More "Explicit" Changes From Apple

[Michael Essany]

It seems like it was just yesterday when word came that Apple had created an "explicit" category for app submissions using iTunes Connect. Actually, it was only yesterday when many of us learned of the new category.

And what a difference a day makes.

After a brisk existence, the "explicit" category now seems to have been dropped. But since Apple is yet to comment at all on the "explicit" category debacle, this story has developed into a battle of allegations.

Some developers claim the "explicit" category appeared during the app submission process this week. Other devs say they've submitted apps throughout the week and the category in question never turned up once. And while several media outlets have "independently confirmed" the controversial category's existence, the fact remains that it's no longer to be found where others have previously "confirmed" the category to have appeared.

Apple, it seems, has gotten itself into a predicament over the rigorous cleansing of inappropriate content from the App Store. The removal of 5,000 titles from the App Store was praised by some and condemned by others. Now, it simply appears that Apple's attempt to aim for some middle ground may have backfired in the sense that many are confused about Apple's game plan moving forward. Although the App Store's stringent policies safeguarding against smut will all but certainly stay in place, scores of developers, are - at least in the short term - going to be operating in the dark with regard to "racy" apps they now have in development.

Until clear boundaries are set or a designated category is finally assigned for the appropriate-enough inappropriate apps, something tells me that more confusion and frustration than ever will litter the days of developers who are left to wonder if their work will be rejected or unceremoniously removed from the App Store.

[extremzocker]

apple, seriously! sort out your approval process and everything around it...

[JStraitiff]

gizmodo had a similar article, however theirs had a source who spoke with an apple employee from the ADC and they stated that "they where just testing things out and whatever happens wont be happening for a long time"

[JerseyScottie]

Theres a parent filter / restriction section in the settings on the damn device, parents need to stfu.Its like when they buy their 13 year old son a video game thats rated Mature then complain and file lawsuits because it was "too graphic" for said 13 year old.

[Squeaky369]

Ah yes. Censorship.

Did Apple move to China while we weren't looking?

If they are going to sensor the app store for offensive applications, like Pocket Girlfriend, and The Dictionary App for offensive words, then they need to censor the iTunes store for offensive music.

Yes; the App Store is a "graphical" outlet, and music isn't. Music is a hell of a lot more influential then a stupid $.99 app. Plus; we have the web browser, what are they going to do next, censor our web usage on the phone?

[dbizzy1]

Apple needs to stop attempting to play God cuz clearly they're not. This is a matter of parental guidance. If a parent can't safeguard their kids from things like this then it is on them not Apple or any of us...this coming from a parent of two. I mean come on there are things we are exposed in our everyday lives that are just as bad if not worse. We need to be more accountable for ourselves and not keep looking for others to protect us.

[awesomeSlayer]

This change won't really stop the kids from buying explicit content.

[supreme-livin]

they would makes so much $ if they had a "porn" section--sex sells, bottom line

it will happen just wait till app sales start to slow down, they will put it up and take it down just to bring people to the app store

[jcarroll]

So short-sited on Apple's part. Don't they realize if they whack the "sexual content" mole down, it will popup somewhere else? Like in apps for our jailbroken phones. When these apps start appearing on Cydia, my buds that have been on the fence about jailbreaking will raise an eyebrow.

[pyromcr]

ok, let the porn apps stay, problem solved.

is it really that hard apple?

[mofolo]

ok, let the porn apps stay, problem solved.

is it really that hard apple?

No one is Hard at Apple anymore

[CaptainChaos]

Lol

[rhekt]

its there.its not there. either way.