And just like that, the iPhone App Store is once again safe for children, people at work, and those who enjoy the iron fist of an anonymous application reviewer gently controlling their hardware / software ecosystem. Yep, the "Hottest Girls" application has been yanked after
just a few hours of availability, and
it's no secret why: although the app was clearly labeled and approved under iPhone OS 3.0's app rating and parental control guidelines, naked-ladies-on-the-iPhone was quickly becoming too much news for Apple's squeaky-clean image to bear. Of course, that once again prompts us to remind everyone that this exact same content is easily accessible through any number of applications on the iPhone, like, say,
Safari, and that the App Store's
arbitrary and capricious review procedures are an incredible liability to an otherwise dominant platform, but honestly, no one's listening because they'd rather talk about boobs. Good work.
Update: Interesting -- the
dev's site now says that Hottest Girls has been "pulled" because their servers were "reaching their limits" and that the app will be back up soon, naughty pictures intact. We're guessing that means their image servers are cracking under the strain, but we'll see if this app or others like it make a reappearance anytime soon.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted Jun 25th 2009 at 1:27PM
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
roach @ Jun 25th 2009 3:31PM
Boobies!!!!
Jordan @ Jun 25th 2009 3:44PM
Call me a fanboy, but I do enjoy when a critique of the App Store's supposedly arbitrary approval procedures falls flat on it's face.
It's getting old- EVERY other "store" on the face of the planet determines what it will and will not sell. Apparently Apple is not afforded the same level of freedom.
Evilhomer @ Jun 25th 2009 5:18PM
Agreed. I think Apple should have the right to approve apps as they see fit and consumers retain the right to not purchase their products if they don't agree with it. I'm no prude, but I'm sure that Apple's vision with the iPhone did not involve it becoming the ultimate "whack off" machine.
Need to Whack? There an App for that....
aoi tsuki @ Jun 25th 2009 6:01PM
And? Every time a phone is mentioned, nevermind whether it's a smartphone or not, the iPhone jumps into the conversation. The lion's share of accessories, no, everything relating to mobile phones, is made for iPhone. It's the phone that has people who never even cared about browsing the web on their phone telling how great it is while i'm unable to care less. iPhone, iPhone, iPhone.
It's getting old - There are a number of other smartphones out there that best the iPhone in a number of areas and are worthy of mention. However, the iPhone is by far the main phone that gets any mainstream attention. Despite my seeming hate of the device, i do feel some of it's adoration is deserved for putting such a simple face on the smartphone while retaining most of the capabilities you'd expect. i just think it's overrated, at least in the US.
Adam @ Jun 25th 2009 7:37PM
The difference is if you don't want to buy the "Clean" version of an album at WalMart, you can get the explicit version other places. If you want a specific something that is explicit and Apple won't sell it to you, you have no options.
niplij @ Jun 26th 2009 9:11AM
Um.. if you want naked chicks.. whats wrong with the Safari app?
Austin @ Jun 26th 2009 10:23AM
Leave the questionable content issue a side for a second. I saw a few screen shots of this app yesterday while reading another post about this & I question the legality of this app on the basis of ownership of the images themselves. The simple fact of the matter is that iPhone apps can technically be made by anybody. This app could have just as easily been made by a couple of horny high school guys throwing up pics of girls they've found online as it could have been made by a studio that has a photographer and/or has paid for these pics to be taken or has access to redistribute these images. Based on the app's home screen screenshot that I saw, the Photoshop treatment of the text (Arial Black), a horrid red to yellow gradient (to suggest HOTT) with a default drop shadow & a large bevel, suggests that some kind of graphics amateur was at work. To me, that kind of takes away from their professionalism. Sorry, I am an artist who work with engineers & I know "engineer art" when I see it. If this were some sort of studio that specializes in this content putting this out, they would have had an artist design their home screen.
Now, that being said, 1) yes, if you want to look at naked pics, Safari does an excellent job of displaying still images. And 2) IF these apps are going to be offered in the App Store, is it too much to ask that my Featured & Top 25/50 categories NOT be flooded with these apps?
Ben @ Jun 26th 2009 2:33PM
You should know that "Boobs" are simply modified sweat glands, just FYI
niplij @ Jun 26th 2009 2:38PM
"Safari does an excellent job of displaying still images"
... not just still Austin, moving naked chicks too with sounds! Porn Hub?
Not that I have seen these moving naked chicks of course but a friend of mine told me all about it.