CNET started a poll on whether Apple should ban adult-themed apps from the App Store. I agree with the current majority: No, but there should be age restrictions on them. Because you know, then parents don’t have reason to complain (and if kids get to it anyway, maybe your kid is too smart and should build a startup like Chatroulette). Thoughts?
