Katie MarsalThis week, developer of the application "Wobble iBoobs" was sent a letter from Apple explaining that the company is "constantly refining" their guidelines as to what is acceptable on the App Store. According to TechCrunch, while the application was originally found to be suitable for distribution, "numerous complaints" inspired the Cupertino, Calif., company to change their guidelines.
"We have decided to remove any overtly sexual content from the App Store, which includes your application," the letter from the iPhone App Review department reads. "Thank you for your understanding in this matter. If you believe you can make the necessary changes so that Wobble iBoobs (Premium Uncensored) complies with our recent changes, we encourage you to do so and resubmit for review."
The report notes that the application in question allowed users to add "jiggle points" to photos, has been downloaded 970,000 times, and the developer hasn't changed the software in 6 to 8 months. The status for the application on the developer's Web site states "Removed From Sale."
Some similar applications with sexual content have also been removed from the App Store, though others remain. At this point it is not known what Apple deems to be an "overtly sexual" application, or if all similar applications will also be removed.
Apple's App Store policies came under fire last year, when a third-party dictionary program was asked to resubmit their application with a parental control rating of age 17 and up due to "offensive" words found on Wikitionary.org. Apple felt it was appropriate in its request because "urban slang" words found on the Web site were not in traditional dictionaries. The developer instead opted to censor the application, remove the offending words and not be subjected to the "mature" rating.
With more than 140,000 options on the App Store, iPhone and iPod touch users can access a variety of content with varying levels of quality. With so many options available, last year Apple debuted the Genius recommendation feature to help users sort through the plethora of options on the App Store, and the hardware maker also added keywords to software to allow for easier search.
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184 Comments
This is a deal-breaker for me. If I can't get my porn on the iPhone or iPad, then I don't want one.
This is a deal-breaker for me. If I can't get my porn on the iPhone or iPad, then I don't want one.
It's the fault of N.O.W
If they can't get Wiggle iBanana and Wiggle iNuts at the app store, in the issue of fairness they wanted iBoobs pulled.
You can get porn, just not from the App store. Tube8 has a mobile version of their site with video.
What I don't understand is why can't they put 5 minutes worth of effort into creating a "Backroom" Adult category, let all potentially sexual apps reside there, and have any of its content blocked from the public ticker?
Heck it could even be blocked by default and require you to turn a toggle and confirm your age (all tied to parental controls, if used).
This is the reasonable thing to do, not banning the apps outright because of nauseating American sensitivities.
What I don't understand is why can't they put 5 minutes worth of effort into creating a "Backroom" Adult category, let all potentially sexual apps reside there, and have any of its content blocked from the public ticker?
Heck it could even be blocked by default and require you to turn a toggle and confirm your age (all tied to parental controls, if used).
This is the reasonable thing to do, not banning the apps outright because of nauseating American sensitivities.
Outright? We have other options to get our apps in the Store.
And why do you necessarily assume it is only the US?
BTW, Macworld has 161,791 apps listed.
I would like to add, with all the 'NBC-To Catch a Predator' reporting, I don't think that Apple wants to be any part of the potential issues that would arise from your suggestion to open a porn-shop. There would be no way for anybody to guarantee it to be 'Adult Only'. To think so would be just plain stupid.