Apple Removes Over 5000 Apps From Iphone App Store

[ThaiLife]

Apple is causing a stir in the iPhone community by removing over 5000 apps from the app store due to what they deem as inappropriate content. Apple has long been known for being protective over what gets onto the app store, but never before have they rejected or removed so many apps at once. This recent course of action has caused Apple to receive a great deal of criticism from iPhone users, app developers, and the media.

The official reason of Apple banning the apps is due to what they deem “sexually inappropriate.” While some of these apps are very mature in nature, some are just joke apps that wanted a cheap laugh. In response to the removal of the apps, Apple has posted new guidelines to submitting apps.

1. No images of women in bikinis

2. No images of men in bikinis

3. No skin

4. No silhouettes

5. No sexual connotations or innuendo.

6. Nothing that can be sexually arousing

7. No apps will be approved that in any way imply sexual content

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[TheWalkingMan]

No bikinis? Sounds very puritan...

TheWalkingMan

[PattayaParent]

They must be about to launch the iPhione in the Middle East?

[rogerdee123]

From MacRumors 23Feb2010

The NY Times reports on Apple's new policy blocking overtly sexual apps. Apple's head of worldwide product marketing Phil Schiller explained the reasoning behind the decision, citing an increasing number of apps with objectionable content:

"It came to the point where we were getting customer complaints from women who found the content getting too degrading and objectionable, as well as parents who were upset with what their kids were able to see," Mr. Schiller said.

When asked about the needs of the developers who were affected by the policy shift, Schiller said that while they cared about developers, in the end "have to put then needs of the kids and parents first". Analysts suspect the upcoming iPad was in part a reason for the policy change. The iPad is expected to be popular amongst families and schools which could object to such applications.

Schiller does explain that well established brands are given a pass such as Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit app or Playboy's app:

"The difference is this is a well-known company with previously published material available broadly in a well-accepted format"

[Somtamnication]

I can understand the issue with men in bikinis..

[britmaveric]

Well downloaded few of those apps and pretty much rubbish anyways. However think apple is bit short sighted... let people decide what they want. If app is rubbish it gets deleted as simple as that.